Higashimatsuyama City is actively engaging in environmental conservation together with local residents in projects with the theme “Revitalization of community and nature” such as making a home for fireflies. Karako district, where the home for fireflies is in place and “Ten no sono (The Garden of Heaven),” one of Muraji Uchiki’s children’s literature, is set in. Karako Primary School with a history of more than 130 years, Karako Central Park and the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels are also located in the district, which is blessed with the precious resources, so people can learn about environment and peace.
Mr. Toshihiko Kato who works at the environment conservation department of Higashimatsuyama city government watched the tree planting at Hara Museum Arc broadcast in a news program on NHK in 2005 and that was how he got to know the Kaki Tree Project. He learned that children in the community can directly get involved in the project, so he applied for it. Karako Primary School was chosen as the planting site since it is near the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels.
The municipal government of Higashimatsuyama and the third graders of Karako Primary School took one year for the preparations for welcoming the trees. On 8th of February, before the tree planting ceremony, a “Delivery workshop” was conducted at the school by the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels and artist Ms. Etsuko Maneyama and children freely drew pictures with persimmon tannin on the bamboos that were cut from a bamboo grove in the “home for fireflies” by citizen volunteers.
On the day of the ceremony, after talks given by the principal of the school and Tatsuo Miyajima and a message delivered by Mr. Ebinuma, presentation of the Kaki Furoshiki (Persimmon wrapping cloth) took place. Following addresses given by a representative from the municipal government of Higashimatsuyama, artist Ms. Etsuko Maneyama, Mr. Anken Kidani and a representative from Karako district, the third graders announced the name for the trees “Kakkiko Taro” and “Kakkiko Kuuta.” All the children took turns in covering the trees with soil. Then, the children placed the bamboos that they made during the workshop surrounding the trees in a semicircle. Pictures drawn on the bamboos were very beautiful. Lastly, a message was delivered by the representative of the third graders. So the project in which the municipal government, school, museum and community members work together has started and various activities are in progress in Higashimatsuyama City.
