A farmer in Zonnemaire, Mr. Jaap Verseput, applied for the tree planting. Mr. Jaap grows vegetables such as potatoes but he also places art works in his vast farm and every year organizes and enjoys “Farm Festival” with the local people, where artists from all over the world are invited to do performance of music, theater, poem, etc. As Mr. Jaap was impressed by the purpose of the Kaki Tree Project, he established the local office with the local people including local artists. At first, they wanted to plant the tree in 2000, the year which marked the 400th anniversary of Japan-Holland friendship, however, since the summer season when the Farm Festival is usually held is not appropriate season for planting, the potted trees ware introduced and welcomed at the festival. The idea of bringing the potted tree was an advice from Leiden University Botanic Garden and the person in charge from CBK Leiden, where the trees were planted in the same year. These two tree planting sites shared information and cooperated in proceeding with the project such as accepting the seedlings. Mr. Jaap visited Kofschip Primary School in Zierikzee, which is located in the north of Zonnemaire, to explain the purpose of the Kaki Tree Project and ask for understanding from the school, and finally in 2001 the tree planting was realized.
Before the tree planting ceremony, a workshop by an artist, Teja Van Hoften, was conducted. Children tried to write some Japanese words such as “why” and “what” in Japanese calligraphy wearing Kimono
and made fan, kite, persimmon seeds from paper and Origami as well.
At the tree planting ceremony, all the children at the school welcomed the trees by singing a song and drew a number of pictures of persimmon trees and executive committee members, who participated in the ceremony. They also set up a special exhibition corner in a room to introduce Japanese culture and the art works created during the workshop were displayed.
