Mr. Jaap Bremer of the Kröller Müller Museum visited Japan in July 2000 and informed us that they were keen to participate in the project. That was how the Kaki Tree Project at the museum started.
The Kaki Tree Project participated in the exhibition “Ikiro/Be alive, Contemporary Art from Japan 1980 until Now” at the Kröller Müller Museum, which was held from 7th of April through 8th of July 2001. Though the seedling that was displayed at the exhibition was to be planted in the ground of the sculpture garden in March 2002, it became weak due to change in environment, so the museum reconsidered the time of planting. After taking a good care of it for one year, the official tree planting ceremony was held in March 2003.
The tree planting ceremony was held in conjunction with the festival to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Van Gogh. In the beautiful weather, Mr. Piet de Jonge and Mr. Eddie Morren, who were in charge of the persimmon tree at the museum, invited Japanese families and planted the tree in a very good place in the sculpture garden.
