Mr. Takeya Kaburaki, President of Kabuchan Nouen (Farm) had an interest in the Kaki Tree Project, and he went to see the kaki tree planted in the Finsbury Park when he visited London in 2009 on his business trip. Then, he also visited the kaki trees planted at Takaho Elementary School in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture as well as Ryuhoku Park in Taito-Ku, Tokyo. He has been supporting the Project since then in many ways by publishing an article on the Kaki Tree Project in the company’s PR magazine, launching a photo rally on the website, and handing out the leaflets of foster parent recruitment at local events.
Although he sent us the application form to plant the kaki tree at Kabuchan Nouen in 2011, we had to give up the planting that year due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. We postponed it for 2012.
The planting site was changed from the Kabuchan Nouen company head office to Minami Shinshu Kabuchan Mura, which is about 20 minutes away by car.
About 30 elementary school pupils in the first and second grades, who were visiting the facility, and staff from the Kabuchan Nouen attended the tree planting ceremony. President Kaburaki, Tatsuo Miyajima, and Dr. Masayuki Ebinuma made speeches, and the kaki tree picture-card show, by the facility’s staff member, followed. Then, they planted the trees at the Kaki Tree Shrine.
When they planted the trees, Mr. Kaburaki, Dr. Ebinuma and Tatsuo Miyajima stood in front of each of the three trees. They asked children to play the rock-paper-scissors hand game. Children split and gathered around the person who showed the same hand-sign, and then they planted the trees at three locations at the same time.
