45.Cherry Blossoms

Today, I write about “Cherry blossoms “.
In Japan it is the best time of the year when the scenery is full of cherry blossoms.
The Japanese people have special feelings towards the cherry blossoms.

1867, the samurai’s time was over and Meiji period has begun.
At that time, many Japanese gardens and daimyo’s mansions were destroyed, and many European-style buildings were built.
Many cherry tree was cut down.
The cherry tree was a crisis of extinction.

A certain gardener was worried.
His name is Takagi Magozaemon.
He looked for the cherry tree and got the branch.
And he planted the branch of the cherry tree in his field.
A cherry tree is a tree weak to an environmental change.
He cultivated the cherry tree after repeated trial and error.
His field had become a shelter of the cherry tree.

A man visited Takagi.
He said to Takagi.
“I would like to plant your cherry tree in the bank of the Arakawa River.”
Takagi consented.

1885, Tree planting of the cherry tree started.
1910, 3,200 cherry trees bloomed.
The wonderful scenery became the reputation.
1924, row of cherry trees was specified as a natural treasure.
And from here, the branch of the cherry tree was sent to all over Japan, and was planted.
1912, It was presented to USA as a proof of friendship.
It was planted in Washington, and now, it increased to 3750.

From 1941 to 1945, the cherry tree of Arakawa River was cut down as fuel.
The row of cherry trees of Arakawa River disappeared.

1981, the branch of the cherry tree was given by the United States.
Now, a row of cherry trees is　gradually recovering

2011, The Great East Japan Earthquake.
Many cherry trees were lost in the stricken area.
Now, the project which plants a cherry tree is progressing in Rikuzentakata-shi (Iwate-ken).
Cherry trees are planted along the highest attainment line of tsunami.
If tsunami attack this city again in the future, people can escape and survive
by running higher than that ” Cherry trees line”.

If this project is completed, I think that it becomes wonderful scenery.