We have now formally added the Tokyo Yoneyama Rotary Heiwa Project to the GLH family. Thanks to them, we will continue to send seeds to Rotary International nurseries in Hawaii and Carpinteria.

Moment of prayer at Hiroshima Ginkgo planted at Seattle Japanese Garden.

Our partners at PEFC Italy marked August 6th by publishing a video interview with Master Gardener Chikara Horiguchi and an article titled, “Hibakujumoku - 80 years of peace, remembrance, and resilience.”

A wonderful update and message from Dr. Yuri Naumtsev at the Botanical Garden of Tver State University:

"On August 6, 2014, at the first "Open Heart Day" in our Garden, a symbolic memorial planting of the first tree grown from seeds obtained from Hiroshima took place. A small Ginkgo biloba was planted in the Garden on this day by a Japanese girl, Hitomi. It was a truly special Day. Sad and bright because we remembered all those who died in that terrible tragedy and remembered the story of little Sadako, whose death with a paper crane in her hands shocked the whole world. It is even more symbolic that another Japanese girl, Hitomi, who came to Tver with her mother and father and whose life is just beginning, planted a small tree from Hiroshima with her own hands.

Open Heart Day on August 6, 2025, the year of the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima tragedy, was again special, as are all such meetings. On this day, we again remembered the terrible events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we remembered and talked about the unfortunate, but amazingly courageous Japanese girl Sadako Sasaki, who died from the consequences of a nuclear explosion in Hiroshima, but who believed in the saving legend of a thousand paper cranes and thanks to whom this legend became known to the whole world! As every year, we made paper cranes on this day. We placed white chrysanthemums under the memorial Ginkgo trees from Hiroshima. There was a quiet tea ceremony. We planted a small Fuji Cherry on this day. The cherry tree was planted again, like our first Ginkgo from Hiroshima, by a little girl, again in memory of Sadako. We placed a symbolic Earth globe decorated with Ginkgo leaves in the "Open Heart Garden" next to the memorial Ginkgo trees from Hiroshima. This is our message and our common dream for green trees to grow on all continents, and not nuclear missiles!

We remember the words of Japanese children, which are written at the foot of the Memorial Monument in the Peace Park in Hiroshima - "This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the whole world!"

Our dear friends, we are with you on this day and always! Unique trees from Hiroshima continue to live in our Garden and bring the idea of peace to all people who come to it."

On July 22, Mr. Nobuyuki Fujioka visited GLH to give an update on Hiroshima Gingko trees growing in the Batsford Arboretum, not far from where he lives. Ginkgo seeds were donated to Batsford Arboretum by GLH in 2015, thanks to the efforts of Hideko Yamada, one of our original pillars. We were thrilled to find that nine Gingko trees are now growing healthily, together in a grove, at the Arboretum. 

We have received an updated photo of the plaque!

On May 15, 2025, apprentices planted ten trees, each 1.2-1.5 metres tall, in the Dunedin Botanic Garden arboretum. Located between the sports field and the Dunedin Northern Cemetery, this new grove—part of the Green Legacy Hiroshima initiative—sits alongside a popular walking track. We are all excited to see them flourish!

We have received a wonderful update from our partners at the Kutaisi Botanical Garden! Linked here is their detailed account and latest updates on the second-generation hibakujumoku since their arrival to Kutaisi, Georgia in 2017. 

Some exciting updates from Dr. Gerardo Avalos:

Ready to plant their first two ginkgos, one in the Japanese Garden at the Lankester Botanical Gardens in Cartago, the other on the main campus of the University of Costa Rica. They are also coordinating with the Japanese Embassy in Costa Rica, and hope to hold the planting ceremonies around August 6th, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As part of this project, we are developing a children's book (for ages 5–8) inspired by the Ginkgo story […] This book is being translated into multiple languages—12 so far—thanks to a dedicated international group of volunteers, mostly young students, who are generously contributing their time and expertise. 

– Dr. Gerardo Avalos

Dr. Avalos also plans to translate the book into two indigenous languages in Costa Rica, as well as producing a physical book and an online version (which will have all translations as well as background music).

I hope to spread the word about building a culture of Peace and a future in which humanity will not have to face the possibility of annihilation due to atomic weapons and weapons of mass destruction. 

– Dr. Gerardo Avalos

Lovely illustrations, courtesy of Dr. Rinny Kooi, titled, Illustrations E, F and G.

"E: Leaf of a young twig with incised leaf and a leaf of an older twig without incised leaf, F and G: twigs with leaves"