On November 25, 2025, GLH held a special session in collaboration with the Hiroshima University MEXT DE&I Program, an initiative led by graduate student, Engy Turk. Students met the GLH team, had discussions with coordinator Dr. Nassrine Azimi, learned from our Master Gardener Chikara Horiguchi, heard about UNITAR Hiroshima Office activities, and finally participated in an actual seed picking at Atago-Ike. We were additionally fortunate to welcome to this event old and new friends --our longstanding GLH partner from Leiden Botanical Gardens Dr. Rinny Kooi, Ms. Junko Yaginuma of RCC, Prof. Luli van der Does and two of her students.

We would like to welcome our new partners, Katholische Akademie des Bistums Fulda, to the GLH family. In the beautiful green landscape of the diocese, the academy will plant the hibakujumoku as a reflection on war, violence, and the need for peaceful coexistence.

Pictured left, Barbara Coulson Nottingham CND and Cllr Dr Nayab Patel with their Ginkgo biloba seeds from CAFRE.

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 [...] 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 [...] 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."

We have received an updated photo of the plaque!

Our partner in Italy, Prof. Antonio Brunori and other members of PFEC including Marco Bussone, Ana Belén Noriega, and Makiko Horio came to Hiroshima on May 14. We presented Antonio to master gardener Chikara Horiguchi—and soon they became best friends, despite the language barrier—language of trees truly universal! We also learned so much from Antonio, whose passion for and knowledge about trees impressive, and are looking forward to more cooperation in the future around the hibakujumoku. Attached press release from PEFC in response to the earlier awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, including information on their activities related to the hibakujumoku seeds and second-generation saplings. Thanks to the passion and dedication of Antonio and Tiziana Volta, as well as their many colleagues and associates, 49 trees from GLH seeds have been "adopted" all over Italy to date.

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. 

A big thank you to Hiroshima Botanical Garden (HBG) for sending the 2025 batch of seeds to our regional hubs, the San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Pictured left, Joe DeWolf receiving the precious package.

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"