The ginkgo seeds, sent by our CAFRE regional hub, have arrived at the Collège JB de la Quintinye and GrandChêne Section Internationale, GLH's new partners in France. Grateful to former UNITAR Hiroshima Office staff Kaori Okabe who made the connection possible, to focal points Elise Barth and Jodie Sokhan (pictured left) who received the package, and to school directors Mme Marescaux and M. Macé for their support as well as to the SEGPA students who will be taking care of the seeds.

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

We are excited to announce our new partner, Keele University! 

An update from our focal point, T'ai Roulston, at the State Arboretum of Virginia: the ginkgo trees will be large enough to plant either this fall or next spring!

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"

Ginkgo and Eucalyptus seeds safely arrived in Australia, thanks to Hiroshima Botanic Garden! GLH partners Virginia McNally, Athanasios Tsakonas and Anoma Pieris (pictured left) received the seeds and Virginia will now begin the germination process. This has been a first for GLH, to dispatch seeds of the Eucalyptus tree on Hiroshima Castle grounds. 

Best Wishes for a Peaceful New Year! 

PDF Version

Our partners in Italy Tiziana Volta (WWWV), Antonio Brunori (Pefc Italia) and their  teams have continued to share hibakujumoku germinated from A-Bombed Trees seeds throughout Italy, with it the message of peace and ecology they hold. Since 2022, they have connected with the following projects in Italy:

1. Agrate Brianza, Oasi Vasca Volano di Gae (Celtis, May) 
2. Cartosio (Alessandria), Subject and elementary school (Ginkgo, November)
3. Collevalenza (Perugia), Primary School (Celtis, April) 
4. Ferrara, Garden May 20 and 29, 2012 (Celtis, May) 
5. Genoa, Gardens elementary school district Bolzaneto (Gingko, April) 
6. Rome, Giardini-Vivai San Sisto (Celtis. March) 
7. Rome Zen Center Anshim (Ginkgo, June) 
8. San Vendemmiano, Giardino-Laghetto Fossamerio (Celts, June) 
9. Taranto, Largo Pozzo-Talsano (Celtis, May) 
10. Trissino (Vicenza), Via dalle Ore-Via Verdi-Piazza Mazzini (Celtis, November)

Akiko Perona, UNITAR chief of communications who was instrumental in helping us plant a hibakujumoku sapling at ICRC, sent us photos of the tree as it stands (July 2024) — a magnificent specimen, clearly ICRC gardeners have taken good care of Hiroshima’s green ambassador of peace.

In June 2017 GLH sent seeds to V.F.F. Institute Mare Nostrum e.V. NPO-Austria, who since have diligently documented the process. Their website features images of the seeds, and the flowchart below, detailing application, arrival and sowing of seeds. It also has a detailed technical analysis that includes step-by-step images and explanations for germinating the seeds. Gratitude for their care and efforts, as well as those of Shuichi Hamatani and colleagues from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden.