June 2026:

During Dr. Luciano Bosso's visit to the Botanical Garden of Naples, the Director shared an interesting historical anecdote connecting the cities of Naples and Hiroshima:

"In 1952, a Japanese ambassador donated to the Naples Botanical Garden some roof tiles from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden, recovered after the atomic bombing. As a gesture of gratitude, the Naples Botanical Garden sent some Laurus nobilis plants to Hiroshima University. These were planted by the then President, Tatsuo Morito, in one of the university’s gardens. The current Director has kindly asked whether these plants have survived over the years and if they are still alive today. The letters and fragments of roof tiles from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden are currently preserved in the Ethnobotany Museum located within the Botanical Garden of Naples. I am attaching some photographs of the letter along with a fragment of the tile.”