On November 20, 2025, about 50 Oberlin College students and staff gathered with community members to renew Oberlin’s commitment to Green Legacy Hiroshima. After a video greeting from GLH core members, Kana Sakamoto (‘26) and Kisa Biely (‘26) spoke about GLH’s mission and the history of hibakujumoku. Professor Ann Sherif recognized the support of the community, especially Diana Roose, staff and residents at Kendal at Oberlin (host to a GLH wisteria), and College president Carmen Twillie Ambar (present at the tree dedication in 2017 as well). Participants braved the Ohio cold to dedicate the new GLH plaque that identifies two ginkgo trees (parent tree in Hiroshima's Shukkeien Garden) in the center of Oberlin’s historic Tappan Square.

(Photo Credit: Isabella Moss)

A lovely update with photos shared by Professor Ann Sherif!

On March 12, 2025, Oberlin College students & faculty met the magnificent Green Legacy wisteria nurtured by Kendal at Oberlin residents and staff. As a bitterly cold Ohio winter gives way to spring, we gathered to plan signs for the hibaku jumoku nisei wisteria at Kendal and the gingkos at Oberlin College. Oberlin College students Kana Sakamoto and Kisa Biely spoke about their visit to the parent wisteria at Senda Elementary School in Hiroshima. With an unstable international order and nuclear weapons in play, Oberlin residents pledged to care for the trees and to spread their messages of hope, and danger.

Professor Ann Sherif and students from Oberlin College and Indiana University received a guided tour from GLH staff.