On the 1st September 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced in Tokyo that the years 2019-2020 would mark the Japan-UK Season of Culture.
This season, with activity in both Japan and the UK, will celebrate the friendship of the two countries, and will provide an opportunity for people in both countries to explore each other’s cultures and technologies between the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is during this period of enhanced relations that it has been proposed by the Japanese private sector to plant thousands of Japanese Sakura cherry trees all across the UK.
Within the Japan-UK Joint Declaration on Prosperity Cooperation made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Theresa May, the two leaders welcomed a proposal from the Japanese private sector to donate cherry blossom trees to the UK as a symbol of our relationship.
Consequently, the Sakura Team was created, headed by Mr Sandy Sano of the Japan Association in the UK and supported by the Japan-British Society in Japan headed by Mr T Tsukamoto. The Sakura Cherry Tree Project aims to plant over 5,000 trees starting in autumn 2020.
That is why the Sakura Cherry Tree Project Committee are inviting schools to apply to be part of this nationwide initiative. Schools interested in receiving a cherry tree should apply using the form on the below PDF.
Trees will be supplied by the Sakura Cherry Tree Project, but planting and maintenance will be the responsibility of the applicant educational institution/school. Three varieties of Japanese sakura have been chosen by the Sakura Team based on such factors as the variation of colour, timing and historical significance. These are: Beni Yutaka, Tai Haku, and Somei Yoshino.
For further information and details of how to apply, please see the below PDF…