RIKUZENTAKATA, Iwate Prefecture—A preserved lone pine tree that survived the deadly tsunami two years ago is ready to encourage disaster victims again where it remained standing as the only one among tens of thousands on a beach.
RIKUZENTAKATA, Iwate Prefecture—A preserved lone pine tree that survived the deadly tsunami two years ago is ready to encourage disaster victims again where it remained standing as the only one among tens of thousands on a beach.
A 20-meter scaffolding that surrounded the 27-meter tree for preservation work was removed on June 8.
Yukio Kuginuki, 45, came with his family from Tono, Iwate Prefecture, to watch the scaffolding being dismantled.
“I was surprised because nothing is left around it,” he said. “Standing here, I thought that the lone pine tree should be left (for future generations).”
Grass will be laid around the tree, and a stand will be set up for the offering of flowers.
A completion ceremony is scheduled for July 3, and the pine tree will be lit up from sunset to around 9 p.m. for one year.
The 150 million yen ($1.54 million) preservation project was targeted for completion by the second anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.
But additional work became necessary after a reinforced plastic section of branches and leaves, which is 7 meters tall and weighs 900 kilograms, was found attached at a wrong angle.
Preservation work included inserting a pole through the trunk.
It was the only tree that withstood the more-than-13-meter high tsunami among the 70,000 pine trees of the famed Takata Matsubara forest.
The tree was a symbol of hope for disaster victims but died due to the seawater that turned the soil saline. It was felled in September for preservation.