OTSUCHI, Iwate Prefecture--Five cherry trees that survived the tsunami disaster two years ago have bloomed for the last time.
OTSUCHI, Iwate Prefecture--Five cherry trees that survived the tsunami disaster two years ago have bloomed for the last time.
The trees at the playground of the former Akahama elementary school are to be chopped down to make way for new home construction on the site of the school, which was demolished last June.
Local residents numbering 200 or so gathered on April 24 to enjoy the last night-viewing of the cherry blossoms and bid farewell to the trees. Beneath the illuminated flowers, young men performed a local traditional tiger dance.
According to local Yukio Iwama, 76, the trees appear to be around 100 years old. Even though the tsunami hit the trees, which each stand approximately 10 meters in height, the cherry blossoms still bloomed in April 2011.
Moving these sturdy trees could be possible, but it would be time-consuming and expensive, town officials said. Higher priority is being given to reconstructing houses in the town, where more than half of the dwellings were damaged or destroyed by the waves generated by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.
Town officials and locals, however, are attempting to regenerate the trees by planting cuttings along the town streets.
Many local people are perplexed about losing the trees that they grew up with. One resident said, “(The trees) would not have to be cut down if the tsunami hadn't occurred.”