Sakura Cherry Tree Ceremony

Last week, we celebrated the gift of a Sakura cherry tree from the people of Japan to mark our long friendship with the Showa High School in Toyko. The Showa High School is a School for girls from 11-18 and their Lower 6^th Form pupils usually visit King’s for two days in March every year.  They spend their time with us enjoying a cultural exchange including singing, dancing, teaching origami and Japanese brush painting with our Year 7, and socialising and attending lessons with our Sixth Form.

The Sakura Cherry Tree Project has given over 6000 trees to parks, gardens, schools, universities, clubs, societies and anywhere which fosters a link with Japan. The idea behind the gift of trees across the UK came from a joint Japan-UK initiative from 2019 which saw the trees as a lasting legacy of our joint friendship and links with Japan. We are delighted and honoured to have been granted a tree.

Our tree is a Taihaku cherry tree. It has large white blossom and can grow to 3 or 4 metres high. The Taihaku tree had become extinct in the 1920's in Japan but an English civil servant, Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram had taken cuttings prior to its extinction when he lived in Japan which grew into trees in his garden in England and which he returned many years later to grow again in Japan.

Our tree has been given to us a symbol of hope in a time of darkness. The Sakura Cherry Tree team have asked us to have a special moment of celebration and reflection every Spring when it blossoms. Next year we hope to do this with our friends from the Showa High School.

We were delighted to welcome Midori Endicott, on behalf of the Showa High School, who facilitates the visit of the Showa High School pupils and has provided evenings of Japanese culture. Midori was welcomed by Penny Fayter, Teacher of Classics at King's, and was joined by David Morton, along with Junior and Senior School staff members and representatives from Year 6 and Year 12. Midori unveiled the tree plaque for us and one of our King’s Junior pupils, Willow, presented her with flowers as a sign of our friendship.