A second-generation atomic-bombed ginkgo sapling sent by Mayors for Peace was planted on 3 October at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Mayors for Peace is a partner organization of Green Legacy Hiroshima. The sapling was originally sent by the City of Hiroshima and Mayors for Peace to Ypres, Belgium, where it was raised for a time before being planted in Geneva.
Tree doctor Chikara Horiguchi represented Green Legacy Hiroshima at the planting ceremony. Also in attendance were U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mayors for Peace Vice-President and Mayor of Ypres Jan Durnez, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva Junichi Ihara, UNITAR Executive Director Nihkil Seth, and UNITAR Hiroshima Office Head Mihoko Kumamoto. Secretary General Ban, Mayor Durnez, Ambassador Ihara, Mr. Seth conducted the planting ceremony and offered their remarks.
In his speech, Secretary General Ban said, “This beautiful sapling is a symbol of resilience and of peace. It pays solemn respect to those who perished on 6 August 1945. As this tree blossoms, it will also be a vivid reminder of how the hibakusha — those brave survivors — have transformed their tragedy into a message of hope for the world.”
Horiguchi-san presented Secretary General Ban with a copy of “Paper Crane Journey,” translated into Korean, on behalf of ANT-Hiroshima.
The sapling was grown from a Shukkeien ginkgo seed.
