Sakura Grove Planting Ceremony

On Saturday, October 28, the Sacramento Tree Foundation (STF) and Sakuramento Committee hosted a planting ceremony for a grove of cherry trees at Southside Park in Sacramento. Congressmember Doris Matsui, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Councilmember Steve Hansen, STF Executive Director Ray Tretheway, and Sakuramento Committee Co-Chairs Lon Hatamiya and Joe Rodota all delivered remarks at the start of the event. Deputy Consul General Shoichi Nagayoshi also attended this ceremony and delivered remarks. He expressed his pleasure at the idea of planting cherry trees, a national flower of Japan and a symbol of the friendship between Japan and the United States, at the site where a Japantown once stood. About 80 citizens, including Former Assemblymember Mariko Yamada and STF Vice President Dr. Janine Bera, gathered to celebrate the planting. After the ceremony, dozens of volunteers planted 28 cherry trees.

The STF and Sakuramento Committee are still planning to plant a “hanami line” of 200 cherry trees on the banks of the Sacramento River just north of downtown near Matsui Waterfront Park. The trees will provide an important civic gathering place year-around.
 

• The two organizations are continuing their fundraising for this project.