Ginkgo Tree Planting Ceremony in Ghent

On November 10, a ceremony for the planting of a ginkgo biloba sapling that was donated by the city of Hiroshima to the city of Ghent with the help of the City of Ypres, was held in Ghent. The ceremony, which Minister Maekawa attended, was preceded by a marimba performance held in the Saint Bavo’s Abbey by Japanese marimba musician living in Belgium Ms. Aya Suzuki. Following this, Minister Maekawa, together with Deputy-Mayor Heyse, planted the sapling at the Coyendans park. During his address, Minister Maekawa looked back on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and stated that the wish for peace is enclosed within the ginkgo tree, that has survived the ravages of war.