Cloned Cherry Trees from Pre-Earthquake Era Bloom in Otsuchi Town
In Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, cloned cherry trees derived from a century-old Someiyoshino tree felled after the Great East Japan Earthquake have bloomed fully for the first time. The original trees, located at the former Akahama Elementary School, were cherished by the community but had to be removed in 2015 when the land was raised as a tsunami countermeasure. Before their removal, residents collaborated with Sumitomo Forestry to preserve the trees' genetic material using tissue culture technology. Engineers successfully cultivated saplings from the shoot apexes of the original branches. Although five seedlings were replanted in 2021, four died due to deer damage. However, the remaining tree, planted in a nearby park, has now produced abundant blossoms eleven years after the original tree was cut down. This event symbolizes resilience and recovery for the town, which lost nearly 10% of its population in the 2011 tsunami. Kentaro Nakamura of Sumitomo Forestry expressed hope that the blossoms will continue to grow alongside the town's reconstruction efforts, marking a significant milestone in local restoration and scientific preservation.
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Cloned Cherry Trees from Pre-Earthquake Era Bloom in Otsuchi Town
In Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, cloned cherry trees derived from a century-old Someiyoshino tree felled after the Great East Japan Earthquake have bloomed fully for the first time. The original trees, located at the former Akahama Elementary School, were cherished by the community but had to be removed in 2015 when the land was raised as a tsunami countermeasure. Before their removal, residents collaborated with Sumitomo Forestry to preserve the trees' genetic material using tissue culture technology. Engineers successfully cultivated saplings from the shoot apexes of the original branches. Although five seedlings were replanted in 2021, four died due to deer damage. However, the remaining tree, planted in a nearby park, has now produced abundant blossoms eleven years after the original tree was cut down. This event symbolizes resilience and recovery for the town, which lost nearly 10% of its population in the 2011 tsunami. Kentaro Nakamura of Sumitomo Forestry expressed hope that the blossoms will continue to grow alongside the town's reconstruction efforts, marking a significant milestone in local restoration and scientific preservation.
asahi