Green Legacy Hiroshima

OSDI partnered with the Japanese organization Green Legacy Hiroshima, established to care for the hibakujumoku – revered trees which survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. GLH volunteers began collecting seeds from these legacy trees in 2011 to send around the world, as reminders of the resilience of life and the desire and need for peace in a nuclear-armed world. The progeny are known as Hiroshima Peace Trees.

OSDI received a packet of seeds in April of 2017, which were germinated and cared for by arborist Michael Oxendine, Ph.D., then Landscape Supervisor at Southern Oregon University. OSDI began seeking public homes for over 120 saplings, and later assumed care of the young ginkgos, persimmons, camphors and camellias. Camphors were placed in warmer climates (a few are still available from a partner in Atlanta, Georgia).

In May of 2019, OSDI gratefully partnered with Oregon Community Trees and the Oregon Department of Forestry to continue care and distribution of remaining ginkgos and persimmons in communities throughout Oregon. ODF has a list of plantings in Oregon.

Many public dedications planned for 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing and the end of World War II were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. However, most of the trees have been planted and those in Oregon can be found on the ODF site above.

OSDI will continue to post photos, news releases and videos of plantings and dedications we receive.

In January of 2022 Hideko was featured in the Japan-based Green Legacy Hiroshima Partners in Profile program, highlighting the extensive work OSDI has done in bringing so many Peace Trees to Oregon and other states.

Seeds from Hiroshima

Sprouting in SOU Green House

Hideko Tamura, OSDI Chair

Michael Oxendine, Hideko, Jim Gersbach of OR Dept. of Forestry