U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy speaks in front of the lone "miracle" pine tree that miraculously survived the deadly 2011 tsunami among 70,000 trees along the coastline in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on Tuesday. Kennedy is making a two-day visit to areas devastated by the 2011 tsunami to meet survivors and highlight America's commitment to supporting its ally.
© Japan TodayPine tree visitor
©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
11 Comments
Login to comment
slumdog
This trip is a great way to start her ambassadorship. I'm sure it will come as a comfort to the survivors to know they are not forgotten.
Sherman
Yeah but it cost about 10,000,000 JPY in a Nagoya saw mill to preserve it.
Harry_Gatto
Not 10 million, try 150 million.
Sherman
Sorry Harry mate, you are right. A lot of people could have had a new home for that :0))
Harry_Gatto
Yes indeed; apparently the money was collected specifically for the tree and did not come from the general donations.
oldman_13
Good for her and the people who suffered that tragedy.
Daijoboots
Donations are still being accepted for maintenance of the monument and surroundings. The amount necessary for preservation work was raised by July.
http://www.city.rikuzentakata.iwate.jp/kategorie/fukkou/ipponmatu/ipponmatu-bokin/tirashi-en.pdf
ka_chan
I don't get why it's called the "miracle pine"? It died. The tree is artificial. Just doesn't seem right to me. It can work as a memorial but the name seems out of place.
gelendestrasse
I think it's a good start for her term as ambassador. Perhaps the next trip should be to the Senkakus?
sillygirl
That is no "tree" that ambassador Kennedy visited, a mere replica, a very very expensive one at that. Still it was nice to see her visit covered widely.
Yubaru
I just hope we don't get Kennedied to death. Let her do her job, but I can guarantee you that up until she came around NO ambassador to Japan has received this much attention.