On December 2, 2017, at JCCU Headquarters (CO-OP PLAZA) in Tokyo, under the "Yonomori Cherry Blossom Project" sapling planting ceremony was held.

“Yonomori Cherry Blossom Project” is an activity to plant cherry blossom saplings across Japan using saplings which are lineal descendants of cherry blossoms in Yonomori area. Yonomori is woodlands in Tomioka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, famous of its beautiful cherry-treelined path.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, citizens of the whole Tomioka Town were forced to evacuate due to the high levels of radioactive materials.

Although the evacuation had been canceled with effect from April 1, 2017, excluding difficult-to-return areas, the road to recovery is still far away, and various challenges of everyday life still remain.

This project aims to let the cherry blossoms of Yonomori, a symbol of Tomioka Town and one of spiritual home of Tomioka citizens, bloom beautifully every year all over Japan, for the citizens still in evacuation and people who feel sympathy to the current status of Tomioka Town. Present at the planting ceremony were, Mr. TAKIZAWA Katsumi, deputy mayor of Tomioka Town, the President of Co-op Fukushima, Mr. KONNO Toshio, and Ms. YAMADA Kana, Board Member of Co-op Fukushima.

Mr. TAKIZAWA in his speech mentioned that in April 2017, evacuation in part of Tomioka Town was canceled and for the first time in seven years people came together in the Yonomori area for the cherry blossom festival.

Mr. KONNO also mentioned that many cooperatives have agreed to assist in the future restoration of Tomioka Town through activities of the “Yonomori Cherry Blossom Project”. He commented that these efforts will enhance their revival.

HONDA Eiichi, President of JCCU said “ I would carefully protect and foster this cherry blossom sapling we planted today, I hope JCCU and consumer co-ops nationwide will not forget the disaster areas and continue to help with the reconstruction efforts”.