JCCU is strengthening its efforts to record the experiences of the atomic bombing and the 80 years since the end of the war, and to pass on the message of peace to future generations. As part of this initiative, on March 9, 2026, a second-generation A-bombed Chinese parasol tree sapling was planted at its headquarters, "Co-op Plaza," in Tokyo.

This sapling was provided by the City of Hiroshima to help promote a spirit of peace. The "A-bombed Chinese parasol tree" refers to a tree that survived the blast and intense heat of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and later sprouted new buds amid the devastation. Its remarkable vitality gave deep courage and hope to the people of Hiroshima.

The "second-generation" tree planted on this occasion was grown from seeds collected from the original A-bombed tree. It stands as a symbol of the enduring power of life passed down through generations, as well as the continuing aspiration for peace.

At the planting ceremony, ARAI Chitose, President of JCCU, along with other executives, participated and pledged to carry forward the memory of the past while connecting the hope for peace to the future.

Front row, from left: FUTAMURA Chikako, Managing Director, JCCU; ARAI Chitose, President of JCCU; TAMURA Takako, Senior Executive Officer
Back row, from left: SHIMADA Hiroyuki, Vice President; FUJII Yoshitsugu, Managing Director/CEO

Overview of the A-bombed Chinese Parasol Tree

This tree, located in the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, is one that survived the atomic bombing. It was exposed to the blast approximately 1.3 kilometers from the hypocenter; although half of its trunk was burned, it sprouted new buds the following year and became a symbol of recovery. The City of Hiroshima distributes seeds from this tree as "second-generation A-bombed Chinese parasol trees" both in Japan and abroad, as part of its peace education efforts.