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Junior Writers Reporting

Hiroshima landscapers volunteer to prune plants around A-bomb Dome

The Hiroshima City Landscape Contractors Association, based in Nishi Ward, provides volunteer workers to prune the trees and plants around the Atomic Bomb Dome, the city’s most noted symbol of peace.

This volunteer effort began in June 2011 when the association marked its 20th anniversary of incorporation. Each year, the association puts out a call for participants from its 48 member companies. This year, 45 volunteers from 32 companies came together on June 4 to perform the work.

The best time for the trimming work is after the azalea and Satsuki azaleas around the A-bomb Dome have bloomed and before new sprouts appear. The plants are first pruned roughly by machine, and then closely by hand. It takes an entire day to perform the work, which includes mowing the grass and pulling up weeds on the grounds of the dome.

The president of the association, Kazushi Ishikawa, 61, said that it was the first time many of the volunteers had entered the grounds of the World Heritage site. He added that some of the younger participants were on pins and needles because it was such a powerful experience.

“Many of our members are children of A-bomb survivors,” Mr. Ishikawa told me. “Our work at the A-bomb Dome also gives us a good opportunity to create ties among members of different companies in our association, so we look forward to continuing this effort.” (Arisa Shiromoto, 16)

(Originally Published on June 25, 2012)

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