Tree Planting in Commemoration of Reconstruction: Greetings from the Governors

Message from the Governor of Iwate

I would like to express my gratitude on the occasion of this tree planting event in commemoration of reconstruction in disaster-affected areas in Japan.

I would especially like to express my deep appreciation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for its continuing support and encouragement for areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Unfortunately, circumstances prevent me from participating in the tree planting today; however, I look forward to attending the legacy tree planting scheduled to take place after the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Japanese red pine grows throughout Iwate and is an apt representative of our home prefecture. As a product, it changes with age into a beautiful shiny amber. This beautiful wood can be seen in the beams and posts of the media centre at the Village Plaza in the Olympic and Paralympic Village. It is my hope that the planting of this Japanese red pine at Ariake Arena will in some small way help the people gathering for the Tokyo 2020 Games to better appreciate the effort behind reconstruction in Iwate.

May this Japanese red pine grow big and strong at Ariake as a reminder of reconstruction in Iwate.

In closing, I would like to express my great appreciation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for organising this event.

TASSO Takuya, Governor of Iwate
6 June 2021

Message from the Governor of Miyagi

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the broad range of critical support it has provided since the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated Miyagi prefecture. This generous and compassionate support includes both human and material resources, and the welcoming of victims who lost their homes in the overwhelming disaster. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation for their central role in organising this event.

In this tree planting in commemoration of reconstruction, trees from four prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Kumamoto Earthquake are being planted at Ariake Arena, a major venue of the Tokyo 2020 Games. I feel it is a very meaningful event of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Recovery and Reconstruction Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Games will start on 23 July. As a host prefecture for the Games venue, Miyagi has been working hand in hand with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and many other individuals and organisations to establish effective COVID-19 countermeasures and other approaches designed to ensure the success of the Games.

I am confident that the trees planted today will grow to become reminders of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Recovery and Reconstruction Games.

MURAI Yoshihiro, Governor of Miyagi
6 June 2021

Message from the Governor of Fukushima

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and individuals participating in this event for providing significant support for the reconstruction of Fukushima Prefecture.

Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident occurred. Thanks to the compassionate support from people both at home and abroad, Fukushima has been steadily recovering from the damage. The areas affected by evacuation orders have grown smaller and infrastructure has recovered significantly.

Fukushima continues, however, to require solutions to a broad range of issues. There are still many who have been forced to live away from their homes in Fukushima. We are still struggling to restore faith in the safety of Fukushima and are working hard to prevent the memory of the disaster from fading away.

In March 2021, the Olympic Torch Relay made its grand start from J-Village, a symbol of reconstruction in Fukushima, with the participation of the Tokyo Governor, KOIKE Yuriko.

In July 2021, certain baseball and softball events are scheduled to be held in Fukushima. Especially significant is that the softball opening round will be the first competitive event of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

With the help of many kind, compassionate and dedicated people, Fukushima Prefecture continues to advance reconstruction while providing updated information about the current situation and feeling deep appreciation for the support we have received.

I hope these trees from the four disaster-affected prefectures will grow to be strong and become a legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Recovery and Reconstruction Games.

UCHIBORI Masao, Governor of Fukushima
6 June 2021

Message from the Governor of Kumamoto

I would like to express my gratitude on the occasion of this tree planting event in commemoration of reconstruction in areas affected by disaster in Japan.

I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for its continuing support and encouragement for areas affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake through a wide range of opportunities related to the Recovery and Reconstruction Games.

In addition to dealing with the damage suffered in the major earthquake that hit us, the residents of Kumamoto have struggled against adverse circumstances caused by torrential rains in July 2020 and the current COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to keep the people suffering from disaster and the epidemic in our hearts as we work with hope and the commitment to not leave anyone behind as we pursue restoration.

I hope to see this camphor tree from Kumamoto and three trees from prefectures in the Tohoku Region grow steadily and sturdily along with the progress of reconstruction in each prefecture.

In closing, I would like to express my great appreciation to those who placed efforts in organising this event with the hope that these trees will be cherished by all in the years to come.

KABASHIMA Ikuo, Governor of Kumamoto
6 June 2021

Message from the Governor of Tokyo

There are now only 47 days to go to the Olympic Games, and 79 days to go to the Paralympic Games. I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to those working with us to deliver a safe and secure Games, following an unprecedented one-year delay.

A decade has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. And, it has been five years since the Kumamoto Earthquake occurred.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has worked in solidarity to advance preparations under the principle that these Games were originally conceived as the “Recovery and Reconstruction Games” to show the world Japan’s reconstruction and recovery from these disasters. The Olympic flame, which began its journey from J-Village, a symbolic site of recovery in Fukushima Prefecture, continues to burn brightly as it makes its way to Tokyo.

Today, as part of the recovery concept, we will plant the prefectural trees of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Kumamoto prefectures. Each sapling was grown in the prefecture it represents. Ariake Arena, where these trees will grow and thrive, will serve as the Tokyo 2020 Games venue for volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

I sincerely hope that these trees will convey the message of these “Recovery Games,” not only at the time of the Games, but also well into the future, and serve as a symbol which connects the people of Tokyo to the areas affected by the 2011 and 2016 earthquakes.

KOIKE Yuriko, Governor of Tokyo
6 June 2021