Toray Industries (China) Co., Ltd. (TCH)
On March 18, 2023, Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association (SORSA), Chapter of Japan, a group of Chinese people who studied in Japan, obtained doctorate or master’s degree, returned to Shanghai, and playing an active part there, held the 12th Japan-China Friendship Tree Planting and Cherry Blossom Viewing event at Century Park in the city.
At the event, about 130 participants including SORSA, Chapter of Japan members and others involved in the friendship between Japan and China including Vice President Jing Ying of Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Vice Chairperson Li Xia of Shanghai Chinese Overseas Friendship Association as well as SORSA, Standing Vice Chairman Gui Yonghao of SORSA, Mr. Shuichi Akamatsu, Consul General of Japan, Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai, and Mr. Tadashi Ishibashi, Chairman of the Board, Shanghai Japanese Commerce & Industry Club planted 50 cherry seedlings and prayed for the friendship between the two countries and world peace.
TCH Chairman Toru Kutsuzawa, who was invited to the event as the Cultural Exchange Committee Chair of Shanghai Japanese Commerce & Industry Club delivered a speech at the event: “Cherry blossoms represent Japan’s spring flowers, which enrich our mind, and in language of flowers it is spiritual beauty. It is loved by the people of both Japan and China. What we planted today are no simple cherry seedlings but are trees that symbolize the friendship of the two countries. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. The event, which has been held for more than 10 years since 2009 will continue to contribute to the friendship between the two countries. I hope that Century Park will become one of the places known for cherry blossoms and lots of citizens will come here to view the flowers when they are in full bloom.”
Participated by more than 3,000 people, the event was held 11 times and more than 300 cherry seedlings in total have been planted until now at Lu Xun Park and Xin Hongqiao Central Garden in Shanghai. It has been strengthening the Japan-China friendship on a private level and will eventually become a foundation for a long-term relationship between the two countries.
The tree planting ceremony
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Kutsuzawa delivering the speech at the cherry blossom viewing |