From Japan to Casciago, a kaki tree for peace

This initiative for peace revolves around a kaki tree, and will be on Saturday 5 April, between Morosolo and Casciago. And there will be a lot of lanterns. It may seem strange to combine a tree that survived the nuclear bombing in Nagasaki, the Venice Biennale, a church in a small provincial village, but, in Morosolo and Casciago, this is now a well-established tradition. At least it has been, since March 2000, when the children at the primary school in Morosolo joined the Kaki Tree Project, which was created by the Japanese artist Tatsuo Miyajima: a seed from a kaki tree that survived the bombing in Nagasaki is the prize for the winners of an art project for children. And, after learning about the work of the artist at the Venice Biennale, the primary school in Morosolo won the prize. The seed was then planted in the yard of the old church of San Giovanni, in Casciago.

“The tree is still alive!” This is the name of initiative, this year, to celebrate the tree, which survived not only the atomic bombings but also acts of vandalism that, in July 2012, almost destroyed it. The event is on Saturday 5 April, at 6.30 p.m., at the primary school in Morosolo. From here, the oldest students will set off with the first part of the peace message. As they walk, they will be joined by other classes, each with a part of a poster which, in the end, will be complete when they reach the tree. At that moment, the various parts of the poster will form a tree, which will be installed to the notes of the song that has accompanied the event since 2000.

This year, however, there is something new: a flash mob invented by the children, which everybody can take part in … there is even an online tutorial to learn the steps (http://www.agmorosolo.altervista.org). Afterwards, there will be an aperitif offered by the parents’ association and, to conclude, lanterns will be thrown into the sky to create a magic atmosphere.

Many people have been involved in the organisation: parents, teachers, students of today and … of yesterday.

And if the bad weather is poor, the event will be postponed until Sunday 6 April.