Embassy of Japan talk on cherry tree conservation

Ron Henderson was invited by the Embassy of Japan / Japan Information and Culture Center to give a public talk on his research and collaboration with Master Gardener Kurato Fujimoto to conserve legacy cherry trees in Washington, DC as part of the embassy’s Cherry Blossom Festival events. March 2025.

In this presentation, Henderson will share stories from his fieldwork and highlight renowned cherry blossom sites in Japan like the Yamataka Jindai-Zakura in Yamanashi Prefecture—believed to be the world’s oldest living cherry tree. Henderson will also touch on his collaborations with master gardener FUJIMOTO Kurato and a dedicated team of specialists who restore historic cherry trees utilizing time honored techniques—such as yukitsuri (rope-tenting) and hōzue (brace/crutch).

This lecture is a part of our two-part Preserving Legacy: Lecture and Workshop(link to first page) series—a must-see for those interested in landscape architecture, Japanese cultural heritage, and environmental conservation.