STA, 24 March 2022 - A row of 68 Japanese cherry trees have been planted along a 690-metre stretch of the Ledava river in Lendava, north-eastern Slovenia, as a symbol of friendship and peace, and to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Slovenia and Japan.
The ceremony on Thursday featured Takashi Aoki, counsellor at the Japanese Embassy in Ljubljana, Mayor of Lendava Janez Magyar and Matjaž Vnuk, the chairman of Lendava-based manufacturer of high-tech welding gear Daihen Varstroj, which is in Japanese ownership.
Aoki said the cherry trees, a symbol of Japan, were planted in several Slovenian cities that have some sort of connection to Japan. In Lendava, it is Daihen Varstroj.
Vnuk described the cherry tree planting as an upgrade of good cooperation with the municipality. He hopes Lendava has a cherry festival when the trees bloom.
According to Mayor Magyar, this is yet another step in the municipality's efforts to make it a green-future community.
The project cost EUR 22,000, of which Daihen Varstroj contributed EUR 7,000.
