Gifford Watkins posted on July 26, 2011 20:07
20th July, 2011
On the International Heritage Rose Conference 2012 in Sakura
Because of the unprecedented natural disasters which hit east Japan in March, the International Heritage Rose Conference 2011, which was scheduled to be held in Sakura in May, and was to have been the first heritage rose conference held under the auspices of the WFRS, was obliged to be postponed for one year.
These disasters claimed thousands of human lives, and there are still over one hundred thousand people who are spending difficult days in temporary evacuation sites. They also caused radiation leakage from a nuclear power plant in the disaster-stricken area. The 20km radius areas around the power plant are now no-entry zones, and people who used to reside there have been obliged to move to other areas.
The Japanese have risen up to reconstruct their country. Some people have made donations to the fund to help sufferers; others have visited the damaged areas to engage in volunteer work for removing debris. Every day, TV news shows the activities of those people who continue to work bravely, without complaining.
It will take time till this country makes the complete recovery from the damage, but we are determined to work together for the reconstruction of our land. We are truly grateful to over thirty countries which offered their help to Japan. Those who have barely survived those disasters have been greatly encouraged by their kind concern, and retrieved the will to live, getting over difficulties they still have to face.
Fortunately, Sakura City suffered no serious damage from the earthquake and tsunami. Since it is located 250km away from the nuclear power plant in trouble, it has suffered hardly any effect of radiation leakage. However, considering the grave situations the country is facing, the Heritage Rose Conference organising committee decided to cancel the event in May this year, and to postpone it until next year. Consulting with the related city offices and supporting organizations, we have concluded our new plan, and set the dates of the conference for the 31st of May to the 6th of June, 2012.
Though there might be a slight decrease in the number of the attendees, we have laid out a programme similar to the one for the canceled conference: a welcome party in the rose garden, lectures at the National History Museum, day tours, the conference dinner, post-conference tours, and the farewell party. The details of the programme will be announced in September this year. We are hoping to be able to welcome many of you to this International Heritage Rose Conference 2012 in Sakura.
Though we experienced unprecedented disasters this time, we Japanese are determined to get over all the difficulties, and work to recover the power of the country. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Japan which has retrieved its strength, and to Kusabue-no-oka Rose Garden kept in better conditions than ever.
Katsuhiko Maebara
Chairman
The International Heritage Rose
Conference Organising Committee