A national tree-planting festival, which was postponed for one year due to the influence of the new coronavirus, was held in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture.
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress also attended the ceremony remotely for the first time.
The national tree-planting festival was held on the afternoon of the 30th at "Sanbesankitanohara" in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, with the theme of "a circle of connections between people who connect with trees and the forest".
The event was postponed for one year due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress participated remotely from the Akasaka Imperial Property in Minato-ku, Tokyo, based on the infection situation.
Connected with the local venue by a live video, His Majesty the Emperor said, "Forests have provided humankind with resources such as wood and water, as well as soil that nurtures a comfortable environment and culture. Also, prevention of warming, etc. It plays an important role in the conservation of the global environment. I hope that the "green cycle" of the relationship between people and forests will be passed down from the land of Shimane to the whole country and into the future. " Was stated.
After that, I went to the front of the black pine, which was about 12 meters long, and got a blade in my hand with a saw.
This black pine was planted by Emperor Showa at a tree-planting festival held in Oda City in 1971, and was pruned by His Majesty the Emperor during the time of the Crown Prince in 1991, and is used as wood. ..
Subsequently, His Majesty the Emperor planted sugi and sciadopity saplings, and the Empress planted wild cherry and rhododendron saplings.
Since these saplings will be delivered to Oda City and raised, His Majesty the Emperor told the children of the "Green Boy Scouts" at the venue in Oda City that he explained about the saplings. I would like you to keep it with care. "
Their Majesties also smiled and shook their hands when they were applauded by the people at the local venue when they left.
His Majesty the Emperor is supposed to attend the tree-planting festival and other events such as the National Sports Festival every year, but this is the first time he has attended a ceremony remotely.
"Remote" Imperial Household Agency refers to the tree-planting festival in Akita Prefecture in 1968
The "National Tree-Planting Festival" was held in Yamanashi Prefecture in 1950 with the aim of rebuilding the devastated land after the war.
The empress's visit to the region along with the tree-planting festival is called the "Three Great Yukihiro" along with the National Sports Festival and the National Sports Festival, and the National Cultural Festival has been added since Reiwa.
However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the event was postponed last year, and for the first time after the war, the emperor's visits to local areas due to the annual event disappeared.
The Imperial Household Agency referred to the tree-planting festival held in Akita Prefecture in 1968 when the tree-planting festival was held for the first time in two years.
The Tokachi-oki earthquake struck just before, causing great damage, so the visit of Emperor Showa was canceled.
The words that were to be mentioned at the ceremony were told by an aide to the site, and the seedlings that were supposed to be planted were delivered in advance at the Imperial Palace.
More than half a century later, at this tree-planting festival, more realistic remote participation was realized through live video.
According to his aides, His Majesty the Emperor values the opportunity to interact with people, and while it is difficult to visit him directly due to the effects of the infection, the imperial family continues to seek ways to utilize it online.
[Full text] The words of His Majesty the Emperor
At the 71st National Tree-Planting Festival, we are delighted to plant trees with everyone who participated from all over the country.
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, we are now forced to make various restrictions on our daily lives, such as severe restrictions on people-to-people interaction.
Under these circumstances, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to those who are making efforts to control infectious diseases all over the country.
For the first time in its long history, this national tree-planting festival will be held by connecting the venue of Mt. Sanbe, Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, and the Akasaka Imperial Property here in Tokyo online.
We regret not being able to visit Shimane Prefecture and meet you in person, but we would like to thank all the people involved who have prepared for the event.
In Shimane Prefecture, fifty years ago, in Showa 46, a national tree-planting festival was held at Mt. Sanbe, Oda City, the same as this time.
When the 15th National Tree-Raising Festival was held at the same venue in 1991, I pruned the black pine that was hand-planted by Emperor Showa and Empress Chun.
At that time, I was deeply impressed by the fact that the Japanese black pine planted at the national tree-planting festival just 20 years ago was growing in a splendid forest and the beautiful appearance of Mt. Sanbe, which began to color with autumn leaves.
This time, I heard that the black pine is being used at the venue of the national tree-planting festival.
Also, today, I am happy to be able to harvest the Japanese black pine planted by Emperor Showa, plant seedlings again with you, and start a new "green circulation".
I am deeply moved by the many years it took to create a rich forest from the Showa tree planting and the Heisei tree planting to the harvest of Reiwa, and the hardships of the people involved.
Forests have provided humankind with resources such as wood and water, as well as soil that nurtures a comfortable environment and culture.
It also plays an important role in preserving the global environment, such as preventing global warming.
We believe that it is an important mission for us to connect this irreplaceable forest to future generations in a healthy manner.
We pay tribute to the people who receive the award today and everyone in each region who are making efforts to create forests and greenery on a daily basis, and such activities will continue to develop while being supported by many people. I expect that.
In addition, planting and growing saplings again with the use of timber has become an important issue now that the forest resources created after the war are approaching the period of utilization.
We hope that people from various fields will collaborate and cooperate to solve this problem, and that a "green cycle" of planting, growing, using, and planting will be widely realized.
Finally, in line with the theme of this tournament, "Connecting with Trees, the Circle of Relationships between People and Forests," the "green circulation" through the relationships between people and forests will be transferred from Shimane to the whole country and into the future. I would like to say hello to you, hoping that it will be inherited.