Takagi Magouemon, a gardener from Komagome, lamented the decline of these cherry trees and worked to preserve them by gathering a wide variety of cherry species at his own home.
April 13, 2016
The following is based on information from Wikipedia.
Arakawa Embankment
The Arakawa Embankment (Arakawa-zutsumi) was a scenic spot along the Arakawa River and the former Arakawa (now Sumida River) in Tokyo, renowned as a famous cherry blossom viewing site.
At its peak, it was celebrated as the home of the Goshiki-zakura (Five-Colored Cherry Blossoms of Arakawa).
Although the site experienced a period of decline, it has since been restored and remains a beloved cherry blossom location.
It is believed that the cultivation and selective breeding of cherry trees began around the Heian period.
By the late Edo period, nearly 250 varieties were known to exist.
Many of these cherry trees were planted on the estates of feudal lords and at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
However, after the Meiji Restoration, as the authority of the former daimyo and religious institutions diminished, the lands where these trees had been planted fell into neglect.
Ownership changes and the push toward modernization led to the widespread felling of these historic trees.
Amidst this trend, Takagi Magouemon, a gardener from Komagome, took it upon himself to preserve these precious trees, collecting and safeguarding a diverse range of cherry varieties at his own residence.
In 1885 (Meiji 18), during a project to rebuild the Arakawa embankments, local residents proposed planting cherry trees atop the new levees.
Shimizu Kengo, then the local town mayor, decided that rather than planting the common Somei Yoshino variety, it would be preferable to plant superior varieties of Sato-zakura (village cherry trees).
Negotiating with Takagi, an old acquaintance, Shimizu secured the planting of 78 varieties and 3,225 trees that Takagi had collected.
It is said that had they planted only the easily available Somei Yoshino trees, even fewer Edo-period cherry varieties would have survived to the present day.
The cherry trees were planted along the embankment stretching from Kōhoku to Nishiarai.
By 1903 (Meiji 36), the cherry trees were in full bloom, and the Arakawa Embankment had become the foremost cherry blossom destination in Tokyo.
From the Arakawa Embankment, many of these Sato-zakura varieties were transplanted to research institutions such as the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, the Okitsu Horticultural Research Station, Shinjuku Gyoen, and the Tokyo Prefectural Horticultural School.
This led to the nationwide spread of many cherry varieties.
Additionally, as a symbol of Japan-U.S. friendship, saplings from the Arakawa Embankment were sent to be planted along the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
Because of the wide range of colors and varieties, the Arakawa trees came to be known as the Five-Colored Cherry Blossoms and attracted large crowds.
The Decline and Revival Efforts
The cherry blossoms of the Arakawa Embankment eventually fell into decline due to embankment construction for the Arakawa Flood Diversion Channel and the effects of urbanization.
During the construction of the flood channel, efforts were made to transplant the cherry trees, and arborists such as Funatsu Seisaku worked to restore their vitality.
However, these efforts met with limited success.
In 1924 (Taisho 13), the site was designated a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty in an attempt to preserve the Arakawa Embankment as a cherry blossom landmark.
Nevertheless, during World War II, amid severe material shortages, the cherry trees were cut down for firewood.
Despite these hardships, Kamenosuke Koshimizu worked tirelessly during the war to protect and conserve the various cherry varieties.
After the war, efforts were made to revive the cherry blossom rows with the cooperation of various parts of Japan and even the United States, but a complete restoration was not achieved.
In 1981 (Showa 56), commemorating the 50th anniversary of Adachi Ward’s establishment, approximately 3,000 saplings of 35 different cherry varieties were sent back to Japan from Washington, D.C.
These trees were replanted along the Arakawa River, forming the foundation of the cherry blossom rows seen today.
Some of these trees were also planted in parks throughout Adachi Ward and, because they were sent with the support of then-First Lady Nancy Reagan, they became known as the "Reagan Cherry Trees."
