Kitakyushu residents angry over sudden felling of school's cherry blossom trees

The Mainichi

18-05-2025

FUKUOKA -- Residents in the southwestern Japan city of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, are voicing their disapproval after cherry blossom trees on the grounds of a local elementary school were cut down during their peak season without any explanation.
The trees at Matsugae Minami Elementary School in Kitakyushu's Moji Ward were felled in April, with no notification given to locals in advance.
According to the Kitakyushu Municipal Board of Education and the school, around late January, it was decided a house was to be built on a lot adjacent to the school building. Some branches were extending over the fence to the adjacent land, and the contractor requested the branches be cut as they would interfere with the construction.
There were 14 cherry trees on the school grounds, including those in front of the main gate, but the ones cut down included nine on the south side of the school building and 11 on its north side by the swimming pool.
The same school conducted a risk assessment of trees on the property about two years ago to see if there was any danger of trees falling due to typhoons or other causes. As a result, four trees were identified as dangerous and one tree needed follow-up observations. The school decided on felling instead of mere pruning as exterior wall work on the school building, which requires scaffolding, was planned to be completed in fiscal 2025 and 2026.
According to the education board, the trees are of the Somei Yoshino variety and were not planted in commemoration of any graduations. They were over 60 years old and thought to have been planted by teaching staff.
According to residents nearby, locals have filed complaints and requests for an explanation with the school. They voiced their shock over the sudden felling at the height of cherry blossom season, with one saying, "The cherry blossoms I used to see all the time are gone," and another coitizing, "For those who left for the Kanto, Kansai or other regions, their memories of their hometown are of their alma mater and cherry blossoms. I wish they had thought of that."
In response, the school and municipal education board provided some residents with explanations on the situation. They apologized, stating, "We did not fully understand that these were locally loved cherry trees. We apologize for not explaining it in advance."
The school also distributed written explanations of the circumstances leading to the felling to the those in the area, and intends to plant new cherry tree seedlings in consultation with the community.