Branching out

Jose Paul Corona

Cherry tress are a symbol of renewed life and vitality in Japan.

Huntington Beach now has 50 cherry trees that will stand as a symbol

of the long life and vitality of the relationship Huntington Beach has

shared with its sister-city in Anjo, Japan.

To celebrate the renewal of that 20-year relationship, delegates from

the Japanese city donated 50 cherry trees to Huntington Beach. Ten of

those trees were formally presented to the community at a ceremony held

at the Huntington Beach Central Library on Friday.

“We hope that the cherry tress will strengthen the bond between our

two cities,” Anjo Mayor Masayuki Sugiura said through a translator.

Ceremonial gold-painted shovels protruded from a mound of soil set to

be dumped at the base of the trees by city officials.

The ceremony was one of many events planned for the visitors from

Anjo.

On the Fourth, Sugiura and the rest of the delegation participated in

the 98th annual Fourth of July parade.

Mayor Debbie Cook and Sugiura signed a declaration reaffirming the

sister-city relationship between both cities.

It’s a relationship that has shown just how much the residents of the

Japanese city care for the residents of Huntington Beach.

“If any of you have been on the pier you have the citizens of Anjo to

thank,” said Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff, to those gathered for the

planting Friday.

Residents of Anjo raised nearly $100,000 to rebuild the pier after it

was damaged by a storm in January of 1988.

Dettloff also reminded the small crowd that the cherry trees in

Huntington Beach Central Park were donated by the residents of Anjo.

“There is a genuine relationship there, I’m very gratified to see all

this,” said Councilman Ralph Bauer.

Members of the Hokuto dance troupe traveled to Huntington Beach with

the delegation from Anjo as did student ambassadors from the Japanese

city.

While city officials discussed the strong bond between both cities,

the student ambassadors chatted with each other and giggled.

“They exercise all the time -- they run and do squats,”

said an amazed Brittni Newman, 16, who didn’t know what to make of the

constant physical activity shown by her Japanese counterparts.

The Japanese junior high school students also do their best to make

the most of what they have, the Edison High School student hosts noted.

Water conservation is a very high priority in Japan. So the girls, like

every other Japanese citizen, try not to waste any water.

This also applies to showers, students said. The Japanese visitors

turned the water on and off when they shower. While this is both normal

and expected in their culture, it confused their host families.

“They have a lot of different techniques,” said 17-year-old Ann

Makinson.

Both Newman and Makinson will learn all about Japan shortly when they

travel there.

Vanessa Thulsiraj can’t wait to go.

The 17-year-old Huntington Beach High School student said she is

looking forward to the chance of seeing another lifestyle.

“It’s an experience of a lifetime,” she said.