—Submitted by the City of Novi

The City of Novi will take part in a centennial celebration of U.S.-Japan friendship through a gift of cherry trees this May.

Novi is among the initial 36 cities in the U.S. where plantings have been planned as part of the 2012 Japan-U.S. Cherry Blossom Centennial Nationwide Tree Planting Initiative sponsored by Pfizer, the Japan Commerce Association of Washington DC, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York.

In the year 1912, more than 3,000 flowering cherry trees were sent from Japan to the United States and planted in Washington, D.C. as a symbol of the friendship between the countries.

Novi has the largest population of Japanese residents in the state of Michigan, is home to more than 60 Japanese businesses, and has hosted a variety of Japanese events and displays.

Twenty cherry trees (Sakura) will be planted at four locations in Novi: Providence Park Hospital, Novi Meadows Elementary/Japanese School of Detroit, Novi Public Library, and the Novi Civic Center.

In addition to the plantings, activities are scheduled at each location:

Saturday, May 12

Providence Park Hospital – Assarian Cancer Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (Following the conclusion of the Emergency Run 5K)

Join fellow community members for a planting ceremony, light refreshments, and a Japanese-language Yoga class.

Novi Meadows Elementary/Japanese School of Detroit, 3-4 p.m.

Novi Meadows and Japanese School of Detroit students will share their collaborative art project with the community. Light refreshments will follow a planting ceremony.

Thursday, May 17

Novi Public Library, 4-8 p.m.

Experience Japanese culture by learning to compose beautiful Haiku poetry and constructing Japanese-themed crafts at this open, drop-in program.

Saturday, May 19

Novi Civic Center, 3:30-5 p.m.

View the New Blooms for Novi community art project. Entertainment, following a planting ceremony, includes White Pine Glee Club, Trillium Women’s Choir, and Raion Taiko drumming. A dedication to the memory of Steve Myers, an enthusiastic community member who supported Japanese culture in Novi, will take place at the event.

Community members are encouraged to celebrate the gift of trees by attending the events or through the community art project: Hundred Year Wishing Trees. Cherry-blossom shaped wish cards will be available at each of the events and at the Novi Civic Center May 12-18. The wish cards will be used to decorate wishing trees in the Novi Civic Center.