OHIO celebrates cherry blossoms, enduring friendship with Chubu University

Ohio University community members are once again enjoying the dazzling cherry blossoms on campus this Spring.

Ohio University is home to 230 cherry trees planted in the grove along the Hocking River (near Tailgreat Park and the Convocation Center) and has been named one of the best places in the United States to see the cherry blossoms.

Many people have picnics, study, walk their dogs and pose for photos around the trees, and in some years community members have even held weddings during the bloom. The cherry blossoms have attracted large numbers of people once again this year, including those who ride their bicycles by or jog by on the bike path.

OHIO's Cherry Trees are gifts from Chubu University in Japan and are a symbol of the partnership between the two institutions. The partnership dates back to 1973, and in March the two institutions celebrated the dedication of the new Friendship Park Pavilion in the original cherry tree grove.

Chubu University President Dr. Masayoshi Maeshima and a delegation from Chubu University visited OHIO for the event, along with the Consul General of Japan in Detroit, Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori, and his delegation.

President Maeshima donated two weeping cherry trees to celebrate the occasion and the “enduring friendship between our universities.”

This was Consul General Kishimori’s first trip to Athens but he hopes it will not be his last. During his remarks he highlighted the value this type of long-term educational partnership has and the opportunities it provides for all OHIO students. 

The Friendship Park Pavilion symbolizes the enduring friendship and collaboration between OHIO and Chubu. That collaboration has included student exchanges at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, English language education programs, study abroad programs, bilateral exchanges of visiting professors, as well as ongoing joint research.

Also during the Chubu University delegation's visit to OHIO, leaders from both institutions held meetings to reaffirm the historic partnership and discuss new areas of collaboration.

All members of the OHIO community are invited to stop by and enjoy the magnificent cherry trees this spring.

If you can't stop by in person, you can also see more photos of the trees from this year and previous years, and learn more about them on the Cherry Blossoms website.

And for additional information on the historic partnership between Ohio University and Chubu University, see this OHIO Today article or explore the 50th anniversary webpage found on the Office of Global Affairs website.