Relationship
Sister Museum Agreement
Partner Institution: National Bonsai and Penjing Musseum
Date: August. 5th 2019
Signed by: Hayato Shimizu, Mayor of Saitama City and Dr. Richard Olsen, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum
U.S. National Arboretum Website: https://www.bonsai-nbf.org/
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Website: https://www.usna.usda.gov/
Summary of Sister Museum Declaration Ceremony
On August 5th, 2019, The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum became a sister museum to the U.S. National Arboretum’s National Bonsai & Benjing Museum, which is a leading U.S. bonsai institution.
The signing of the “Sister Museums Declaration” was done at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. by Saitama City Mayor Hayato Shimizu and the U.S. National Arboretum Director Dr. Richard T. Olsen.
The declaration was signed in front of the Yamaki Pine, the symbol of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. This bonsai is a Japanese white pine given by Hiroshima’s Masaru Yamaki. It is known throughout America as a bonsai which survived the Hiroshima atomic bombing.
After the signing, there were speeches from both Director Olsen and Mayor Shimizu, as well as a message full of anticipation about the partnership from Felix B. Laughlin, representative of the National Bonsai Foundation.
Mayor Shimizu was also presented with a relief plaque by Director Olsen. This plaque was created by sculptor Kiyomi Sakaguchi and was presented with the hope that through bonsai, the two institutions will continue their international relations and that the people of both nations will continue to love bonsai.
