The rows of cherry trees along the Shakujii River have been selected as one of Itabashi's representative tourist attractions, "Itabashi Juukkei (Ten Views of Itabashi).

During the cherry blossom viewing season, a total of more than 1,000 cherry trees from the Naka-Itabashi area to the Kaga area are in full bloom, creating a beautiful sight that has become a part of the daily lives of the residents of Itabashi Ward.

Did you know that the cherry trees along the Shakujii River are approaching the end of their life?

Since 2008, the Itabashi Tourist Association has been lighting up rows of cherry trees in the Naka-Itabashi area to promote the area as a tourist resource. However, in recent years, many of the cherry trees have deteriorated due to the unique urban growing environment (narrow space between trees, small plantings, etc.) and the aging of the cherry trees, and we are faced with the challenge of how to preserve the rows of cherry trees for future generations.

Activities to protect rows of cherry trees are urgently needed, but sustainability is required, and it is essential to have people who can support and cheer our activities in the mid- to long-term. However, the problem is that the current status of the rows of cherry trees has not been properly communicated to the local community.

To solve such problems, the Itabashi Tourism Association has launched the "Saku x labo*¹" project to protect the rows of cherry trees along the Shakujii River and preserve them for the next generation! The Itabashi Sightseeing Association will serve as a hub to create a system to watch over the cherry trees in the entire community!

Our first goal is to make local residents aware of the issues and attractions of the cherry trees along Shakujiigawa River, and we will work with local influencers and pro bono workers from outside the ward to do "interesting things" related to cherry trees and promote the preservation activities. We will continue to do so!

We will continue to create a community of people and organizations that will support and encourage the medium- to long-term preservation of the cherry blossom trees.

itabashi sakura week 2023

The lighting up of the cherry trees, which had been suspended due to the new Corona virus, will be resumed to allow visitors to experience the charm of the cherry trees and to hold marche, workshops, and events in cooperation with people engaged in various activities in the community using cherry blossoms as materials and subjects.

Period: March 23 (Thursday) to April 8 (Saturday), 2023

Location: Around Naka Itabashi Shopping Street; some workshops will be held in the Kaga area

Details

1. Lighting up March 23 (Thursday) to April 5 (Wednesday)

The lighting of the cherry blossoms, which had been suspended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, will be resumed.

In order to make people feel that cherry blossoms are something to love and protect, we will not only illuminate them beautifully, but also add color to weakened cherry blossoms.

We hope that visitors will learn the importance of preservation activities while enjoying the cherry blossoms.

2. "Itabashi Shakujiigawa Cherry Blossom Liqueur" Unveiling

Tokyo Craft Liqueur, a producer and seller of domestic fruit and herb liqueurs, has completed an original liqueur made from pruned cherry branches from the Shakujii River. Let's celebrate the completion of the original liqueur, which softly spreads the aroma of cherry blossoms, and enjoy a fun and casual social gathering!

Singer/songwriter miina will sing a song about cherry blossoms for your enjoyment.


Date & Time: April 2 (Sun.)

Admission starts at 5:00 p.m., Toast at 5:30 p.m., Last order at 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Illumi Cafe (https://illumicafe.com/)

Fee: 300 yen (Sakura x labo project activity fee) *Cash only

One drink and one food per person are required.

You can enjoy Illumi Cafe's special organic food. For those who cannot drink alcohol, please enjoy sakura tea and organic coffee.

Please apply from the form below.

Click here for details and application.



3. Sakura Marche

Date & Time: March 26 (Sun.) 11:00 - 18:00 (tentative) Location: Near Yamanaka Bridge in Naka Itabashi Shopping Arcade

Enjoy "seeing, eating, and experiencing" cherry blossoms at this marché.

More than 6 stores will be lined up with crafts, foods, and art using cherry blossoms as materials or motifs, introducing various ways to enjoy cherry blossoms.

The "Sakura x labo" members, "Itabashi Design Club," will sell their first batch of original goods (tote bags and can badges) in limited quantities, and Askayama Works, a woodworking studio in Takashimadaira, will give lectures on how to use cherry branches that have been cut down to improve the growing environment or due to old age as materials to make original root paintings that can be burned on the spot. The workshop will be held to create original netsuke crafts by burning paintings on the spot using cherry branches that have been cut down due to environmental improvement or old age.

4. Let's Make Cherry Blossoms Blossom in Full Bloom Project

Please write your "feelings toward cherry blossoms" on a cherry blossom message card and tell us what you think.

Your message will be posted on the glass window of Illumi Cafe. Let's fill the windows with message cards and make them bloom in full bloom!

5. cherry blossom dyeing workshop

On April 8 (Sat), a cherry blossom dyeing workshop will be held at A*ka, an atelier in Itabashi with the concept of Japan texture × stylish design. Cherry blossoms from the Shakujii River will be used as dyes for dyeing tenugui (hand towels).

The depth of the cherry color will vary depending on the type of cherry tree, its condition, and the number of times it is boiled. Let's enjoy spring dyeing while savoring the color and fragrance of cherry blossoms with all your body.

Please apply using the form below.

Click here for details and application.

ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023", which was held from March 23 (Thu) to April 8 (Sat), 2023, has ended successfully.

We would like to thank everyone who came to the event and everyone who commented on SNS and other social media.

This event was the first project of "Saku x labo," a project to protect the rows of cherry trees along Shakujiigawa River and preserve them for the next generation.

The Itabashi Tourist Association served as the hub for this project, and we were able to realize this project through many encounters with people who are active in Itabashi Ward and beyond.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who cooperated with us.

I would like to report a few scenes from the day of the event.



Lighting up of the bridge March 23 (Thursday) - April 5 (Saturday)

The lighting up of the park, which had been suspended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, was resumed!

Many visitors came every day to see the lights up for the first time in a long time.

Among the beautifully lit rows of cherry trees, some of you may have noticed the cherry blossoms illuminated by bluish lights.

In fact, these cherry trees are weaker than other cherry trees.

The planted area is too small, the cherry trees are too close to each other, and there is a lack of sunlight, which is common in urban areas.

Although the cherry trees look beautiful every year, they are in fact in a very difficult situation.

This is expressed in the colors of the lights.



April 2 (Sun) "Itabashi Shakujiigawa Cherry Blossom Liqueur" unveiling party

We made an original liqueur using branches from the cherry trees along the Shakujiigawa River, which had to be cut down for conservation purposes.

Tokyo Craft Liqueur cooperated in making the liqueur.

Here is the completed product!

Everyone seemed to be taking pictures and engaging in lively conversation as they nibbled on dishes made with organic vegetables.

This stylish label was designed by the Itabashi Design Club.

To celebrate its completion, we held an unveiling party at Illumi Cafe in Naka-Itabashi.

First, we toasted with "Itabashi Shakujiigawa Sakura Liqueur!

The liqueur is filled with the aroma of cherry blossoms and has pickled cherry blossoms floating on top, making it look very cute!

After the toast, a quiz was given on the status of the cherry trees along the Shakujii River.

The question was, "What percentage of the total number of cherry blossoms that need some kind of treatment according to the latest tree diagnosis? Everyone was surprised to hear the correct answer that 60% of all cherry trees needed to be treated.

The singer-songwriter miina made the unveiling a great success.

She started with Naotaro Moriyama's "Sakura (solo)" and then performed her original songs, including a song she had written on the theme of cherry blossoms!

The wonderful singing voice created a warm atmosphere in the hall.

Most of the people who came to the unveiling had never met each other before, but as time went by, conversations began to take place,

As time went by, conversations began to take place, making it a very homey event.

Another "cherry blossom" was also blooming at the entrance of the Illumi Cafe.

We posted the messages about cherry blossoms on the Itabashi Tourist Association's Instagram, at the Sakura Marche held on March 26 (Sunday), and at the Illumi Cafe,

We put them up at the entrance of the store.

The cherry blossoms were so beautiful that we could feel the memories related to cherry blossoms and the desire to cherish them!

How was the first part of the "ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023" report?

In the second part, we will report on "Sakura Marche" and "Sakura Dyeing Workshop".

■Illumi Cafe

For more information, please visit

Tokyo Craft Liquor

click here for details

ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023", which was held from March 23 (Thu) to April 8 (Sat), 2023, has ended successfully.

In this second part, we will report on the Sakura Marche held on March 26 (Sunday) and the Sakura Dyeing Workshop held on April 8 (Saturday).



March 26 (Sunday) Sakura Marche

Sakura Marche" was held near Yamanaka-bashi Bridge in the Nakaitabashi shopping arcade. Under the theme of "See, Eat, Experience, and Enjoy Cherry Blossoms," crafts, food, and art using cherry blossoms as materials or motifs were on display, introducing various ways to enjoy cherry blossoms.

Unfortunately, it was raining on the day of the event. We would like to thank everyone who visited the shopping arcade to see the cherry blossoms and everyone who stopped by the Sakura Marche after reading the event announcement.

Here are some of the vendors.

ITABASHI DESIGN ASSOCIATION

We have been creating items on the theme of Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, and holding off-line meetings to loosely connect everyone in the community. They have been very supportive of the "SAKURA X LABO" project!

They are also selling original goods for "ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023," and part of the proceeds from the sales of these goods will be used to fund the operation of this project.

Website

Tokyo Craft Liquor

A liqueur distillery located in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. Tasting and selling highballs of "Itabashi Shakujiigawa Sakura Liqueur," craft gin, summer mandarin orange liquor, etc.

Home Page

Wakamatsuya Sake Shop

Wakamatsuya Sake Shop, a local sake specialty store in Takashimadaira, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo. Cherry blossoms are associated with sake! The store sells sake by the glass and Takashimadaira Beer, which has been selected as one of "Itabashi's best beers".

Website

time spot art class

Workshop for making wind chimes with cherry blossom motifs. Lecture by Mie, an art class instructor and stained glass artist in Takashimadaira.

Website

sakurajuA

Handmade accessories for sale as well as workshops for kids.

Instagram

Each store offered a new way to enjoy cherry blossoms at the "Sakura Marche".

Leaflets summarizing the status of cherry blossoms along the Shakujiigawa River were distributed at the venue, and visitors were invited to share their thoughts on cherry blossoms.

We would be happy if this event could help people realize that cherry blossoms are in danger and the importance of cherry trees that have become a part of our daily lives!

The "Sakura Marche" was coordinated by Mr. Kagotani, the manager of Takashimadaira "time spot" and a member of the Takashimadaira Marche Executive Committee.

He is one of the people who sympathized with the "Sakura x labo" project, an activity to convey the idea of conservation to as many people as possible and to make sure that this view can continue to be seen.

We put artificial turf on the floor, lights, and other things to create a venue that fits the word "marché" perfectly. Thank you very much!

We would also like to thank everyone who participated in the event despite the inclement weather.



April 8 (Sun) Cherry Blossom Dyeing Workshop

The last event of "ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023" is a cherry blossom dyeing workshop.

A*ka. runs a dyeing atelier store in Itabashi Ward and also holds workshops.

This time, we dyed tenugui hand towels with cherry blossoms from the Shakujii River.

Before the workshop, we explained the situation of cherry blossoms. Participants said, "I thought the drooping branches were beautiful, but the cherry blossoms are also in trouble. This is a picture of a row of cherry trees near the junior high school where my child graduated. They listened attentively to the story, looking over the leaflet as they thought about it.

During the workshop, everyone was working earnestly while chatting amiably, sewing cherry blossoms into patterns and fastening them with elastic. It's so strange to get pink from a branch," said one participant. I thought it was just to stew them, but I didn't realize you had to sew them. I thought I was just going to stew them, but I didn't know I was going to sew them. It's rare that they share them with us. We can't get them to share them so we are looking forward to the next workshop.

And here is the finished product!

The color of the branches turned a lovely pink, which one would never have imagined from the color of the branches, and each participant's work was full of originality.

Website

This is the first and second part of a report on the "ITABASHI SAKURA WEEK 2023".

The "SAKURA X LABO" project is being carried out not only by the Itabashi Tourist Association, but by everyone who is active in Itabashi Ward.

We not only develop ideas, but we also ask for help from other people who are active in Itabashi Ward, saying things like, "Mr. 00 is good at this kind of project! We are aware that the circle of participants is expanding rapidly.

The "Saku x labo" project has just begun.

As we continue to expand this circle, we will continue to protect the cherry blossoms along the Shakujiigawa River and continue the project so that we can have a good time together.

We will continue to send out messages regarding the project, so please follow the Itabashi Tourist Association on Twitter.

Twitter

There is no right answer for cherry tree preservation activities, and we need to customize our activities according to the local environment and the condition of the cherry trees. Therefore, we would like to work with the ward, experts, and local residents toward the goal of "protecting rows of cherry trees.

We would like to take the lead in various efforts to develop a system to watch over the cherry trees in the entire community, with medium- and long-term support for our preservation activities. We ask for your cooperation and look forward to your participation!



＼Information will be posted on social networking sites! Please follow us! / / Follow us on SNS!

「さく×labo」リーフレット

The members of the "Saku x labo" project are mainly from the Itabashi Tourism Association, influencers and pro bono workers who are mainly active in Itabashi. Each of them has started their activities with the idea of "doing something interesting together for the preservation of the cherry trees along Shakujiigawa River" by utilizing their respective expertise! Let us introduce you to our core members.



Background of the project: "Coming Soon! ／COMING SOON!