Midori Ippai Project Activities LINE 1696th Hollyhock Planting Event at Kamigamo Shrine June 11, 2016 NTT West Head Office
The 6th Hollyhock Planting Event at Kamigamo Shrine was held on June 11, 2016.
Hollyhocks are used for decoration at the Aoi Festival, which originated some 1,500 years ago. In the past, wild hollyhocks used to grow everywhere including the precincts of the Kamigamo Shrine (official name: Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine). However, due to changes in the natural environment and particularly damage in recent years caused by deer that feed on them, they can no longer be found in the shrine or in the nearby forests and surrounding areas. For this reason, the planting project was launched for employees of NTT West Group and their family members to become "foster parents" by adopting and growing hollyhocks at their workplace or home. Grown-up hollyhocks are multiplied by root division once a year, which are collected from the foster parents and planted in the precincts of Kamigamo Shrine. This project has been ongoing since 2011, and this year marks the sixth year since its launch.
A total of 88 employees and family members of NTT West Group took part in the event this year.
Rain clouds were approaching and light rain was reported in the weather forecast on the day of the event, but fortunately the sky started to clear up and although the weather was hot, the participants were nonetheless blessed with a fine day.
The event kicked off with an opening address by Mr. Sasaki, Manager of NTT West Kyoto Branch, who expressed that it was a wonderful thing to enhance the profoundness of the activity with communication generated among the foster parents in relation to environment and culture. This was followed by a speech by Mr. Tanaka, Chief Priest of Kamigamo Shrine, on the history of hollyhock and the significance of hollyhock planting.
Next, after the handwashing and purification rituals to cleanse the body, the participants visited the main shrine, and planted 559 hollyhock plants, including 259 that were multiplied by root division, at a corner in the precincts of the shrine.
Besides the planting activity, the participants also gathered fallen leaves at the planting site to be used as leaf mold.
Everyone who took part in the event felt refreshed being able to engage in the planting of hollyhocks at a scared site. We will strive to involve as many members as possible in this effort, while at the same time continue to think about the global environment.
We would like to thank AFUHI Project, everyone at Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine as well as all the participants for their support.
- Organizing company
- NTT West Head Office
- Venue
- Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine (Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kita-ku)
- No. of participants
- 88
