As their children graduate from Seiwa Kindergarden, an evacuated family from Fukushima plants a tree in gratitude

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120315-00000592-san-l28

Distributed on March 15, 8:10PM by the Keizai Shinbum

A family displaced by last year's disaster plants a Keyaki (Fukushima's prefectural tree) in commemoration of two graduating kindergartners=Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture (Photo: Keizai Shinbun)

On the 15th, a family of Nichinomiya City's Kansai University Kindergarden 2nd class planted a keyaki tree.  Due to the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nucleur Reactor Accident, they had to evacuate Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture for Hyogo, Nichinomiya.

On that day, 2 evacuated children attending the Kansai Academy Seiwa Kindergarten were graduating.  School employees had been raising relief donations, while parental guardians of the other school children donated essential goods for living. Those receiving the support were filled with gratitude.

The keyaki tree is the Fukushima Prefecture and Minamisoma City's official tree. "I've thankful for how kind the people here have been over the last year." said Katou Shiho (37), who planted the tree in return.


Original text:
福島から避難の親子が感謝の植樹　聖和幼稚園を卒園
産経新聞 3月15日(木)20時10分配信

卒園記念に福島県の県木、ケヤキを植樹する避難家族＝兵庫県西宮市（写真：産経新聞）

東京電力福島第１原発事故の影響で、福島県南相馬市から兵庫県西宮市に避難している２組の親子が１５日、西宮市内の関西学院大にケヤキを植樹した。

子供２人がこの日、通っていた関西学院聖和幼稚園を卒園。同園では教職員らが義援金を募ったり、園児の保護者が日用品を寄付したりと支援してくれたことへの感謝を込めた。

ケヤキは福島県と南相馬市の県木、市木。植樹した加藤志保さん（３７）は「人の優しさにこれほど感謝した１年はなかった」と振り返った。