(Nago City is located in the central part of Okinawa's main island at the root of Motobu peninsula. Population over 60,000. Google Map: from Naha Airport to the tree)
Many citizens gathered at the city's Gajumaru Green Area Park to hear what panelists would say about the tree at "Banyan Tree Symposium" which was coordinated by the delegate of Gajumaru Network. The symposists included a citizen's representative, a delegate of City Tourism Association's administrative office, the chairperson of Nago City Museum Friendship Association, and the deputy director of Nago City Board of Education.
The citizens pay particular attention to this banyan tree for two reasons. The first reason is that the tree has stood at the entrance of the city's main street for nearly 300 years and been registered as the natural monument by the national government. The other reason, a graver one, is because the tree has lately been in danger of falling over. A powerful typhoon hit the city a few years ago and almost blew the old tree down. Luckily, the tree has survived but the city had to shore up the large branches to prevent the tree from being further uprooted. In this early summer, the city's education board, an organizing body in charge of maintaining cultural properties, had to cut off many spread branches in order to lessen wind resistance before the typhoon season arrived.
At the symposium, the deputy director of the education board explained the measures the city has been taking to prevent the felling of Hinpun Gajumal. "It is important that every citizen, as well as the city office, give consideration to the banyan tree," he appealed.
The delegate of the city's tourism association proposed a number of suggestions, including plans to designate the area around the tree as "a power spot*," to organize a gourmet festival at the park nearby, and to train tour guides so as to systematically support the revitalization of the city's main street area.
* The phrase "power spot" is a Japanese people's coinage to describe a sacred place or a location with magnificent views where visitors are spiritually/emotionally energized.
The City Museum Friendship Association chair expressed a necessity to think about ways for helping the citizens become more appreciative of their own community. "One way to do this is to exhibit old photographs throughout the downtown area," he suggested.
On October 24th, the festival committee hosted other events including a music concert.
At the end of January through early February, Nago City cerebrates one of Japan's earliest cherry-flower viewing festival which attracts over 200,000 visitors each year. The banyan is introduced to first-time visitors as a tree that has protected the city for three centuries.
Nago City people has started giving back a little of what they can to the old tree.
