Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project

A seedling of the bombed kaki tree from Nagasaki will be planted as a symbol of peace and proof that life always finds its way.

The Revive Time: Kaki Tree Project is an international art project started in 1996 by renowned Japanese contemporary artist Tatsuo Miyajima, in collaboration with tree healer Masayuki Ebinuma, who rescued seeds from the fruit of a kaki tree that survived the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki. The project was first presented in Europe at the Venice Biennale in 1999 and has since grown and been successfully planted in over 270 locations in 24 countries. In Nova Gorica, we will plant a descendant of the Nagasaki tree, putting the GO! 2025 area on the map of this global family. Promoting peace, the project will further contribute to the idea of two cities with a difficult past that are ready to overcome past conflict.

The Kaki Tree Project is in full swing and in the preparation phase for the main event – the planting of a persimmon tree, a symbol of peace and connection, along with a rich artistic programme. The tree will be planted by the renowned pianist Alexander Gadjiev, who connects Slovenia, Italy, and Japan through his musical career.

This project, which intertwines art, history, and sustainability, involves artists, students, and both local and international partners. The artistic direction of the project is led by Rene Rusjan, professor, programme director of the Academy of Arts, and an artist who has been involved in the Kaki Tree Project for two decades. In the process of selecting the planting site and implementing the project, she collaborates with Prof. Saša Dobričič, head of the Green Points and Movement project. Students of the Academy of Arts and the artistic collective are actively preparing a cultural-artistic program aimed at raising awareness among young people about the importance of peace. Both Italian and Japanese partners—Kaki Tree Project Board and Nagasaki–Brescia Kaki Tree Project Europe—are actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the project. They have nurtured the tree from the seed of a persimmon tree that survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and will take care of it until it is planted. 

The project is already uniting young people, artists, and the local community, encouraging reflection on the importance of peace. In 2025, thematic workshops will be held, led by both local and international mentors, producing artistic and multimedia works that will leave a lasting educational and cultural impact. For the tree planting event, we expect the arrival of partners from Italy and Japan, who contribute to spreading the project's message of peace worldwide. The planting site will become a long-term gathering space for reflection on peace and international collaboration.