Wales-Japan friendship blooms with gift of ginkgo trees

Fifteen ginkgo tree saplings have been sent from Wales to Japan as a symbol of the two nations' deep-rooted friendship.The saplings were taken from a ginkgo tree in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, a location noted for its remarkable history in the country's long-standing ties with Japan.The tree is said to have been donated in 1877 by Kagenori Ueno, then Japanese envoy to Britain, as a symbol of gratitude upon the launch of the Japanese warship "Hiei" from Pembroke Dock.Also present at the launch was Lt. Heihachiro Togo, who was studying in Wales at the time and oversaw the ship's construct…READ FULL ARTICLE