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Forests · San José and Cartago

Hiroshima Survivor Trees Grow in Costa Rica: A Ginkgo for Peace

On May 27, 2026, the Embassy of Japan in Costa Rica planted a young ginkgo descended from trees that survived the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bombing, the fourth such tree placed in the country. The seeds came from Green Legacy Hiroshima to the University of Costa Rica, which now serves as the program's Latin American seed hub.

By Pura-Verde.com Editors · Published
Original report: La Nación: Embajada del Japón sembró en Costa Rica árboles sobrevivientes al bombardeo atómico en Hiroshima (2026-05-29)

Some of the most meaningful trees in Costa Rica are still knee-high. On May 27, 2026, the Embassy of Japan planted a young ginkgo in San José whose family line runs back to Hiroshima, to trees that were still standing after the atomic bomb fell on Aug. 6, 1945. It's the fourth of these "survivor tree" descendants placed in the country, and more are waiting in a university nursery.

A ginkgo at the ambassador's residence

The ceremony was attended by Japanese diplomats, University of Costa Rica (UCR) officials, representatives of Costa Rica's foreign ministry and the press, La Nación reported on May 29. Green Legacy Hiroshima, the program that spreads seeds from these trees worldwide, says the tree was a Hiroshima ginkgo planted at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan in San José, and credits its regional hub at UCR for making it happen. Teletica also placed the planting at the ambassador's residence.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hironobu Ishibashi recalled that people once said nothing would grow in Hiroshima for decades, yet new shoots and flowers appeared on the damaged trees. Hiroshima, he said, "was reborn as a city full of life thanks to the power of plants" (translated from Spanish, as reported by La Nación).

Where the other three trees are

Since 2025, three earlier saplings have gone into the ground, according to La Nación and Teletica:

The reports didn't give exact planting dates or species for each of those three.

From Hiroshima seeds to a Costa Rican nursery

The story starts in 2020, when Green Legacy Hiroshima donated seeds to UCR's School of Biology, Teletica reported. With support from the Lankester garden, they germinated, and the university now holds about 40 young plants and 90 seeds, according to both outlets.

UCR has since been named Green Legacy Hiroshima's regional seed hub for Latin America, one of a handful of hubs that share seeds with partners in their regions. The stated goal is to keep placing these trees in public spaces where Costa Ricans can see them and reflect on their message of peace.

What are Hiroshima survivor trees?

In Japan they're called hibakujumoku, trees that were exposed to the 1945 bombing and lived. Their survival, and the green shoots they put out in a city many expected to be barren, made them symbols of resilience and hope.

Green Legacy Hiroshima was set up to safeguard and spread seeds and saplings from these trees. According to its website, it now works with 165 partners in 42 countries. Its coordinator is Nassrine Azimi.

The ginkgo is a fitting ambassador. It's one of the oldest tree lineages on Earth, famously tough and long-lived, and it's among the species on Hiroshima's survivor list.

Why it fits Costa Rica

Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 and hosts the University for Peace, so the country has long tied its identity to peace and education. Planting trees as living memorials also fits a national culture that measures progress partly in forest cover, a story told in our guide to reforestation in Costa Rica. A commemorative ginkgo isn't reforestation, though: it's a non-native tree kept for its history, not for habitat. Ginkgos also grow slowly and can live for centuries, so these trees are a long-term gift. They won't shade a plaza for years, but placing them on campuses and in a botanical garden means students and visitors will grow up alongside them.

If you like the idea of small trees with big stories, see how neighbors in Curridabat are planting a pocket forest of native species.

Visiting the trees

The Lankester Botanical Garden is open to the public and is the easiest of the sites to visit. Our guide to Costa Rica's botanical gardens explains what else Lankester does, from orchid research to its living collections. The UCR and UPEACE campuses have their own access rules, and the ambassador's residence is private. Check each institution's current visiting hours before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Are there Hiroshima survivor trees in Costa Rica?

Yes. Four descendants of Hiroshima's A-bomb survivor trees have been planted in Costa Rica since 2025, at UCR, Lankester Botanical Garden, the University for Peace and, on May 27, 2026, the Japanese ambassador's residence in San José.

What kind of tree was planted on May 27, 2026?

Green Legacy Hiroshima describes it as a Hiroshima ginkgo, grown from seed collected from a tree that survived the 1945 bombing.

What is Green Legacy Hiroshima?

It's an initiative that collects seeds from Hiroshima's survivor trees and shares them worldwide as messengers of peace. It works with 165 partners in 42 countries, and UCR is its Latin American hub.

Can I see a Hiroshima tree at Lankester Botanical Garden?

Lankester, in Cartago, received one of the saplings for its Japanese garden. The garden is open to visitors; check its website for hours.

Sources and original reporting

  1. La Nación: Embajada del Japón sembró en Costa Rica árboles sobrevivientes al bombardeo atómico en Hiroshima (2026-05-29)
  2. Teletica: Embajada del Japón y UCR plantan árboles sobrevivientes al bombardeo atómico de Hiroshima (2026-05-27)
  3. Green Legacy Hiroshima: home page and partner updates
  4. Lankester Botanical Garden: official site
  5. University for Peace: official site

We wrote this story from the published reports and official sources above. We didn't interview the people named unless the story says so.

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