Ohio's Cherry Trees

Ohio's Cherry Trees. . , The blossoms of Ohio University's iconic cherry trees symbolize the arrival of springtime in Athens. The trees serve as a living commemoration of the University's longest institutional partnership, with Chubu University, located in Kasugai, Japan., Ohio University began a multifaceted international educational collaboration with Chubu University in 1973. In 1979, Chubu University President Yamada Kazuo gifted Ohio University with 175 cherry trees, one for each year since the founding of Ohio University in 1804. The gift was the brainchild of Chubu University's Executive Board Chairman Onishi Ryozo. Chubu University gifted more cherry trees to celebrate Ohio University's bicentennial in 2004. Over the years, trees damaged by storms have been replaced by new trees., The historic gift from Chubu University has created a long-standing tradition of celebrating cherry blossoms along the Hocking River on Ohio's Athens campus and serves as a yearly reminder of our decades-long global partnership., In 2019, National Geographic named Athens, Ohio, among the best places in the nation to see cherry blossoms., The cherry trees along the Hocking River are a premium variety called somei yoshino., Each spring, Ohio University lights the cherry blossoms in this area during selected evening hours.