Do you happen to know the small rose garden next to the Children’s Peace Monument in the Peace Memorial Park?

In the rose garden, there’re roses which have deep connections with world-famous people. I would like to introduce one of them here.

　　　　

“Duftwolke”: beloved rose by the chancellor

　　　　

　　　

　　　

　　　　

In March 1960, Konrad Adenauer, West German Chancellor, visited Japan. At that time, Germany was divided into two countries, West Germany and East Germany, as a result of the Second World War.

　　Since becoming the first Chancellor of West Germany in 1949, Mr. Adenauer had worked hard to rebuild West Germany, which, like Japan, had been devastated in WWII. He was a rebellious man who was critical of the Nazi regime that started the war and was imprisoned during the war.

Among Adenauer’s entourage wasDr. Max Schulze-Forberg , a member of parliament and a doctor. While accompanying Adenauer on the travels around Japan, he was impressed and fascinated by the beauty of the Japanese cherry blossoms.

Dr. Shulze-Forberg asked the Japanese government to donate cherry blossom trees to West Germany, and in 1968, 30 saplings were sent from Hiroshima City. It was an expression of hope for peace, and also a symbol of friendship between Japan and Germany. The trees were planted in the suburbs of Schweinfurt in April of the same year. As the city of Schweinfurt was an industrial area, it was a target of Allied bombing during World War II.

　　　　

　　　　　

　　

　　　

In the same year as cherry blossom trees from Hiroshima were planted, Schweinfurt donated rose saplings to Hiroshima as a gift in return. Both Schweinfurt and Hiroshima, damaged by the war and wished for peace, were connected by cherry blossoms and roses.

The breed of the rose is “Duftwolke,” and it was the rose Mr. Adenauer loved the most. Mr. Adenauer died the year before the cherry blossom trees were given to the city. Ninety-one rose seedlings were given to Hiroshima by Schweinfurt. It was the same number of seedlings as the age that Adenauer had lived.

The Rose “Duftwolke,” which Mr. Adenauer loved, served as a bridge of friendship between Japan and Germany. They are now planted in the rose garden in Peace Memorial Park. Visitors enjoy seeing them in bloom during May and June every year.

　　　　

　　　

　　

Peace Memorial Park

address: 1-1 Nakajimacho, Naka ward, Hiroshima City (the rose garden is at the location of the red pin on the map above)

Phone No.: +81 (0)82-504-2390

WebPage　http://hpmmuseum.jp/ (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum)