2023-2024
Fujitodai Elementary School in Wakayama City (151 first graders)
Kazenoko Daycare center (17 children) +Wakayama University students
For this piece, each child drew a seed of peace, planted it in the soil to form a reference point, and then imagined a peace tree from there. They expressed the messages they wanted to convey to those suffering from war: flowers, stuffed animals, friends, smiles, school, and a cherry tree because "it brings peace to the heart," a water tree because "we were told there would be no water because of the war," and a gold tree because "we need money to support them." This collaborative piece, which also included younger children, resembles a beautiful carpet pattern. As first graders thought about peace, they realized the importance of the things close to them - friends, school, and family - and added the words of gratitude, "Thank you everyone."
