2026

Masatoshi Asari, Japan’s foremost cherry blossom creator, received an honorary degree from Keele University on 14th July. Naoko accepted the award on his behalf. Mr. Asari is 95 years old and could not travel to the UK. He received it together with Chris Sanders, who has planted many cherry trees on the university campus, including Mr. Asari’s creations. Mr. Asari’s cherry trees are very popular in the UK and Chris Sanders has been the key person spreading his cherry varieties, which are called Matsumae cherries as a group.   Naoko holding her article about Mr. Asari   (from the right) Chris Sanders, Naoko, Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Mark Ormerod, Doctor […]

      Naoko gave a lecture for the International Dendrology Society (IDS) on 25 February 2026 at the Royal Society of Chemistry in London. It was the Society’s Winter Lecture which is a once-a-year event where they invite a speaker. About 80 people attended from all over the UK and another 80 people watched the lecture online in the UK and abroad. Naoko talked about ‘Cherry’ Ingram and his legacy, how he ‘saved’ some important varieties of cherry blossoms from extinction, the history of cherry blossoms in Japan and their symbolism. She also talked about her latest book, ‘ The Martyr and the Red Kimono’, in which cherry blossoms