Naoko gave a talk titled ‘Cherry Ingram and his rich legacy’ to the members of the University of Bath Gardening Club on 21 October 2025 at the University of Bath. It was the first meeting of the Club this academic year and about 100 members attended.
Naoko talked about the life of Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram and about the symbolism of cherry blossoms, including the use of the flower for the military ideology in Japan during the Second World War.
She also talked about her second English book ‘The Martyr and the Red Kimono’ in which cherry blossoms play a significant role in the story. The book is about war and peace—about resistance, sacrifice and reconciliation. When the talk ended, the Club’s MC said it was an appropriate talk in the current world situation in which war and conflicts are prevalent. We must always remember the message of peace and reconciliation that Naoko’s books convey.
*Naoko and her husband Paul stayed at the home of Derry Watkins, an American plant-hunter who has created an amazing garden in Chippenham just outside Bath. She and her English architect husband Peter bought a desolate barn in 1996 and have transformed it into a comfortable modern home and garden. She has planted rare plants and shrubs which she has collected from around the world. She also has a nursery called Special Plants Nursery.
