Reviving the Splendor of Japan’s Ancient Sugita Plum Tree
The IHI Group is dedicated to conserving Japan’s ancient Sugita Plum trees, which are highly regarded for their pure lineage, as they have never been cross-bred. This variety originated in the Sugita district of Yokohama’s Isogo Ward, and formed a grove of 36,000 there, making it a renowned viewing spot during the Edo era (1603-1868). Fires, salt damage, and residential development later decimated the grove.
Several years ago, someone discovered Sugita Plum trees in part of a Soga Plum grove in the city of Odawara, also in Kanagawa Prefecture. Volunteers from Sugita saw an opportunity to plant some of the trees in their native location to restore their traditional prominence.
Employees from the IHI Yokohama Works in Sugita joined this initiative by planting Sugita Plum saplings in January 2023 on a vacant 3,000-square-meter plot on the premises. Around 30 trees grow there now. A year later, some of them had already blossomed.



Some of the personnel served on an executive committee of local volunteers dedicated to restoring the Sugita grove. The committee organized the Sugita Plum Festival, which was held on February 17 and 18 this year at Myoho-ji Temple, home to old Sugita Plum trees and 100 grafted saplings. Blossoms on older trees were in full bloom, attracting around 5,000 visitors.
The employee cafeteria and store at the IHI Yokohama Works celebrated the festival by offering special lunches and snacks made with Sugita Plums, giving employees an opportunity to learn more about this historic fruit.
The IHI Group will keep striving to safeguard biodiversity by engaging in conservation initiatives with local communities and companies.

