Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe OTSUCHI, Japan, April 25 (UPI) -- Residents of Otsuchi, Japan, gathered to say goodbye to five cherry trees that survived the tsunami two years ago. About 200 residents gathered Wednesday at the playground of the former Akahama elementary school in Otsuchi in northeastern Japan to view the cherry blossoms blooming for the final time. Advertisement The school was damaged in the catastrophic tsunami that swamped the region after the March 2011 earthquake. The 100-year-old trees are to be cut down to make way for new home construction at the site of the school, which was torn down in June, Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday. Residents said they were attempting to preserve the legacy of the trees by planting cuttings along town streets. Read More Japan struggles with tons of radioactive rice Leaks plague cleanup efforts at damaged Japanese nuclear plant Radioactive water leaks at Fukushima
