Thirteen years ago, Yoshihiro Hidaka planted the first cherry tree on the property of his company, Hidaka USA, Inc. on Shier Rings Road. Now, more than 100 cherry trees bloom each spring, symbolizing a fresh start to the year.
For Hidaka, the arrival of the Sakura – cherry blossom – brings to mind his roots in Tokyo, where he grew up.
“The trees are intended to promote birth and a new beginning, and I want to share this aspect and the beauty of the trees with everyone in Dublin,” Hidaka says.
Hidaka’s father started Hidaka USA’s parent company, Hidaka Seiki, more than 50 years ago. After graduating from Keio University in Tokyo, the younger Hidaka took a job at an automotive parts company in Japan. In 1987, he was transferred to the company’s Ann Arbor, Mich. office.
Just three years later, Hidaka Seiki decided to build a sheet metal fabrication facility in Dublin and asked the younger Hidaka to head up the new business. Hidaka; his wife, Keiko; and their two sons, Akihiro and Hirobumi, moved to central Ohio so he could lead the company.
Dublin proved to be an ideal location – close to its main client, Honda of America Manufacturing and a great location for Japanese families to live, Hidaka says.
According to 2010 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Asians are Dublin’s largest minority group, accounting for 15.3 percent of its population (just under 42,000 in 2010), and 8.5 percent of its businesses are Asian-owned. Both of those figures are well above average for Ohio (1.7 percent and 2 percent, respectively).
“The City of Dublin … understands the Japanese community and how some are not able to live in the city for a long period of time, specifically during an overseas job assignment. However, the city still continues to take good care of them,” Hidaka says. “A good example is the Dublin Methodist Hospital that was built five years ago. … The hospital provides good translation services to help them feel comfortable during their visits.”
To thank Dublin for3 welcoming Japanese residents, the company started a new tradition in 2007.
Hanami – the traditional flower viewing of the cherry blossoms – is typically spent feasting under the cherry trees with friends and family. With more and more of the trees on the Hidaka USA property maturing and blossoming each year, Hidaka decided to host a Cherry Tree Luncheon to invite City staff to celebrate the coming of spring. A City building, which houses several departments, is just across the road from Hidaka USA.
“We have the event outside every year and we try to predict in early March … when the trees will be in full bloom,” Hidaka says. “Once a date is decided, we have two weeks to send out invitations, plan the menu and make arrangements to have a tent set up for our guests.”
The tent faces cherry trees planted along a pond so guests have a good view of the trees – if they’re in bloom at the time of the event. Even with last-minute invitations, timing the luncheon is tricky. If the trees have already bloomed, the company arranges for photographs of the blooms for display at the event.
The event also showcases Japanese culture. For the last two years, the Consul General of Japan in Detroit, Kuninori Matsuda, has attended and given a short speech. Food served is a mix of American and Japanese staples, including sushi, in the interest of providing something for everyone.
“When I first started this business in Dublin, everyone was very kind to me and I am very happy for the friendship and support I have gotten over the years,” Hidaka says. “The Hanami is my way of thanking the City officials of Dublin and its staff members by bringing us together in a joyous way to celebrate the beginning of spring.”
This year’s Cherry Blossom Luncheon will likely take place in early April, Hidaka says.
“I hope everyone can take a moment of their busy schedules to look at the true beauty of the trees and understand that every day is a new beginning,” he says.
The bond between Dublin and Japan was strengthened even further after the devastating tsunami that struck northern Japan and the 9.0 earthquake off its coast in March 2011. Sandra Puskarcik, the City’s director of community relations, asked Hidaka how the community could help Japan.
Fortunately, neither Hidaka USA’s parent company nor workers’ friends or family members were directly impacted by the disaster. But in Japan, more than 15,000 people died and more than 800,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed.
Hidaka was so saddened by the tragedy that he considered cancelling the luncheon.
“I could not find a reason in my heart to celebrate the coming of spring,” he says. “However, many people asked me to continue this event because it has special meaning to them, which encouraged me … and also reminded me of the importance of remaining resilient during times of hardship.”
City officials and staff members attended memorial services and helped raise money for a fund created by Matsuda’s office. Last November, the City and the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio held a showing in the Abbey Theater of the documentary Pray for Japan, which documented the after-effects of the quake and tsunami.
“I was very touched by the City’s help and kind words,” Hidaka says. “There are a lot of Japanese families in Dublin and I was very happy to see the officials from the City working with them to help alleviate the aftermath of the disaster.”
In addition to his work at Hidaka USA, Hidaka is a board member of the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio. The nonprofit society, which recently moved its offices to the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center at 565 Metro Place S., is one of 36 similar groups around the country, and its mission is to promote the sharing of knowledge about Japan and provide a forum for discussion about the relationship between the U.S. and Japan. The society recently hosted a fundraiser commemorating the second anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami at the Dublin Community Recreation Center.
Lisa Aurand is editor of Dublin Life Magazine. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
