(from left): Mrs. Shofu Shohara, Deanna Matsumoto and Huell Howser at the dedication of the Aoyama Tree as a living Historic Cultural Monument on July 17, 2008.

Mrs. Shohara is an ikebana teacher of the Kado Kyoju-Kai, the Ikebana Teachers' Guild. Hers and her colleagues' work was exhibited in the exhibit "Living Flowers: Ikebana and Contemporary Art" at the Japanese American National Museum from June 15-September 7, 2008.

Deanna Matsumoto, a member of the Little Tokyo Historical Society, helped to nominate the Aoyama Tree for recognition and organize the event.

Huell Howser is a well-known public television personality whose series, California's Gold, documented the ceremony.