In early morning of 5th December, 2004, Tokyo recorded the maximum peak wind of 40.2 meters per second, the strongest wind in observation history in Tokyo. The willow tree by the police station, which is one of the landmarks of Kugahara, was broken by the wind.
Blown by south wind, the upper part of the tree fell onto the police station building. The neighbors and gardeners treated the remaining tree as shown in the photos below.
While we will wait for fresh shoots in spring, we do not know how many years it will take to recover the gorgeous figure like before.

Painful figure of the willow tree and the police station. (Photo taken on 7 January)

Remaining trunk of the willow.

The willow tree and the police station in their glorious days.