General Ulysses Simpson Grant (1822–1885) was born into a farming family in the state of Ohio in the United States. He served in the American Civil War, distinguished himself in numerous battles, and later became the commanding general who led the Union Army to victory. In 1869 (Meiji 2), he became the 18th President of the United States and served two terms until 1877 (Meiji 10).
 After retiring from the presidency, he traveled around the world with his family from 1877 (Meiji 10) to 1880 (Meiji 13), and he also visited Japan. On August 25, 1879 (Meiji 12), a grand welcome ceremony was held in the newly opened Ueno Park. As a commemoration, General Grant planted a Lawson cypress, and his wife planted a southern magnolia.
 Fifty years later, the trees they planted had grown splendidly, but after so much time had passed, few people still knew their origins. It seems the monument was also intended to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their visit, and to ensure that the story behind the tree planting would not be forgotten. Thus, in August 1929 (Showa 4), a memorial monument was erected here. At the center stands a bust of General Grant, with a Japanese inscription on the right and an English inscription on the left. These inscriptions appear to describe the circumstances surrounding the tree planting.

 The reason I said “as it seems to be written” is because I myself have not properly read the inscription. If I were to stand in front of it for a long time trying to do so, people might think I looked suspicious, and I would also be in the way. I tried taking photographs so I could read them slowly at home, but the images did not come out very clearly, and since the Japanese text is pre-war style rather than modern Japanese, it is very difficult to read.
 Searching on the internet, I found a website called “Digital Edition of the Shibusawa Eiichi Biographical Materials” (Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation). Within it, the page titled “Regarding the Erection of the Monument Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Visit of General Grant and His Wife (DK380048k-0003)” appears to contain the same text as the inscriptions on the monument. There are other useful references as well, so anyone interested may wish to read them.

 Where exactly is the General Grant Tree Planting Monument located? It stands behind the statue of Prince Komatsu-no-miya, right next to the site of the small amusement area that once stood in front of the old main gate of Ueno Zoo. How many people today are aware of this monument’s existence? The monument was built so that the origins of the tree planting would not be forgotten—yet if the monument itself is forgotten, that would defeat the purpose.