kimura developed special machines to shape the winding trunk with intricate curves. last year alone, visitors from 30 countries took part in the tour. it's contributing to a growing interest in bonsai and a boost in exports. >> do you have one favorite tree? too hard. very, very beautiful. yeah. it's something you could only really dream about, having yourself a collection like this. i definitely recommend it to other people, too. >> yeah. >> translator: when people who take the tour get back home they talk about the charms of bonsai. that helps in our effort to promote it abroad. >> reporter: as bonsai gains popularity around the world, exports are steadily increasing. last year this company in saitama shipped 8,000 trees to 11 countries and territories including europe, china and south korea. some of the bonsai sold for more than $20,000. company officials are looking to reach even more markets by offering plants suited to various climates. olive trees are native to the mediterranean. this one stands just 40 centimeters tall, but its trunk is thick and stout. this

. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> reporter: sisters sam and alex kimura are having a blast on a yearlong cross-country roadg tour. it's a medical mission. five years ago sam was a healthy high school athlete. now she's copes with the rare blood disorder severe aplastic anemia. a bone marrow transplant is the only cure. >> you want to have your whole life stretched out ahead of you and know that you have limitless possibilities, but it's hard knowing that i might not have that. >> reporter: big sister alex hoped to be the hero but was not a match. sam's name lingered for years on the national bone marrow registry so the sisters took action. >> oh, my gosh. sam and alex traded in their cars, bought a tricked-out van and plotted a route through all 50 states. the plan was to find a donor for sam. but along the way they realized something-- >> there are thousands of patients every year that are in the same position. there are millions and millions of people in this country that just aren't signed up yet. they could be the cure for all these patients. >> do you want to sign up? >> reporter: so now they're swabb