Which of these is the national tree of Japan?

Cryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae, formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae. It used to be considered by some to be endemic to Japan where it is known as Sugi (杉, lit. "Hair Tree"). The tree is called Japanese cedar or Japanese redwood in English. It has been extensively introduced and cultivated for wood production on the Azores.

Sugi is the national tree of Japan, commonly planted around temples and shrines, with many hugely impressive trees planted centuries ago. Sargent (1894; The Forest Flora of Japan) recorded the instance of a daimyō (feudal lord) who was too poor to donate a stone lantern at the funeral of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) at Nikkō Tōshō-gū, but requested instead to be allowed to plant an avenue of sugi, so that "future visitors might be protected from the heat of the sun".

The offer was accepted; the Cedar Avenue of Nikkō, which still exists, is over 65 km (40 mi) long, and "has not its equal in stately grandeur".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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24 Comments

Donald L Hersey

The Japanese Cherry Blossom is the National tree of Japan!

Pat Wells

Great question; I learned something. The haters are out with their thumbs down. If you don't like the questions, start writing them.

Dog001

The real problem is the simple fact a lot of websites are created by taking so called facts from another website and using it without any verification. So most read it and believe the Japanese Cherry Blossom is the National tree, when it's really the National Flower "Along with Chrysanthemums". The national tree is the "Sugi" Japanese Cedar Tree.

David Stokes

It is also one of the most common species of tree sold as Christmas Trees in supermarkets in Oz.

John W Shreve

Donald L Hersey, The cherry trees that blossom so beautifully during the spring in Washington, DC are a gift from the Japanese.

budderdudder

Wrong. Japan's FLOWER is the Cherry Blossom, Japan's national TREE is the Japanese Red Cedar.

Rob Farr

The only one that seemed to fit ...

Player

Rose Erofeev, all too often this happens 9/10 people don't read the question properly.

Rose Erofeev

Denise Currie, If you disagree with an answer, you should check it out before immediately assuming that you are right and the author is wrong. If you go looking you will find that you are wrong....

Louella Wilson

Cherry blossom may be considered as iconically Japanese. That does not mean the tree is. In Japan I constantly noticed the conifers (didn't know the species) and how carefully manicured each branch of each tree was.

Al Breyette

Went with the one I didn't know and guessed the answer that was shown to be correct. The first thing i look at in a question even before the answers is who the author is and if its Carol Whites I take extra precaution answering .

Joris van Pelt

Cryptomeria, Sugi is the national tree of Japan, commonly planted around temples and shrines, with many hugely impressive trees planted centuries ago.