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How To Read This Display
When reproducing and distributing this map
free of charge, please make acknowledgement
as follows:
"This distribution map was generated
by the Japan Environment Agency's(*) Big Trees
Survey Internet Site."
Distribution for a fee requires the agency's(*)
permission.
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 1. Survey Objectives |
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| Nurtured by the ages, big trees and forests symbolize Japan. They provide habitat for animals and sublime scenic vistas. They furnish regional symbols and nourish the soul. They are an extremely important natural resource that must be preserved. The objective of this survey was to determine the state of big trees throughout the country. |
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| 2. Survey Content and Methods |
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The survey was conducted targeting, in principle, trees with a trunk girth of 3m or more at a height of about 1.3m from the ground. Species whose trunk girth tends to be less than 3m (camellia, spindle tree, etc.) were subject to the survey even if they did not reach the 3m mark. The 6th survey involved a follow-up study targeting big trees confirmed in the 4th survey, and a new study targeting big trees confirmed in subsequent surveys. A field survey was conducted with respect to the following items.
(1) General: Location, tree age, species, trunk girth, height, etc.
(2) Preservation: Preservation designation, etc.
(3) Ecology: Surrounding conditions, health, etc.
(4) Cultural Associations: Religious beliefs, tradition, legends, etc.
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| 3. Survey Results |
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In the 4th survey, the trunk girth of 55,798 big trees across the country was measured and reported, including individual trees, forests and groves. Big trees were most commonly found in forests. In particular, groves preserved in shrine precincts were found to have retained a natural environment, although small in area, and played an important part as a habitat for big trees.
In the 6th survey, responses were received from 1,661 municipalities and members of the National Big Tree Club (response rate: 51%). According to the reports, 11,572 big trees were newly-identified, and 1,660 big trees were lost due to death or logging. Big trees subject to the survey totaled 64,479 nationwide. In the 6th survey, there were many reports from mountainous regions and isolated islands which had a low profile in the previous survey (4th survey). The nation湿璽湿舎s biggest trees in the family of Celtis sinensis (Enoki) and Castanopsis cuspidata (Sudajii) were confirmed in Ichiu Village, Tokushima Prefecture and Mikurajima Village, Tokyo, respectively, and it is presumed that many gigantic trees are yet to be identified. As in the case of the previous survey (4th survey), many big trees were found to have survived due to their relationship with humans, in the context of ownership, religious beliefs, names, etc. (Big Tree Photographs)
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Biggest Trees in Japan (Top 10) As of March 2001
| Rank |
Prefecture |
Species |
Location |
Trunk Girth (cm) |
Unique Name |
Preservation Designation |
Newly Confirmed |
| 1 |
kagoshima |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Hachiman Shrine, Kamou-cho |
2,422 |
Kamou's Big Kusunoki |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by national government) |
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| 2 |
shizuoka |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Kinomiya Shrine, Atami City |
2,390 |
none |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by national government) |
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| 3 |
okinawa |
Ficus retusa(Gajyumaru) |
Kochinda town, Shimajiri country |
2,350 |
none |
none |
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| 4 |
aomori |
Ginkgo biloba(Ichou) |
Kitakanegasawa aza shiomigata,Fukaura town,Nishitsugaru country |
2,200 |
Kitakanegasawa's Ichou |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by prefectural government) |
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| 5 |
saga |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Kawako湿璽湿舎s Big Kusunoki park,wakamatsu-cho,Takeo city |
2,100 |
Kawako's Big Kusunoki |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by national government)
Other designations |
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| 5 |
fukuoka |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Shimohonjyo,Tsuiki touwn,Tikujyo country |
2,100 |
none |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by national government) |
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| 7 |
saga |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Takeo Shrine,Takeo,Takeo-cho,Takeo city |
2,000 |
Takeo's Big Kusunoki |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by municipal government)
Other designations |
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| 7 |
yamagata |
Cercidiphyllum japonicum(Katsura) |
Mogami town,Mogami country |
2,000 |
Gongenyama's Big Katsura |
none |
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| 7 |
fukuoka |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
Umi Hachiman Shrine,Umi,Umi town,Kasuya country |
2,000 |
Kada's forest |
Natural monument, etc. (designated by national & prefectural government) |
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| 10 |
okinawa |
Ficus retusa(Gajyumaru) |
Kochinda town, Shimajiri country |
1,990 |
none |
none |
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Nationwide Big Tree Count by Species (Top 10)
| Rank |
Species |
Count |
| 6th survey (2000) |
5th survey (1988) |
| 1 |
Cryptomeria japonica (Sugi) |
14,869 |
13,681 |
| 2 |
Zelkova serrata (Keyaki) |
9,452 |
8,538 |
| 3 |
Cinnamomum camphora (Kusunoki) |
5,926 |
5,160 |
| 4 |
Ginkgo biloba (Ityou) |
4,855 |
4,318 |
| 5 |
Castanopsis cuspidata (Sudajii) |
4,830 |
3,530 |
| 6 |
Machilus thunbergii (Tabunoki or Inugusu) |
2,124 |
1,907 |
| 7 |
Pinus thunbergii (Kuromatsu) &
Pinus densiflora (Akamatsu) |
1,677 |
1,729 |
| 8 |
Aphananthe aspera (Mukunoki) |
1,641 |
1,465 |
| 9 |
Abies firma (Momi) |
1,605 |
1,364 |
| 10 |
Celtis sinensis (Enoki) |
1,371 |
1,221 |
| * "Pinus thunbergii (Kuromatsu) & Pinus densiflora (Akamatsu)" were
classified as one species for comparison purposes. |
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| All Rights Reserved, Copyright Ministry of the Environment. |
*) The organization was changed to the Ministry of Environment in 2000. |
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