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© KYODOTree that saved lives from 2011 tsunami lives on through storytelling
By Daisuke Shimozawa SENDAI©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© KYODO
19 Comments
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Elvis is here
It really is the tree of life.
Rakuraku
Nice to see this tree honored as a Kami.
Stephen Chin
All Trees Are Beautiful! Especially This Zelkova !! It Has Saved Human Lives!!! Let Us Try To Save Its Life!!!!
Kenji
This is a great story. I went to Kesennuma and saw this tree.
Zaphod
Wow, I never heard of that story. That must have a truly crazy experience.
Zaphod
Rakuraku
Is it? I did not see that part in the article.
David Brent
Nice to see a Japanese tree that hasn't been "pruned" to within an inch of its life.
Mark
I hope it could be saved.
Fighto!
Add it to the World Heritage List. Massive domestic and World tourism will result, boosting the region.
Rakuraku
@zaphod
Just my guess looking at the Tori in front of it. I thought it may have been built as the tree was considered to be a kami after what happened.
But maybe there was already a sanctuary at this place. If it is the case it is a very nice coincidence anyway.
CatsLoveAll
CaptDingleheimer
I'm sorry, but there's no way that tree is 130 years old.
40 years, tops.
Stephen Chin
I think that I shall never see - a poem lovely as a Tree!
mrivers
"Nice to see this tree honored as a Kami," Giving honor to a tree which saved 8 people is very significant within the (monotheist) belief of certain western faiths. IAW their Messianic Christian doctrine, the number 8 in Sacred Texts represents a new beginning. The ancient Chinese and Japanese pictograph 八 represents the sum of 8 is part of the ancient word for boat. 船 in ancient Chinese was a snapshot of Noah's arc built to withstand the 40 days of rain. The 8 who survived the tsunami by hanging to a tree have a new beginning.
The tree in Sacred texts is a symbol representing the cross. It is written that one who hangs on a cross is cursed. In the New Testament eternal death was defeated when the son of God was crucified on a cross. On the 3rd day after he was buried, the Spirit of God resurrected him. He rose as the son of God to be forever seated at the right hand of God. It is the Heavenly Father's desire that all who honor his son, by faith receive him as Lord within one's heart.
BRS
In fact, Google Earth street view shows the tree to be encircled by a shimenawa, from which shide are hanging, indicating that it is indeed considered sacred.
Zaphod
Rakuraku
I thought the Tori is next to it, not in front of it, and unrelated. But I agree, it would be a nice gesture and a very Japanese thing to designate it as a kami.
Carol
Wondering if this is in English and available to read.
BRS
Street view offers a better perspective, showing in fact a second torii and a small shrine, beyond which sits a larger, possibly unrelated building.