Environment Ancient giant cedar found on Yakushima

A massive Yakusugi cedar tree on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture—believed to be over 1,000 years old and with a trunk circumference of approximately 16 metres, rivalling the island's iconic Jomon Cedar—has been revealed for the first time on camera by JNN. While many Yakusugi were heavily logged during Japan's rapid postwar economic expansion, this particular tree was spared by yamashi (mountain loggers), who deliberately chose not to fell it. Experts now estimate the tree could be over 2,000 years old. In 2023, veteran yamashi Honda Minoru remarked, "There are still several trees out there that might be even larger than the Jomon Cedar."

Additionally, the existence of another massive tree with a trunk circumference estimated at over 20 meters has also come to light. Yamashi Honda Ryuji commented, "Our predecessors said this was a tree that should be carefully preserved." The giant tree captured this time had been known only within the community of yamashi. The JNN reporting team obtained special permission to enter the forest under the guidance of the yamashi and successfully filmed the tree with a television camera for the first time.

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Astonishing, but a toddler compared to the 4000yr old Llangernyw yew tree in Conwy, Wales!