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391-Year-Old Bonsai Tree Planted In 1625 Has Survived Hiroshima And Keeps On Growing

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I can barely keep my basil plant alive, but this remarkable bonsai tree has been around for nearly 400 years. Planted in 1625, the tree is currently 391-years-old, and if that isn’t impressive enough already, it also survived the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. The tree belonged to the Yamaki family, who in 1945 lived just two miles away from the spot on which American forces dropped the bomb that killed an estimated 140,000 people. Somewhat amazingly, the tree and the Yamaki family survived the blast relatively unharmed.

It’s currently housed in the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. It was given as a gift to the United States by bonsai master Masaru Yamaki in 1976. Staff at the arboretum were unaware of the white pine’s connection to Hiroshima until 2001, when Yamaki’s grandsons explained its extraordinary history while visiting the collection. Recently Bonsai Empire and the NBF at the National Arboretum made a short video of the Yamaki pine, and you can find it here.

More info: US National Arboretum | Bonsai Empire | YouTube (h/t: mymodernmet)

RELATED:

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Image credits: The United States National Arboretum

hiroshima-bonsai-tree-1

Image credits: ArkadiusBear

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What do you think ?

MadameButterfly 7 years ago

And may you continue to thrive little tree.

11points

Rainbowz 7 years ago

Wow! How much longer is it gonna last?

11points

A Snail 7 years ago

They usually live as long as their "parent trees", so you really can't tell. But it probably still has quite a few years/decades in it :)

15points

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lina green 7 years ago

Amazing plant. It should be living in Japan though.

8points

John Ashley 7 years ago

I think bonsai master Masuru Yamaki was the only person wise enough to make that decision. Would you say all Japanese-Americans should be living in Japan?

2points

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Shruti Naik 7 years ago

Wow! soon it will be 4 centuries old. It has witnessed so many transformations...

5points

DancingToMyself 7 years ago

If it would talk...

2points

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Kenri Basar 7 years ago

Ironical that it is in U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C...

3points

Bella Rees 7 years ago

What a determined little tree

3points

Silly Sausage 7 years ago

Wish I had a relationship that was half as strong as this tree lol

2points

Daria B 7 years ago

"The tree belonged to the Yamaki family, who in 1945 lived just two miles away from the spot on which American forces dropped the bomb" Uhm... Don't wanna sound pessimistic, but are we sure it's not radioactive...? Well, obviously it was tested when they found out... I guess.

2points

Alexandru Guraliuc 7 years ago

Great !

2points

Chevi Vandenberg 7 years ago

That is crazy but I'm glad there is people to take care of it and just love that story!!

1point

Lord Beerus 7 years ago

My bonsai died after 3 months ;_;

1point

Natasha L 7 years ago

This is amazing! (Coming from a person who barely managed to keep a bonsai alive for three months)

1point

DancingToMyself 7 years ago

I'm a pro! My tree was healthy about 5 months. Beat that!!! 😁

1point

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Hans 7 years ago

The little reminders of unity between peoples.

1point

Sick Boy 7 years ago

Yeah, a great friendship that started with a cute thing called "Little Boy".

2points

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Leeana Halloran 7 years ago

The shape of it looks like the atomic cloud.

0points

مريم محمد 7 years ago

Live in China

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

None of that determine how long this tree will last, if properly care for it would still be here for hundreds of years to come

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

They can live for ever, as long as someone knows how to properly care for. I have a Bucida ( black olive) that I got over 20 years ago and don't have half of the experience as the people who takes care of this tree and the many more they have

0points

John Kennedy 7 years ago

What a lovely gift from japan. The Japanese also gave us many of the cherry trees that are in Washington DC. I worked for RICOH for four years in Japan and was treated very well.

0points

Pete Wall 7 years ago

It's been exposed to high levels of radiation. Nice gift :)

0points

Juls Robertson 7 years ago

What a kind gesture from Mr. Masaru Yamaki San.....surely it must have been hard to part with, (we) The United States should realize what a great honor it is to make it's home here.....although, I personally think it should have stayed in it's 'OWN HOMELAND', but that's jus' me, I'm very sentimental.

0points

Juls Robertson 7 years ago

That's amazzzzing, if it were possible I'd love to have a conversation with it....soooo much history.

0points

Paul Patraşcu 7 years ago

Majestic

0points

Juan Alcorta 7 years ago

It´s funny that it was given as gift to the US after surviving a bomb dropped by the US.

0points

Rob Chyou 7 years ago

grow rootroofen

0points

Yunos Darby☯️ 7 years ago

Wonderful

0points

Adam D 7 years ago

Happy Christmas everyone!

0points

David Kiss 7 years ago

How much would that be worth? $$?

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

Priceless

0points

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Z 7 years ago

How do they know how old it is? Would be cool to know the history of it prior to 1945

0points

Little letitia 7 years ago

Because as it stated, its been in the Yakima family since 1625, as in its been passed down through the generations.

1point

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Samantha P 7 years ago

Wow!! Will it still be alive when I die?? That would be cool!!

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

Yes it would be

0points

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Sick Boy 7 years ago

That guy that survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still more interesting.

-2points

FlowerChild 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Z 7 years ago

Did you even read the article?

5points

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Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Merlyn Holmes 7 years ago

......twat!

2points

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Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Victor Vakaras 7 years ago

What a monumentally stupid thing to say.

18points

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MadameButterfly 7 years ago

And may you continue to thrive little tree.

11points

Rainbowz 7 years ago

Wow! How much longer is it gonna last?

11points

A Snail 7 years ago

They usually live as long as their "parent trees", so you really can't tell. But it probably still has quite a few years/decades in it :)

15points

Load More Replies...

lina green 7 years ago

Amazing plant. It should be living in Japan though.

8points

John Ashley 7 years ago

I think bonsai master Masuru Yamaki was the only person wise enough to make that decision. Would you say all Japanese-Americans should be living in Japan?

2points

Load More Replies...

Shruti Naik 7 years ago

Wow! soon it will be 4 centuries old. It has witnessed so many transformations...

5points

DancingToMyself 7 years ago

If it would talk...

2points

Load More Replies...

Kenri Basar 7 years ago

Ironical that it is in U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C...

3points

Bella Rees 7 years ago

What a determined little tree

3points

Silly Sausage 7 years ago

Wish I had a relationship that was half as strong as this tree lol

2points

Daria B 7 years ago

"The tree belonged to the Yamaki family, who in 1945 lived just two miles away from the spot on which American forces dropped the bomb" Uhm... Don't wanna sound pessimistic, but are we sure it's not radioactive...? Well, obviously it was tested when they found out... I guess.

2points

Alexandru Guraliuc 7 years ago

Great !

2points

Chevi Vandenberg 7 years ago

That is crazy but I'm glad there is people to take care of it and just love that story!!

1point

Lord Beerus 7 years ago

My bonsai died after 3 months ;_;

1point

Natasha L 7 years ago

This is amazing! (Coming from a person who barely managed to keep a bonsai alive for three months)

1point

DancingToMyself 7 years ago

I'm a pro! My tree was healthy about 5 months. Beat that!!! 😁

1point

Load More Replies...

Hans 7 years ago

The little reminders of unity between peoples.

1point

Sick Boy 7 years ago

Yeah, a great friendship that started with a cute thing called "Little Boy".

2points

Load More Replies...

Leeana Halloran 7 years ago

The shape of it looks like the atomic cloud.

0points

مريم محمد 7 years ago

Live in China

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

None of that determine how long this tree will last, if properly care for it would still be here for hundreds of years to come

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

They can live for ever, as long as someone knows how to properly care for. I have a Bucida ( black olive) that I got over 20 years ago and don't have half of the experience as the people who takes care of this tree and the many more they have

0points

John Kennedy 7 years ago

What a lovely gift from japan. The Japanese also gave us many of the cherry trees that are in Washington DC. I worked for RICOH for four years in Japan and was treated very well.

0points

Pete Wall 7 years ago

It's been exposed to high levels of radiation. Nice gift :)

0points

Juls Robertson 7 years ago

What a kind gesture from Mr. Masaru Yamaki San.....surely it must have been hard to part with, (we) The United States should realize what a great honor it is to make it's home here.....although, I personally think it should have stayed in it's 'OWN HOMELAND', but that's jus' me, I'm very sentimental.

0points

Juls Robertson 7 years ago

That's amazzzzing, if it were possible I'd love to have a conversation with it....soooo much history.

0points

Paul Patraşcu 7 years ago

Majestic

0points

Juan Alcorta 7 years ago

It´s funny that it was given as gift to the US after surviving a bomb dropped by the US.

0points

Rob Chyou 7 years ago

grow rootroofen

0points

Yunos Darby☯️ 7 years ago

Wonderful

0points

Adam D 7 years ago

Happy Christmas everyone!

0points

David Kiss 7 years ago

How much would that be worth? $$?

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

Priceless

0points

Load More Replies...

Z 7 years ago

How do they know how old it is? Would be cool to know the history of it prior to 1945

0points

Little letitia 7 years ago

Because as it stated, its been in the Yakima family since 1625, as in its been passed down through the generations.

1point

Load More Replies...

Samantha P 7 years ago

Wow!! Will it still be alive when I die?? That would be cool!!

0points

Julian Bastidas 7 years ago

Yes it would be

0points

Load More Replies...

Sick Boy 7 years ago

That guy that survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still more interesting.

-2points

FlowerChild 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Z 7 years ago

Did you even read the article?

5points

Load More Replies...

Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Merlyn Holmes 7 years ago

......twat!

2points

Load More Replies...

Jonathan Eatsalot 7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Victor Vakaras 7 years ago

What a monumentally stupid thing to say.

18points

Load More Replies...

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