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391-Year-Old Bonsai Tree Planted In 1625 Has Survived Hiroshima And Keeps On Growing
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)
Image credits: The United States National Arboretum
Image credits: ArkadiusBear
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What do you think ?
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 :)
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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?
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Shruti Naik 7 years ago
Wow! soon it will be 4 centuries old. It has witnessed so many transformations...
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.
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!!
Natasha L 7 years ago
This is amazing! (Coming from a person who barely managed to keep a bonsai alive for three months)
DancingToMyself 7 years ago
I'm a pro! My tree was healthy about 5 months. Beat that!!! 😁
Load More Replies... Sick Boy 7 years ago
Yeah, a great friendship that started with a cute thing called "Little Boy".
Load More Replies...
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
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
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.
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.
Juls Robertson 7 years ago
That's amazzzzing, if it were possible I'd love to have a conversation with it....soooo much history.
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.
Z 7 years ago
How do they know how old it is? Would be cool to know the history of it prior to 1945
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.
Load More Replies...
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 :)
Load More Replies... 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?
Load More Replies... Shruti Naik 7 years ago
Wow! soon it will be 4 centuries old. It has witnessed so many transformations...
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.
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!!
Natasha L 7 years ago
This is amazing! (Coming from a person who barely managed to keep a bonsai alive for three months)
DancingToMyself 7 years ago
I'm a pro! My tree was healthy about 5 months. Beat that!!! 😁
Load More Replies... Sick Boy 7 years ago
Yeah, a great friendship that started with a cute thing called "Little Boy".
Load More Replies... 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
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
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.
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.
Juls Robertson 7 years ago
That's amazzzzing, if it were possible I'd love to have a conversation with it....soooo much history.
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.
Z 7 years ago
How do they know how old it is? Would be cool to know the history of it prior to 1945
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.
Load More Replies... 
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