The Significance of Giant Trees to the Japanese People and the Factors Contributing to Their Formation

¹ Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
² The University of Tokyo Tanashi Forest, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
³ Arboricultural Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Forests, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
⁴ Forest GX/DX Co-creation Center, The University of Tokyo Forests, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

We examined how a connection between giant trees and humans has come to be formed in Japan. The analysis revealed that, as giant trees are more prevalent in densely populated prefecture, they are recognised as possessing significant cultural value for human society. It was also found that trees growing in open, unobstructed locations serve as landmarks visible from afar; over time, they became an indispensable part of people's consciousness. The sheer scale of giant trees - their trunk circumference, height and the extent of their canopy - creates a visual sense of pressure and overwhelming grandeur, and they are regarded as symbols of powerful vitality. Furthermore, their variously changing forms are accepted as evidence of nature's wondrous creativity, leading people to feel an even greater sense of awe and mystery towards these giant trees. Furthermore, the mystique of giant trees has been further enhanced by the way their distinctive shapes are captured and linked to images from everyday life, and by the fact that legends and folklore matching their form and immense size have been passed down to posterity.