Nagai Shinai
Kubo Sakura Tree
A Very, Very Old Tree
In one of the sub-villages that make up the greater city of Nagai, Isazawa, sits a remarkably old Kubo Sakura tree. How old exactly? If the locals (and the legends) are to be believed, not less than 1,200 years old! Amazingly, the tree still blooms annually after all that time, a feat for which it has become quite the local celebrity and tourist destination in Sakura season.
A picture taken of the Sakura tree from the font, near the end of its blooming period.
The tree stands directly behind the local elementary school, and there is a wooden walkway erected around the entire circumference. There are even some nice little benches laid out so that people can sit and enjoy the tree at their own leisurely pace.
On the left, you can see a bit of the elementary school building.
Surrounding the wooden platform is a secondary ring of Sakura trees. It's not clear how many, if any, of these are descendants of the original. However, they do a nice job of adding to the atmosphere, and helping their older Senpai tree sprinkle the area with Sakura petals.
Sakura trees line the entire area, and farmland can be seen in the background
Due to the extreme age of the Sakura tree, it requires a number of wooden props to help keep it standing. The townsfolk have helpfully provided these to their struggling tree-friend.
The wood beams help support the Sakura tree to endure the weight of snow in winter
At the time I visited, there were a few stalls set up of local fruit juices and other snacks. One of the stalls also had this nice picture from decades ago, showing the previous generation of townsfolk posing with the tree.
Sure looks a bit taller here, doesn't it?
A Tree with a Story
The Kubozakura of Isazawa is linked to the legend of one of the greatest generals and national heroes from early Japanese history, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, and the woman he fell in love with named Otama. Sakanoue served under the 4th emperor of Japan as a military general, and is said to be the first man to earn the title of Shogun - or, Sei-i Taishogun to be exact. It is said that Otama was the daughter of local lord or Daimyo of the Kubo family, and Sakanoue met her during one of his campaign's north to subjugate the Oshu region.
Sakanoue is also said to have been black, as depicted here
Unfortunately, Sakanoue was called back to serve at the court in Kyoto after the war and had to separate from his lover. It is said that in her grief, Otama died. Later, Sakanoue came back to find Otama only to find that his love had already passed away. In his grief, and as a monument to her, he planted five sakura trees in the area. Of these four, the only one that remains is the Kubozakura of Isazawa - a lasting testament to the love Sakanoue felt towards Otama. In an alternate version of the story, Sakanoue planted the Kubo Sakura of Isazawa directly on Otama's grave. There are further alternative versions saying it was simply a wealthy merchant whose wife named Otama died, and upon whose grave the cherry blossom was planted. In recognition of Otama, the cherry tree is sometimes called the "Otama Cherry Blossom".
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