Richard Yamasaki’s Black Pine

Richard Yamasaki’s Black Pine. Location – Northwest end of the garden   

Botanical Name: Pinus thunbergii  
Common Name: Japanese black pine 

Its wood was often used for construction projects, fuel, varnish and turpentine. The Black Pine’s rugged form was so highly respected in Japan, it was frequently used as a street tree in Japan. Additionally, this specimen tree was planted as a boundary marker in Shinto shrines. 

In the Japanese culture, the Pinus thunbergii is often known to be synonymous with immortality and a long life. It is also frequently seen as a symbol on New Year’s where it represents a bright future filled with hope and new beginnings. 

The SJG has a very special Pinus thunbergii that was a gift to our garden by one of our very dedicated gardeners, Richard Yamasaki. We would like to share with you the history of this extremely special tree, that now stands close to 7’ tall and 8‘wide and is over 110 years old and was successfully transplanted to our garden in 1993.  

Richard’s father, Mr. Yamasaki received the black pine tree as a gift in the early 1920’s. He diligently trained it to be the extraordinary specimen that you will see today. Mr. Yamasaki was part of the forced relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II and never returned to Seattle. 

When his son Richard returned to Seattle after his own relocation, he cared for the then neglected pine tree. Richard Yamasaki also trained under the SJG’s Landscape Designer, Jūki Iida, who taught him that “everything will be lost in your magnificent tree if you do not properly care for it on a consistent basis.”