Press ReleasesCollaborating in Raising Historically Important Tatekawa-Zakura Sapling to Replace Old Tree in Shinnyo-do, Kyoto-Sapling raised utilizing in-container rooting technology returned-

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga, "Nippon Paper Industries") has been collaborating in raising a tatekawa-zakura sapling, an historically important variety of cherry tree, utilizing the company's proprietary in-container rooting technology. The sapling has now been successfully propagated and returned to Reisho-zan Shinsho-gokuraku-ji, or Shinnyo-do temple, in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture.

The tatekawa-zakura tree in the grounds of Shinnyo-do is said to have been planted by Tokugawa Iemitsu's wet nurse Kasuga no Tsubone (Lady Kasuga) to pray for the repose of the soul of her father Saito Kuranosuke Toshimitsu. The giant tree had a diameter of one meter and was more than 300 years old, but fell down in the 1959 Isewan Typoon. Several years later, however, shoots began to grow from the bent trunk, eventually recovering to the point of flowering. However, over the past few years the tree has grown weaker, and investigations into raising a successor have been underway.

At the request of Shinnyo-do, Nippon Paper Industries has been working on raising a sapling to replace the old tree utilizing the company's proprietary in-container rooting technology, in order to pass on this precious genetic resource to future generations. It is planned to plant the recently returned sapling once again in the grounds of Shinnyo-do temple.

Having successfully used in-container rooting technology to propagate a plant species for which cutting propagation has come to be regarded as difficult, the company will continue to utilize this technology widely in its agri-business.

1 In-container rooting technology
photosynthetic capacity of plants to encourage them to take root by creating an environment conducive to
vigorous photosynthesis using special cultivation containers placed in cultivation
rooms where temperature and humidity are maintained at optimum levels.