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Enduring Pines: Nature’s Sentinels at Makiba Park
「まきば公園の松：自然が守るたたずまい」
Perched on a 1,400-meter (4,600 ft) plateau in Yamanashi Prefecture’s Southern Yatsugatake Volcanic Group, Makiba Park offers expansive, lush pastures dotted with Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) and Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora).
The Japanese red pine, or akamatsu, is a coniferous tree native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China. Known for its distinctive reddish bark, this resilient tree has long been valued in Japan for its practical uses. Its wood, which burns with intense heat, makes an ideal fuel for pottery kilns. Additionally, its durable, lightweight, and rot-resistant qualities have made it a preferred material in traditional construction.
In particular, akamatsu has been a staple lumber species in the building of old temples and shrines, where it was often used for beams due to its strength and resistance to decay. This resistance to rot also made it essential in ancient bridge-building, as submerged akamatsu wood withstands the test of time better than most other types of timber, thanks to its high resin content.
The tree’s resin not only enhances its durability but also contributes to its reputation as an excellent fuel source. It burns hot and clean, leaving minimal ash, which made it ideal for high-temperature pottery kilns. In the past, this resin was even collected to make votive candles, with the resulting soot carefully preserved to create high-quality ink. Historically, akamatsu was also a favored source of charcoal.
Standing in the cattle-grazing pastures of Makiba Park, I feel a deep sense of awe looking at these majestic pine trees. Their tall forms and weathered branches show resilience and a strong connection to this land, having been preserved and protected for generations. It’s humbling to see these trees left untouched, rising proudly against the landscape—a reminder of nature’s endurance and the respect that has allowed them to thrive here in the open fields.
- Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
- Timestamp: 13:16・2024/09/11
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 53 mm ISO 500 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/7.1
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