Category:

Municipally Designated Natural Monument

Title:

Miyahara shogakko no sendan

The Chinaberry Tree of Miyahara Elementary School
宮原小学校のセンダン

No. of features:

One tree

Designated:

August 3, 1968

Location:

Miyahara Elementary School

4-102-6 Miyaharacho, Kita Ward

Owner:

Saitama City

Description:

Chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach) are tall, deciduous trees that grow in warm climates. In Japan, they can be found on the southern end of Honshu and the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.

Although currently known as “sendan” in modern Japanese, chinaberries used to be called “afuchi”.  They are referenced by that name in “Manyoshu”, an 8th-century poetry anthology.

At the time of this chinaberry’s designation, it measured 15 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of 3.02 meters and a base circumference of 3.6 meters.

It is said that a teacher brought a sapling from their hometown of Kochi and planted it to celebrate the establishment of the Kamo School (Miyahara Elementary’s predecessor) in 1875.

Today, this tree has become the symbol of Miyahara Elementary School; it even features in the school song.

Associated Texts:

(1970). “Designated Cultural Properties in Omiya City”. Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1971). “Designated Cultural Properties in Omiya City”. Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1987). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 3). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

Please be courteous towards other visitors, locals, and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/005/002/003/p000565.html