SHIRANUI Japanese camphor
不知火楠（シラヌイ クスノキ）
産地；熊本県（楠が県木）
熊本県は昔「肥後の国」と呼ばれていました。その由来は諸説あり「火の国」から「肥国（ひのくに）」となり、肥後の国になりました。なぜ、「火の国」かというと、阿蘇山、雲仙岳など荒々しい火山が熊本に多く、また有明海や八代海で見られる「不知火（しらぬい）」という夜間に見られる発光する蜃気楼現象が昔は「神火」と呼ばれていたことからも、火にまつわるエピソードがこの地には多いからといわれています。
楠は熊本の県木で、九州は楠を県木とする県が多く存在します。その理由としては、楠が神木とされ特に九州の神社仏閣の境内に良く植えられています。
木の力；火の神、海神、霊性、信仰
SHIRANUI Japanese Camphor
Origin: Kumamoto Prefecture (Camphor is the prefectural tree)
Kumamoto Prefecture was formerly called “Higo no Kuni.” There are several theories about the origin of this name, but one explanation is that “Hi no Kuni” (Land of Fire) eventually became “Higo no Kuni.” It was called the “Land of Fire” because Kumamoto has many rugged volcanoes such as Mt. Aso and Mt. Unzen, and because of the mysterious luminous mirage phenomenon called shiranui that can be seen at night over the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea. In ancient times, this phenomenon was called “divine fire.” These stories show that this region has long been associated with fire.
Camphor is the prefectural tree of Kumamoto, and many other prefectures in Kyushu also designate camphor as their prefectural tree. One reason is that camphor has long been regarded as a sacred tree and is commonly planted within the grounds of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, especially in Kyushu.
Meaning: God of fire, god of the sea, spirituality, faith
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OGUNI Cedar
小国杉
産地：熊本県
小国は九州北部の中央、阿蘇山の麓に広がる地域。阿蘇神社の祭神となった健磐竜命(たけいわたつのみこと)が阿蘇山上から放った矢の伝説のお話の中から小国と呼ばれることになったそうです。また、この地域には押戸石の丘といわれる古代の巨石群があります。先史時代の祭祀場と考えられ、パワースポットとして有名で、強い磁気を帯びた場所が存在しています。その丘へ向かう散策路にも小国杉のチップが敷かれており、頂上への道しるべとなっています。阿蘇山が噴火して残った裾野部分に位置する広い立地のため品質の均等な材が育ちやすいといった特徴があります。正に阿蘇山の大地の力を宿した素晴らしい杉です。
木の力；火・水の雄神の加護、五穀豊穣、商売繁盛、開運
OGUNI Cedar
Origin: Kumamoto Prefecture
Oguni is a region that spreads across the northern-central part of Kyushu, at the foot of Mount Aso. It is said that the name Oguni comes from a legend in which Takeiwatatsu-no-Mikoto, the deity enshrined at Aso Shrine, shot an arrow from the top of Mount Aso.
This area is also home to the ancient megalithic site known as “Oshitoishi Hill.” Believed to have been a prehistoric ritual ground, it is famous as a power spot with areas that possess strong magnetic energy. The walking path leading to the hill is lined with chips of Oguni cedar, serving as a guide toward the summit.
Because the region lies on the wide skirts left by past eruptions of Mount Aso, it offers an ideal environment for cedar trees to grow with uniform quality. Oguni cedar is truly a magnificent wood that embodies the powerful energy of the land of Mount Aso.
Meaning: Blessings of the male deities of fire and water; abundant harvest; prosperity in business; good fortune.