GUNMA Japanese Black Pine
群馬黒松（グンマクロマツ）
産地；群馬県（県木）
群馬は冬には「上州からっ風」といわれる厳しい気候で、防風林として黒松が広く植樹されてきたという歴史があります。黒松の別名は「雄松（オマツ）」で力強く、太く荒々しい見た目から名づけられました。建材としても使われますが、樹の形の美しさから神社仏閣や城、庭園に植えられ、日本の屏風にも描かれる縁起の良い銘木です。
群馬県は古事記や日本書紀にも多く登場する地で、赤城山は霊山としても知られる神聖な山があります。赤城山の赤城神社には、美しかった三人の姉妹のうちの一人赤城姫は沼の龍神に救われて龍宮城へと旅立ち女神へと転生する神話が伝わっています。
木の力；忍耐力、美貌、龍神、
GUNMA Japanese Black Pine
Origin: Gunma Prefecture (Prefectural Tree)
Gunma is known for its harsh winter climate, characterized by the “Jōshū Karakkaze” (strong dry winter winds). To protect against these winds, black pine trees have long been planted as windbreaks. Black pine, also called Omatsu (“male pine”), was named for its strong, thick, and rugged appearance. While often used as construction material, its beautiful form also makes it a popular choice for shrines, temples, castles, and gardens. It is considered an auspicious tree and frequently depicted in traditional Japanese folding screens (byōbu).
Gunma Prefecture appears frequently in ancient Japanese texts such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. One of its sacred mountains, Mount Akagi, is home to Akagi Shrine, which is associated with a myth about the goddess Akagi-hime — one of three beautiful sisters. According to legend, Akagi-hime was saved by the dragon god of the lake, journeyed to the Dragon Palace (Ryūgū-jō), and was reborn as a goddess.
Symbolism: Endurance, beauty, dragon deity