Pine trees grow just about everywhere. My own native country is covered with them, but your commoner garden pointy christmas tree type. I dont know what makes the pine trees grow in Japan the way they do, but I find them fascinating.

Whether they are preened to grow this way or grow naturally or due to wind change, they certainly are beautiful to look at. Even trees I've seen out in remote hills and mountains seem to have the "preened" look.

I must stress I'm no "tree hugger" by any means, but if I pass a 松 (matsu) I'm a sucker to stop and take it in for a bit.

The kanji for pine tree is 松 made of two character radicals:

木 - tree

公 - public, official

Therefore:

松 - public offical  tree !?



The traditional Japanese Pine is frequently used for bonsai trees, equally just as beautiful, but I'm a bit of a philistine when it comes to bonsai thinking more on terms of;

"Well its very nice, but don't you have any in a bigger size ?"

So when I do come across a "jumbo", out comes the camera. In Japan upon dying your ashes are usually interned in a grave but I think I'll have to have mine planted beneath a 松 and be evergreen.