JAPAN: In a recent natural disaster, a 3,000-year-old cedar tree on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, has been knocked down by Typhoon Shanshan. This ancient tree, located in the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine, was a major highlight of the area.

The cedar tree, known as “Yayoi Sugi,” stood 26 meters tall with a trunk circumference of approximately 8 meters. It was one of the key attractions for visitors to the island. Typhoon Shanshan, also referred to as Typhoon No. 10, struck in August, bringing severe winds that caused significant damage.

After the storm passed, local tour guides from the Yakushima Guide Office, including Kumiko Yabuta, went out to evaluate the damage. They discovered that the ancient cedar had been toppled near its base due to the intense winds of the typhoon.

Additionally, landslides triggered by the storm have blocked several routes to the ravine and its famous Jomon Cedar tree, leading to numerous tour cancellations.

Yakushima Island is famous for its ancient cedar trees, some of which are over 1,000 years old, growing in the island’s mountainous regions above 500 meters elevation. In 1993, it was designated as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO.

Typhoon Shanshan approached Yakushima Island between August 27 and 29, bringing with it powerful winds that reached speeds of up to 168.48 kilometers per hour around 8 p.m. last Wednesday, according to the local weather observatory.

Yakushima Island, renowned for its ancient cedar trees known as "Yakusugi," which are over 1,000 years old, has been significantly impacted by the storm. The island, celebrated for its rich natural heritage, was recognized as a World Natural Heritage site by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993.

The typhoon's severe winds caused extensive damage, including the toppling of the famed 3,000-year-old cedar tree, "Yayoi Sugi," in the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine. This incident underscores the vulnerability of the island's ancient forests to extreme weather events.

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