[Branch Dictionary | Winter] Pine (Matsu)

Hello everyone,

SiKiTO's "Branch Subscription Service" delivers the best branches selected by professionals, depending on the weather and purchasing conditions at the time.

The branch we're introducing today is pine.

An evergreen tree of the pine family.

It is widely distributed from the subarctic to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and in Japan, its year-round green leaves symbolize "eternal life," making it an auspicious plant.

Kadomatsu, which are displayed for New Year's, also carry the meaning of "waiting for the gods." There are various types, such as Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine), Akamatsu (Japanese red pine), Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine), and Daiomatsu (loblolly pine), and their names vary depending on how they are cultivated.

Rooted pine branches (nebiki-matsu), which are distributed with their roots still attached, are popular because they embody the wishes of "taking root" and "continuing to grow."

Every December, each market holds its annual "Matsuichi" (pine market), an auction exclusively for pines, where a large quantity of pines are distributed all at once.

*Click here for SiKiTO's Branch Encyclopedia.