In the grounds of Jissoji Temple, a Nichiren-sect temple located in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, stands a majestic cherry tree known as Jindai Zakura—“the Cherry Tree of the Age of the Gods.”

Alongside the Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima and the Usuzumi Zakura in Gifu, Jindai Zakura is regarded as one of the three greatest cherry trees in Japan. It is a magnificent specimen of the Edohigan-zakura variety, estimated to be over 2,000 years old.

Standing 10.3 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 11.8 meters, this tree was designated in the Taisho era as Japan’s first national natural monument—recognized as both the oldest and largest cherry tree in the country.

I was deeply honored to receive a commission from Jissoji Temple to create a work of art inspired by this legendary tree.

Jindai Zakura has stood its ground since long before 1375 (Eiwa 1), when the monk Nichio founded Jisso-in on this land. I began imagining what the tree must have seen the moment its seed first sprouted—after so many miraculous circumstances aligned to bring it into life.

Surely, over time, people and animals would have gathered naturally around the growing tree, and a quiet, gentle sense of liveliness would have filled the space beneath its branches.

Under this tree, there must have been joyful voices welcoming new life, as well as sorrowful tears bidding loved ones farewell.
The tree has silently witnessed the countless comings and goings of life throughout the centuries. From Jindai Zakura, I could sense not only the weight of history, but also a kind of solitude borne from observing so many impermanent moments.

Moved by this, I sought to express the shogyo-mujo—the Buddhist idea of the impermanence of all things—through the presence of the tree itself.

In the soil beneath the tree, I incorporated a shippō (seven treasures) pattern adorned with cherry blossoms, symbolizing the unbroken connections of life and karma passed down through generations.
The texture was achieved by repeatedly painting and carving back the surface—layer upon layer—creating a feeling of aged erosion, like something gently worn by time.

The base of the background is embedded with tamamushi-haku (iridescent foil), which softly glows blue when struck by light.
The cherry blossoms were painted using pure gold leaf, layered with lacquer and earth, polished again and again to represent the accumulation of life across time.
The tree’s support post—vital to sustaining its life—was rendered using mizukin-haku (water gold foil), evoking a sacred, dignified strength.

In the sky above, I painted small fish swimming upward like clouds—an image symbolizing the cycle of water and the idea that our lives are part of a larger circulating energy.

Jindai Zakura is also deeply connected to ancient Japanese mythology.
In these stories, the tree is said to be closely associated with dragons. I included a golden dragon flying through the sky, gazing from above as a timeless witness to the ever-flowing stream of existence.

This artwork reveals entirely different expressions depending on the light in which it is viewed.

At times, it glows like Jindai Zakura under a clear blue daytime sky. At other times, it takes on a mysterious beauty, like the tree illuminated beneath a veil of night.
Inspired by these two faces of the tree, I created two versions of the image: one titled “Day Sakura” and the other “Night Sakura.”

These visuals became the foundation for an original goshuin-cho (temple stamp book), specially produced by Jissoji Temple.

▼ Jissoji Original Goshuin-cho
https://eisui.shop/items/67f5cf579253660a49a281aa

The original artwork is currently on display inside the temple’s kuri (main hall).
If you would like to view the piece up close, please feel free to ask at the reception.

I hope this work offers a chance not only to sense the eternal life force of Jindai Zakura, but also to reflect on the transient, circulating nature of our own lives—fleeting, yet eternally connected.