Learn New Things about Well-known Sakura

About Sasabe Shintaro - “Sakura Otoko” (The Man of Cherry Blossom Trees) -

Born in Osaka in 1887, Sasabe Shintaro spent his lifetime protecting and nurturing Japan’s ancient and wild cherry blossom trees until he died in 1978. He knew that understanding the environment surrounding the cherry blossom trees was just as important as knowing how to grow them. He owned an experimental forest and a nursery field. This dedication lead to him being called “Sakura Otoko” (The Man of Cherry Blossom Trees).

Sasabe’s Projects of Cherry Blossom Trees

Sasabe’s involvement was requested in many projects of surrounding the planting, growing, and instructing in how to grow cherry blossom trees in mainly the Kansai area, but he was also active all throughout Japan. Below is the list of the main projects Sasabe was involved in and directed.

• 1936 -

  Japan Mint (Kita Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)

• 1953 -

  Manchidani in Mt. Kabutoyama (Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture)

• 1954

  Osaka Castle Park (Chuo Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)

• 1960

  Shogawa-zakura Cherry Blossom Trees (Shogawa-cho, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture)

Sasabe Sakura Collection and Nishinomiya City

Sasabe Shintaro collected a variety of items related to cherry blossom trees, such as calligraphic works, works of art, books and beyond. His collection of approximately 5,000 items is one of Japan’s foremost collection of works regarding cherry blossom trees.
Sasabe had built a relationship with Nishinomiya caring for many of the important cherry trees there and in accordance with Sasabe’s will, his collection was donated to the city at his bequest. His collection was then entrusted to our museum by the city government. Every spring, the Sasabe Sakura Collection exhibition is held using all three exhibition rooms at the Kinen-kan. In other seasons, his collection is exhibited in Sakura Reference Room.