Sakaki (Sacred Evergreen Tree)
An evergreen tree sacred in Shinto, used in rituals and as offerings
Sakaki (Cleyera japonica) is an evergreen broadleaf tree native to Japan that holds deep significance in Shinto. Its name is often explained as deriving from 'sakai-ki' (boundary tree), marking the border between the human and divine worlds, though other etymologies exist.
In mythology, sakaki plays a role in the Iwato myth: when Amaterasu hid in a cave, the other gods decorated a sakaki tree with a mirror, jewels, and cloth to lure her out. This mythological precedent underpins the tree's ritual importance to this day.
Sakaki branches are used in tamagushi offerings, where a branch adorned with shide (paper streamers) is presented to the kami during formal ceremonies. Fresh sakaki is also placed on kamidana (household shrines) and at shrine altars as a regular offering. In western Japan where sakaki grows naturally, it is readily available; in colder regions where it does not grow, hisakaki (Eurya japonica), a related species, is used as a substitute.