Category:

Municipally Designated Natural Monument

Title:

Hasunuma no mukuroji

The Indian Soapberry of Hasunuma

蓮沼のムクロジ

No. of features:

One tree

Designated:

June 6, 1980

Location:

Hasunuma, Minuma Ward

Owner:

Under private ownership

Description:

   The Indian soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi) is a tall, deciduous tree in the family Sapindaceae. Yellow-green flowers bloom in June, followed by round fruits called “soap nuts” in the autumn. Soap nuts are used as soap, medicine, and as the weights in shuttlecocks for the traditional game “hanetsuki”.

This cultural property grows in the garden of a private residence. It’s believed that it was originally used in connection to Chinese medicine, as one of the family’s ancestors was a practitioner.

The tree was 25 meters tall and 2.8 meters in circumference at the time of designation. It grows vigorously and has high, reaching branches.

Associated Texts:

(1980). “Survey Report on Omiya City’s Cultural Properties” (vol. 4). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1987). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 3). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

This cultural property is not available for public viewing.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/005/002/003/p000597.html