The 500 Year Old Bonsai That Hasn't Been Touched in 15 Years | Bonsai Legend Stories
What happens when a bonsai estimated to be 500 years old needs to be repotted after 15 years?
Meet **Chiyo-no-Matsu**, a remarkable Japanese White Pine (*Pinus parviflora*) and the largest bonsai in the collection of the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in Japan.
Estimated to be around 500 years old, this extraordinary tree carries a history that reaches far beyond its impressive size and ancient appearance.
In April 2026, Chiyo-no-Matsu underwent its first repotting since 2011. Because of its enormous size, the process required special preparation, scaffolding, lifting equipment, and careful work around its extensive root system.
But this is more than a story about repotting an ancient bonsai.
In this episode of **Bonsai Legend Stories**, we explore the remarkable form of Chiyo-no-Matsu, the history of Omiya Bonsai Village, the world surrounding this legendary Japanese bonsai, and the people responsible for preserving it.
IN THIS EPISODE
Meet Chiyo-no-Matsu, the Japanese White Pine.
Discover the remarkable roots, trunk, and canopy of this ancient bonsai.
Explore the history of Omiya Bonsai Village and its development as a center of bonsai culture.
Witness the extraordinary 2026 repotting after 15 years.
Discover why preserving a living bonsai requires continuous care across generations.
A tree does not become ancient simply by surviving time. Its legacy continues because someone chooses to keep it alive.
*Bonsai Legend Stories* explores the history behind the world's most legendary bonsai trees — one tree, one story, one legacy at a time.
Subscribe to *Ethereal Bonsai* for more stories about legendary bonsai, Japanese bonsai history, historic trees, and the people who preserve these living masterpieces.
---
*ABOUT THIS TREE*
Name: Chiyo-no-Matsu
Species: Japanese White Pine (*Pinus parviflora*)
Collection Number: A-100
Estimated Age: Approximately 500 years
Size: 1.8 m wide × 1.6 m tall
Collection: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Saitama, Japan