Kashima: A Sacred Island for Local Fishermen
The forest has long been a source of both firewood and building materials for the people of Tosashimizu. Nevertheless, very few trees have ever been cut down on the small island of Kashima, in Shimizu Bay. This was considered a sacred place, where fishermen would pray for an ample catch at the local Shinto shrine. Kashima’s lush forest stills appears much as it did before the modern world caught up with Tosashimizu.
[Captions]
Plant life on Kashima.
Musashiabumi (Japanese cobra lily; Arisaema ringens)
Tabunoki (Japanese persea; Machilus thunbergii)
Yamamomo (Japanese bayberry; Morella rubra)
Sudajii (Castanopsis sieboldii)
Ako (Sea fig; Ficus superba)
Inumaki (Yew plum pine; Podocarpus macrophyllus)