Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will host photographer Zentaro Yamamura's photo exhibition "Sacred Trees in Everyday Life: The Japanese Spirit" from February 5th to 11th in the central hall on the first floor of the main building. Admission is free.

The exhibition features photos of sacred trees from all over Japan. Photographer Yamamura spent approximately two and a half years capturing images of 15 prefectures, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.

Sacred trees are giant trees said to be over 100 years old, dignified and revered like gods. Since ancient times, Japanese people have felt a sense of awe for the changing seasons of nature, which is said to have led them to worship gods there. Sacred trees were originally found within shrine grounds or on approach roads to shrines. However, with the development of civilization and urbanization over the past 100 years, the original shrine grounds have been threatened, and in some places, the sacred trees remain even though the shrines have disappeared. Approximately 100 photographs will be on display, including some unusual sacred trees.