Japan has a surprising answer to ancient trees blocking construction: Months of root preparation, then a careful move instead of the chainsaw
Some prized trees in Japan get months of root preparation, then a careful move instead of the chainsaw. Studies show it can work, but not always.
In Japan, an unusual approach to dealing with ancient trees obstructing construction exists. Instead of cutting down the tree, workers carefully prepare its roots and transplant the entire tree. This method, known as nemawashi or "going around the roots," involves digging around the tree and preparing its roots to minimize transplant shock.
A study published in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry in 2026 found that up to 95% of a tree's roots may be lost during a move, causing significant stress. To test the importance of root preparation, researchers conducted an experiment in 2016 at Hokkaido University's Sapporo Experimental Nursery. They transplanted young Japanese larch and Betula maximowicziana saplings with varying levels of root loss.
Larches survived regardless of root loss, while birch mortality increased with greater root loss, with all saplings dying when all roots were removed. While these results may not directly apply to ancient trees, they highlight the importance of root care for large trees. A 2010 study examined 535 street trees transplanted within a year in Hong Kong, finding that about 77% recovered fully, but 125 died or showed terminal decline.
The timing of root pruning and the species affected the success rate. Overall, moving large trees requires time, skill, and money, but with proper preparation, it can be a viable option.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
