Description
Wear a story of resilience. This pin honors the Domoto Maple, a trident maple approximately 200 years old and one of the museum's most significant trees.
The story: This tree began its life in Japan around 1815. A century later, it traveled to San Francisco to represent Japan at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, where it delighted visitors from the verandah of the Formosa Tea House. Afterward, it was acquired by Kanetaro Domoto, a pioneering nurseryman whose family helped introduce azaleas, camellias, and persimmons to America.
When Kanetaro's son Toichi and his family were forcibly removed to incarceration camps during World War II, the tree had to be left behind. Neglected for three years, it burst through its wooden planter and sent roots into the ground. When Toichi returned after the war, he spent decades nursing the tree back to health and its proper form.
Toichi cared for this maple until his 80s, when he could no longer climb the ladder to prune it. In 1989, he sent it on long-term loan to our museum. His children, Marilyn and Douglas, officially donated the family heirloom in 2015. As Toichi once said: "When you are out working with plants and flowers, you can't have hate in your heart."
Perfect for: Anyone moved by stories of resilience and perseverance, Japanese American heritage supporters, history enthusiasts, visitors who stood before this magnificent tree and felt its weight of years, and collectors building the complete pin set.
Details:
- Size: Approximately 1" × 1"
- Material: Hard enamel with metal backing
- Designer: Zack Bolotin, Seattle
- Secure rubber clutch backing
- Arrives on branded backing card
Pairs with: World War Bonsai Exhibit Catalog ($18.95) — explore the Domoto family legacy
