Gale uproots historic tree at Kamakura shrine

Strong winds have uprooted a legendary giant gingko tree at a shrine in Kamakura, near Tokyo.

The 30-meter-tall tree at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine was found blown over early on Wednesday. Nobody was injured.

According to the shrine, the tree is presumed to be more than 1,000 years old. It measures roughly 7 meters around at its base and grew at the bottom of stairs leading to the main hall of the shrine.

In the year 1219, third Kamakura shogun, Minamoto no Sanetomo, was ambushed and killed by his nephew Kugyo near the tree.

Kugyo is said to have hidden behind the tree before the attack, leading to it being nicknamed "kakure ichou" or "hiding gingko tree" after the episode.

The sacred tree was designated a natural treasure by Kanagawa Prefecture, where the shrine is located.