Cleyera japonica, commonly known as Sakaki or Japanese Cleyera, is a magnificent evergreen tree or shrub native to warm regions of Japan, Taiwan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and northern India. Its smooth, leathery, oval-shaped leaves are dark green above and yellowish-green below with deep furrows. The small cream-white flowers have a delightful fragrance and open in early summer, followed by berries that start red and turn black when ripe. Sakaki is a sacred tree in the Japanese Shintō faith and is commonly planted in gardens, parks, and shrines. It can reach a height of 10m and is one of the common trees in the second layer of the evergreen oak forests. Use Sakaki wood for utensils, building materials, and fuel or plant it in your garden to bring a sacred feel to your surroundings.