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Japanese Judas-tree

On-Yomi: ケイ — Kun-Yomi: かつら

Koohii stories:

1) [fuaburisu] 26-1-2006(158): Simple mnemonic : "The Japanese Judas-tree is the tree on which Judas hang himself to the ivy" (Judas the traitor of the Christian bible). Just picture Judas hanging himself, using ivy as a if it was a rope.

2) [Ninjasha] 6-1-2008(92): A tree covered in poison ivy will quickly betray you, thus the name JAPANESE JUDAS-TREE.

3) [kaminix] 2-3-2008(35): The Katsura (Japanese Judas-tree) is a thin tree (sort of like the stretched out 木 used in this kanji) with little green (the color of an emerald, a jewel) leaves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_(tree).

4) [noname] 4-8-2008(15): Japanese JEWEL TREE sounds like JUDAS-tree.

5) [elktapestry] 28-3-2007(13): Interesting… this tree is called a かつら (Katura) Tree in Japan. It got the Japanese Judas-Tree distinction because it bears a similar leaf-type to the Judas Tree found in Europe and such. For fun word-play with both the Judas & Katsura distinctions… it might be good to learn that a homonym for Katsura (w/different Kanji 鬘) is a hairpiece or wig! So now imagine some dishevled business man with a funny hairpiece stringing ivy around the Katsura/Judas tree to hang himself with!!

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