It's thought that the daimyō Katō Kiyomasa (加藤清正 1562-1611) brought the bush back to Japan from the Korean mainland following a campaign against Urusan Castle (蔚山城の戦い) some time around 1596.
He presented it to Toyotomi who had it planted first at Kitano Tenmangū.
#Kyoto
Grand Kitano Tea Gathering monument at Kitano Tenman-gu.
Painting of the Campaign against Urusan Castle on the Korean mainland.
Woodblock print of Daimyo Kato Kiyomasa on horseback.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Jizo-in's 120 year old 'goshiki yaechiri tsubaki' camellia bush.
