The "Chishima-zasa" (Sasa kurilensis) belongs to Poaceae (the Grass family). It is an evergreen shrubby bamboo that is native northward from Tottori prefecture to Tohoku district, the Japan Sea Side of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan. This shrubby bamboo grows in mountains and grows in large clusters, and can reach 1.5-3 m in height. It is also called "Nemagari-dake" because the base of the culm is bent into an arch. The flowers rarely bloom. In case of bloom, they flower all over clusters and blighted after bearing. The young shoot is used for wild vegetable in snowy regions of Japan.