Greg Fischer, deputy director of Council District 9, presents members of the Little Tokyo Historical Society and Koyasan Buddhist temple with a certificate recognizing the designation of the Aoyama Tree as a cultural-historic monument on July 17, 2008.

The Aoyama Tree is the first living object to receive this designation from the City of Los Angeles.
The Moreton Bay Fig, which stands at the former site of the Koyasan Buddhist Temple, is named for that mission's founder, Rev. Shutai Aoyama. It was planted in 1920.