1974 — On the square pillars of roughly eight-inch section, a pair of tablets of zelkova wood with scrawled inscriptions in the cursive script hang smugly as if daring the observer to decipher what they say. — Natsume Soseki, The Heredity of Taste, 1906. Translated from Japanese by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson.
1972-1986 — Mention of that object may lead some of you to imagine an oblong brazier made from fine zelkova wood. — Natsume Soseki, I Am a Cat, 1905-1907. Translated from Japanese by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson.
1972-1986 — The fine point about any such oblong brazier is the quality and brilliance of the gloss acquired by years of patient polishing, but this brazier is not only undetermined as to its material, which could as well be cherry as zelkova and paulownia as cherry, but has never once been polished. — Natsume Soseki, I Am a Cat, 1905-1907. Translated from Japanese by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson.
1974 — The two downstairs rooms were full of afternoon light that threw the black of the zelkova timbers and the white of the walls that enclosed them into sharp contrast. — Kenzaburo Oe, The Silent Cry, 1967. Translated from Japanese by John Bester.
(and several other occurences)
1982 — I see us under a huge Zelkova tree busily nailing up straw dolls to exorcise evil spirits during a shrine visit at the Hour of the Ox, between two and four a.m. — Akira Kurosawa, Something Like An Autobiography, 1978. Translated from Japanese by Audie Bock.
2000 — A huge, towering zelkova tree stood just inside the front gate. People said it was at least a hundred and fifty years old. — Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood, 1987, Page 11. Translated from Japanese by Jay Rubin.
2000 — Then came autumn, and the dormitory grounds were buried in zelkova leaves. — Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood, 1987, Page 27. Translated from Japanese by Jay Rubin.
2000 — The wind continued sweeping past the two of us while the numberless leaves of the zelkova tree rustled in the darkness. — Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood, 1987, Page 46. Translated from Japanese by Jay Rubin.
2002 — "... flocks of starlings exploding into the sunset sky from the zelkova trees on a tiny cape jutting into the sea—and had begun visiting the spot to enjoy that stirring sight sight with our own eyes. — Kenzaburo Oe, Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age!, 1986. Translated from Japanese by John Nathan.