The concentrations of alkali metals (sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium), alkaline earth metals (magnesium, calcium), halogens (chlorine, bromine), transition metals (titanium, vanadium, scandium, cobalt, iron, manganese), and rare earths (lanthanum, cerium, samarium) in 1369-year-old <i>Cryptomeria japonica</i> taken from Yaku Island were determined within individual annual rings. Concentration profiles were similar for elements of the same group. There were drastic concentration changes near the sap-and heartwood border. Halogen, transition metal, and rare earth concentrations were the highest near the cambium. Trace elements incorporated into a tree diffuse between the annual rings due to physiological effects as well as from the concentration difference. For the use of annual rings as an environmental indicator, one should be aware not only of the normal pattern of concentration profile but also of the mobility of trace elements in a tree. -- AATA