The three main indicators - needle retention, height increment and radial increment were retrospectively surveyed on seven 40-year-old Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii Parl.). Needle trace method (NTM) was applied to determine a number of needle sets (needle retention) along the main stems in the years 1967-1997. Furthermore, the NTM provided data on annual needle loss, needle density per centimeter of shoot, number of needles in leading shoot and total number of needles on stem for particular years. The average summer needle retention in the entire period of the observation was 2.78 needle sets with minimum value of 2.31 (in 1983 and 1985) and maximum 3.18 (1969). The number of needle sets varied from year to year. However, the long-term budget between newly born and annually shed needle sets was in equilibrium. The average needle density was 7.87 per centimeter of shoot. The trends (developments in the years 1967-1997) of number of needle sets, height increment and radial increment showed close similarities. The potential harmful factors related to development of the three indicators were discussed.