What kind of trees win prizes at prestigious Japanese exhibits like Taikan-ten? Trees like the black pine below. Black pine This tree took top honors at this year’s Taikan-ten. The work is by Masahiko Kimura. What makes the tree special? Great health, great trunk and bark, great branch development and great balance in terms of […]
Exhibits
Exhibits are where we can see bonsai at their best. Explore posts from Bonsai Exhibits in the U.S. including the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition and Japanese events including the world-famous Kokufu and Taikan-ten exhibits.
Needle juniper at 35th Taikan-ten
A few weeks ago I made a last minute decision to head to Japan to visit the 35th Taikan-ten held in Kyoto. I’m glad I did. Visiting exhibits in Japan provides a great opportunity to catch up with friends from around the world and to do a little bonsai-related shopping for tools, pots and accessories. […]
Hinoki forests and more at the 34th Taikan-ten
I don’t often see hinoki cypress bonsai forests, and I wouldn’t expect to see multiple hinoki bonsai forests in the same exhibit. The recent Taikan-ten exhibition in Kyoto, Japan, featured four of them. Tsuyama hinoki cypress (Photos by Boon Manakitivipart) I enjoy hinoki bonsai because they are often styled into abstract shapes with silhouettes that resemble […]
Follow the line of the trunk
The trunk reveals the heart and soul of bonsai. It can anyway. A compelling trunk tells a tree’s life story. It’s the oldest part of the tree and it bears the marks of age. And when the environment in which the tree matures is harsh, amazing things can happen. Shimpaku Ignoring foliage, pots, stands and displays for […]
More outstanding bonsai from the 2014 Taikan-ten
Yes, there are more outstanding trees to share from the 2014 Taikan-ten: Black pine – 2014 Sakufu prize winner Japanese maple – 2014 Kokufu prize winner All photos are courtesy Boon Manakitivipart. Boon regularly visits Japan in fall to work on a private bonsai collection. We’re fortunate that this year’s visit included a trip to Taikan-ten. […]