The following photo is a clue to the location of our next stop: Pine bark You guessed it – Daiju En, one of the world’s more famous pine bonsai gardens. And it’s the family home of my teacher’s teacher’s teacher. My teacher, Boon Manakitivipart, studied in Japan with Kihachiro Kamiya, student of Toshinori Sukuki. Daiju […]
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Okamoto
Last weekend was a marathon of repotting. I returned from Japan to find that the pines had started moving and that time was running short to get them in shape for spring. It’s always the one time of year when I feel the clock is against me. I usually repot my most developed trees early […]
Shinpukuji Temple and Environs
This tree put a smile on my face too – it’s one of many great trees in a garden near the Shinpukuji Temple in Okazaki. The owner of this collection has shown at least one tree in each in Kokufu bonsai exhibit for the past 20 years. Vlad and root over rock trident maple. Adjacent […]
Kawabe
One of our more educational visits came at the garden of Takeo Kawabe. Kawabe was an automotive engineer whose life took a new direction after seeing, for the first time, the trees in Masahiko Kimura’s garden. Kawabe soon left behind his automotive career and began a bonsai apprenticeship with Kimura at the relatively late age […]
Ebihara
How many of you have, or would like to have, a tree with roots like this? Incredible roots This Japanese maple is around 25 years old from cutting. And it’s fairly representative of all of the maples in Ebihara’s garden, located just outside of Tokyo, Japan. I’m currently on a bonsai vacation that coincides with […]