NOTE: Registration is required to participate in workshops. If you purchase a workshop, you must also purchase the seminar registration to participate.

January 31 – February 1, 2026
Harrison Recreation Center, Lincoln Park, 1450 High St, Alameda, CA 94501

Tentative Schedule

Saturday

9:00 a.m. – Staff and vendor set-up
10:00 a.m. – Registration and Vendors open
10:30 a.m. – Display Study Introduction, Slideshow, Pots & Stands Exercise
1:00 p.m. – Lunch (bring your own, order delivery or grab something nearby)
2:00 p.m. – Display Practice Box Stand Practice and Group Display Setup
5:00 p.m. – Finish and Cleanup

Sunday

9:00 a.m. – Staff and vendor set-up
10:00 a.m. – Evaluation
11:30 a.m. – Super Demo (Daisaku and Andrew)
1:00 p.m. – Lunch (bring your own, order delivery or grab something nearby)
2:00 p.m. – Workshop Session A
3:30 p.m. – Workshop Session B
5:00 p.m. – Finish and Cleanup

Lecture Topics

How to create contrast in shohin displays
Shohin size conventions
Shohin display basics (3-point and box stand displays)
Display practicum
Shohin containers
Shohin accents
Shohin design
Stylistic differences between shohin and larger bonsai
How to approach shohin work
Shohin care
Shohin evaluation
Collection building

What to bring

Shohin bonsai for display exercise
Shohin bonsai to work on (optional)
Bonsai tools and wire (if you plan to work on your trees)
Display stands for your trees
Shohin accent plants

Where to Stay

If you’re coming from out of town, we recommend getting an Airbnb near the venue or staying at the following hotels:

Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham Oakland/Alameda (3-star) at 1628 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501
For group rate, call 510-522-1000 and mention group code “shohin school”
Hampton Inn & Suites Oakland Airport-Alameda (4-star) at 1700 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Alameda, CA 94502
Home2 Suites by Hilton Alameda Oakland Airport (3-star) at 1660 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Alameda, CA 94502

Vendors

Vendor information will be posted closer to the event.

Harrison Recreation Center at Lincoln Park

Open House at Jonas’ garden

Everyone is welcome to join us and Daisaku Nomoto at Jonas’ garden on Friday, January 30th, between 3pm and 5pm. Email jonas@bonsaitonight.com to RSVP and to receive directions and parking information.

Workshops

The workshop format is an abbreviated version of a standard bring-your-own tree workshop in which you can work on your trees and/or get feedback about them. Think of this as a mini-workshop or critique. There will be two sessions that each run approximately 1.5 hours during which Andrew, Jonas, and Daisaku (plus helpers as needed) will visit your workstation. You can also get feedback from the instructors about how to display your trees or how to complement your collection with additional material.

If you purchase trees when you register, you can focus on these trees during the workshops or work on the trees you bring to the event. There are no fixed times to work on specific groups of bonsai so you can feel free to purchase as many trees as you’d like without worrying about workshop timing conflicts. Our goal is to provide starting points to support the shohin community’s desire to create quality shohin bonsai.

Workshop Material

Below you can find photos of the material that will be provided in the workshops. Trees will be distributed to participants by lottery.

For some of the trees below, you’ll be able to repot during the workshops. The cork elms, pines, chojubai, and large trunk zelkova, for example, will all need repotting this season. We’ll provide soil for workshop trees and have pots available for purchase.

Stand workshops will have fixed times to provide time for assembly.