One of the first displays to catch my attention at this year’s Gafu-ten exhibit featured six trees and an accent plant. Award-winning display at the 2019 Gafu-ten held in Kyoto, Japan Unlike the display of larger bonsai, shohin display entails complex relationships among all of the trees in the composition. As the number of trees […]
Japan
Small trees at their best – shohin bonsai on display at the 2017 WBC
The shohin bonsai got a lot of attention at the 8th World Bonsai Convention. One of the most impressive was a shimpaku juniper with beautiful deadwood. Shohin shimpaku bonsai The shohin on display represented a number of different sizes and styles. The quality was high throughout. Jasmine bonsai White pine It was also fun to […]
Historic bonsai on display at the 2017 WBC
Upon entering the 8th World Bonsai Convention in Saitama, visitors are greeted by a large juniper called Hiryu, or, Flying Dragon. Hiryu, Flying Dragon I’d seen photos of the tree ahead of the event and hadn’t been wowed, but seeing the huge tree in person made it clear that it deserved to be the logo […]
Selections from Japan’s top 100 suiseki at the World Bonsai Convention
The 8th World Bonsai convention featured not only some of Japan’s best bonsai, but also some of its best suiseki. Kamogawa yase ishi The 100 stones on display were assembled by the Nippon Suiseki Association. It was an impressive exhibit. Kamogawa ishi Tanba shiun seki Iyo ishi The stones came in a variety of styles […]
Satsuki azalea bonsai at the World Bonsai Convention
The best thing about spring shows is the opportunity for color. Gyokurei Saien This was the first spring show I’d attended in Japan. I was struck by how nice it was to see bright indications of the season. Sayaka Jukokan Somewhere between one third to half of the satsuki bonsai on display at the 8th […]