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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

Happy New Year! In the spirit of seasonal celebrations, here are some highlights from the 34th annual Taikan-ten. The photos are courtesy of Boon Manakitivipart. Boon has generously offered to share some photo highlights from his recent visit to Japan, and what better place to start than the Grandview Bonsai Exhibit held each November in Kyoto, Japan. Thanks Boon! […]

For the Thanksgiving weekend I thought I’d share a few of the highlights from the 2011 Takian ten. The event is held annually in Kyoto at this time of year. For those who missed previous posts from the event, see more from the 2011 Taikan Ten. Enjoy! Shimpaku Trident maple Black pine Needle juniper Shimpaku […]