Learning from troubled tree

Those are my recent works at Kouka-en.

The student of "Fujikawa International School of Bonsai" usually works on those materials.

I hope those trees are helpful examples to imagine how you wire at the school.

1, Han-Kengai (Semi-cascade)

2, Shakan (Slanting)

3, Sokan (Two-trunk)

The trunk and the branches of the tree I wired are similar to left side tree which is Kicho Bonsai (Important Bonsai Masterpieces).

4, Moyogi ( Informal upright)

This tree hadn't taken care appropriately.

Problem 1) Branches run up and down.

I wired flatly to be same level of other branches. When it was difficult, I cut it.

Problem 2) Brunches are twisted.

The twisted brunches were very thin and weak. I untwisted and place branches in the right position.

Problem 3) Too many branches run from the same part.

I cut and left two branches.

Finally, I squished the top part by guy-wire to make it compact.

 Done!

< Point >

I think what professional work is that professional can wire as if it’s a leafy tree even if the tree has got a few branches and a few leaves.

How you can make it is

• To place branches certain distance
• To make a lot of different level branches

Happy Valentine's Day バレンタインデー

Feb. 14th is Valentine's Day when woman gives chocolate to man in Japan. And then girl tell someone she loves him. Woman also gives chocolate for someone out of a sense of social obligation.

Department and store make special chocolate booth for Valentine's Day. Women come and buy expensive special chocolate for the special day. 

Mar. 14th is called White day. Man who received chocolate at Valentine's Day must give something in return. For example, candy, marshmallow and so on.

School boys compete with their friends the next day how many chocolates they got. Of cause, the most handsome boy in the class room usually get the most chocolates.

I gave chocolates Oyakata (boss) and apprentices last year. I think it’s difficult to do this year because Oyakata and one of apprentices have been to Kokufu exhibition.

I bought some chocolates for myself. These are my favorite chocolates “Tim Tam”. I also love any Swiss and Belgium chocolates.

I hope you have a nice Valentine's Day.

Frost protection 霜よけ

It's coldest season here in Japan. I often find frost in the morning.
We usually use shadowing net to prevent from frost in winter but we don't use it this year.
Other nurseries put trees under boards or in a room to prevent from frost.
I'm latest apprentice, so I always go to nursery earliest in the morning. Then I can see the beautiful frost glittering.

一番寒いこの時期は、霜が降りることもしばしば。
霜よけに毎年使っている寒冷紗ですが、今年は使いません。
一番下の弟子である私は、鍵を開けたり掃除をしたりする為に、いつも朝早く盆栽園に行きます。霜が降りた朝は凍てつく寒さですが、空気が澄んでいて光り輝やく霜が綺麗です。

I found a lot of trees have got many thin roots on the surface of the soil. Trees are waiting for repotting.

樹をよく観察してみると、小根が土の表面に這い出し植え替えを待っているのが分かります。

The buds of Japanese apricot have become bigger day by day.

梅の蕾が膨らみ開花は間もなくです。

When I was walking on the street, I smelt sweet flavor from Chimonanthus praecox. When I see wild trees on the street, I tend to think what this tree is going to be if I cut branches and wired.
Spring is coming soon here in Osaka, Japan. I can’t wait for repotting my trees.

路地にはロウバイが一足先に咲き誇り、芳しい香りを周囲に漂わせ気づかずにはいられません。
無造作に生えている庭木を見ると、枝を切って針金をかけたらどうなるかとついつい考えてしまいます。
もうすぐ春。植え替えが楽しみです。

Gafu-ten 2015 / 第40回 雅風展

Shohin Bonsai exhibition took place in Kyoto in January.
If you want to improve your Bonsai skill, I recommend you to go to exhibition and look really high quality trees. Here at Kouka-en, we don’t have a lot of Shohin Bonsai nor don’t display those. Shohin Bonsai is brand new for me, so I was looking forward to seeing it.


小品盆栽の展示会が京都の「みやこめっせ」で開かれました。
盆栽を上達したいなら、レベルの高い実物を見るのが一番です。
光華園では中品や大品が中心のため小品は少なく、またそれらを飾ることもありません。
私にとって小品盆栽はこれまでに見たことがない真新しい盆栽であり、どんなものかワクワクしながら行きました。


When I entered the place, I saw many display booths and trees were displayed beautifully on the shelf in each booths. I guess everybody would think “ Lovely! ”. The small trees radiated infinite fascination.

雅風展の会場に入ると、障子で区切られた席がずらりと並び、その一席内にいくつもの小さな盆栽が飾り棚上に綺麗に飾られていました。そこにいる誰もが「かわいい！」と思える程、愛らしい小さな世界が広がっていました。


There are some rules of Shohin display:

• Different species and style
• Different shape and color of pot
• Color of fruit and pot shouldn’t be the same
• Each tree shouldn’t be the same height ( Use display stand, so you can change the height)

小品盆栽の飾り方にはいくつかルールがあります。

• 異なる樹種・樹形
• 異なる鉢の形・色
• 実と鉢の色が同じにならないようにする
• 樹高の高さが同じにならないようする（→卓を使って高さを変えることで解消できる）

After knowing those rules, you would be very impressed by harmony of tree, accent plant and display stand. As Shohin Bonsai is totally designed whole harmony, I think Shohin Bonsai is “This is Bonsai.” I imagine that the owner would think “the pot is good on the tree. I should put the tree here rather than over there.” After imagining so, I admire those trees sincerely and tree looks lovelier.

これを踏まえて各席を鑑賞すると、樹は勿論の事、鉢・下草・卓との調和に感動させられます。
樹の幹や枝ぶりだけを鑑賞するのと違い、鉢・卓・飾りを包括的にデザインする小品盆栽は「This is Bonsai.」だと思いました。この日の為にオーナーさん達は、この樹にはこの鉢が似合うかなとか、この樹はこの位置の方がいいかなと色々と考えられたことでしょう。それを思うと尚更、愛おしく立派に思えてなりません。

I heard that many people give up big size of Bonsai and start small size. I think the one of the reason is Shohin pot. Since there are so many colorful, painting, unique Shohin pot, it stands to reason. And I’m one of the people who are really into pot. Of course, people want to display their favorite tree with great pot.

大きなサイズの盆栽を辞めて、小さなサイズの盆栽に移りハマっている人は沢山いると聞きます。その理由の一つが鉢にあると考えます。カラフル・絵付け・ユニークな形が多い小品鉢は、ハマる人は多いはず。私もその内の一人です。丹精込めて育ててきた樹だから、いい鉢に入れてあげたいと思うのは当然の親心です。

Shohin pot artist contest

I think the best advantage of Gafu-ten is to see pot artist. It was awesome to see all those pot artists which I only knew from their seals and stamps. Finally, I met Haruyoshi and Juko in person. They were sincere and clement that’s why I think their pots are high quality and trusted. A lot of people were curious and looked at Juko’s demonstration.

さて、雅風展は鉢作家さんに出会えるというのが最大の（!?）魅力ではないでしょうか。
馴染みのある落款、自分のお気に入りの鉢を作られた作家さん御本人に出会えるというのは、卒倒しそうなくらい超嬉しいことです。憧れのスーパースターが目の前にいて、その方とお話ができるって最高です。今回、お会いした春喜さんと樹晃さんは大変誠実で温和な方で、やはりその方たちが作り出す鉢というのは高品質で信頼のおける確かなものです。樹晃さんのデモンストレーションには、沢山の人だかりができていました。

 Juko's  demonstration

Nowadays, Shohin Bonsai is popular in Japan.  I could see from a lot of numbers of display, many shops, and guests at Gafu-ten. It motivated me to start Shohin display.

小品盆栽を見て「私も盆栽を初めてみようかな」と思う人は多いと思います。それは席数の多さや来場者数にも表れていましたし、何よりも私が小品盆栽を飾りたいと夢中になりました。

( PR ) Kokufu-ten which is the highest level of Bonsai exhibition in Japan take place in Tokyo from Feb.5th to 13th. Please come and see it.