Akemi's Blog: Bonsai

What can we learn from Bonsai's popularity worldwide?

I started this blog for the purpose of promoting Japan's traditional arts and crafts, because many of them are at the verge of extinction. "The only way for them to survive is to raise awareness and create demand among people living outside of Japan," so I thought.

Well, the more I research about Bonsai abroad, how active the Bonsai enthusiasts' community is, I see less importance of my further introducing Bonsai here.

On the other hand, I think there are a lot to learn from this emerging popularity of Bonsai in the US and in Europe. I will independently continue exploring what made Bonsai so popular among people outside of Japan.

The 8th world Bonsai Convention will be held in Saitama next year, from April 27 to 30. Not only Bonsai enthusiasts, but maybe I should attend to learn about the secret of this popularity.....

Sep 8, 2016 1:30:00 PM | Bonsai

Envisioning a renaissance for American bonsai culture

Just as Oscar Yonker, the founder of Bonsai Empire, was fascinated by bonsai when he was 15 years old, Ryan Neil was only 14 years old when his spirit was captured by bonsai.

Determined to become a bonsai professional, Ryan apprenticed under the bonsai master Masahiko Kimura for 6 years in Japan, and now has a studio called Mirai in Oregon. Earlier this year Ryan had a bonsai show at Portland Japanese Garden.

In his website, he says "I envision a renaissance for American bonsai culture.". As you can see the video below, his work is just wonderful.

Both Oscar and Ryan fascinate me. I don't think bonsai is popular at all among young people in Japan. What do people like Oscar and Ryan see in bonsai that very few Japanese counterparts see?

Sep 7, 2016 1:30:00 PM | Bonsai

What is and is not Bonsai （盆栽）?

When I was little, my parents used to have close to 100 bonsai plants, almost all of them were azaleas. I thought Bonsai was a hobby among old people, and never paid attention to what my parents were doing.

So when I started to do some research about Bonsai on the web, I was surprised to encounter two young men who are so passionate about Bonsai.

First, let me introduce to you a website called Bonsai Empire. According to its About page, this website was created by Oscar in 2000 when he was 15 years old. The website became so popular that now it is translated into 12 other languages!

In a movie that he created, Oscar describes what is and what is not Bonsai.

"Bonsai is a combination of techniques in order to grow styled tree with a goal to miniaturize it.... Bonsai is Not a genetically dwarf plant, nor a tree species. In fact, any tree species can be used to grow bonsai plant."

"Bonsai （盆栽）literally means a plant in a shallow container in Japanese."

"The ultimate goal of a bonsai is to create a realistic depiction of nature. The smaller the tree gets, the more abstract the image becomes."

Thank you, Oscar, for your clear description of Bonsai.

Here is his video. Enjoy!

Sep 6, 2016 1:30:00 PM | Bonsai

What makes it bonsai?

Also present at Japan Fair was Puget Sound Bonsai Association. I had a chance to chat with Edd Kuehn, the president of the organization. What exactly makes it bonsai?

"Bonsai is a horticultural art that takes many forms to create living, sculpted representations of trees in miniature form. Bonsai is an ancient art developed probably first in China nearly two thousand years ago, then later in Japan over a thousand years ago, and now is practiced throughout the world." says the brochure that Edd handed to me. At the booth he showed me the mini bonsais that he grew... or can I say that he created?

According to Edd, bonsai became quite popular in the US in the 20th century. But how? Well, I think it's worth doing some research...