Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

Kyuka-en Bonsai Garden– Yukio Murata

Mansei–en Bonsai Garden– Takahiro Kato

Since I got on the wrong plane and I ended up in Tokyo, I thought real hard (yea) how to take advantage of a surprise short visit to Japan. This visit was not as short as my February trip, but I was able to walk.

Spent an entire day in Omiya Bonsai Village where I was an apprentice for one year. Across the street of the garden I was studying at was Fumo-en Bonsai Garden, the studio of Hiroshi Takeyama. My first visit was in June 1970 when both Mr. Takeyama were younger, and the exchange rate was US 1 to 365 yen. This is my personal favorite bonsai garden.

The 2025 BCI (Fengyan, China) Stone Appreciation Exhibition and 3^rd Anhui Province Fine Penjing Invitational Exhibition was held on April 24-25, 2025 in Fengyan, China. 

My three-hour demonstration on Saturday morning after the opening ceremonies was a bit different than the ones I’ve done previously. The size was huge, as are most of the bonsai and stones in China. One reason is because China does not have the cultural history of stones and bonsai being displayed indoors. So, in order not to be overlooked when viewing outdoors in large gardens, they must be large. 

I was taken to large nursery where they had at least 50 big specimens of Asian apples with trunk diameters of four to six inches. They were grown from cutting and spent the four years building a trunk and basic structural branching. Then the trees were potted and trained for another four years. They were initially drastic pruned many years ago to develop a multitude of small flexible branches.

When selecting plant material for a bonsai demonstration for styling it is important the finished tree looks good. I have learned the hard way of demonstrating around the world not to use deciduous species. Evergreen trees are much easier because faults and ugly branches can be usually hidden with foliage, while it is difficult to cover up faults when using deciduous species 

when all the branches are ……..exposed.

The tree I selected was large, heavy and four strong men were needed to move it, especially when not on a turntable. I decided not to defoliate the tree first, as a skeleton tree is not my goal. Many leaves remained on the tree, especially the crown. But, many were removed to allow the apples to ripen in the sunshine. Two skilled assistants helped me shape the tree. First, we removed the large and crossing branching then I started one wire used to shape two branches. The wire size and direction was established. As we progressed, my assistants caught on my methods of working and they were allowed to wire after trimming. After finishing up we removed. Many of the larger leaves, especially those hanging down. Finally, we concluded the demonstration and were pleased and proud of our work.

2025 BCI (Fengyan, China) Stone Appreciation Exhibition

There were over 600 stones in the large exhibition held indoors. The basic lighting was not ideal, however small spotlights were focused on each stone. I personally felt I was in an art gallery and also a zoo. Most of the stones were remarkable suggesting animals. Some appeared as people were dancing. A lot of the stones were Lingbi stones which are found nearby. Smaller stones were displayed behind glass. I don’t remember seeing any stones displayed in water basins. All had hand-carved daiza, some ornately shaped to enhance the suggestion of animals. This was one of the most beautiful stone exhibitions.

Completing the exhibition, was a very large market selling stones, collected trees and containers. It was held outdoors on both sides of a long street with the vehicular traffic blocked off.                                      

I think I need a larger box!

The 2025 BCI (Fengyan, China) Stone Appreciation Exhibition and 3^rd Anhui Province Fine Penjing Invitational Exhibition is being held on April 24-25, 2025 in Fengyan, China. Having been credited with the concept of training dwarfed potted trees, China introduced the art to the world. The Japanese quickly adapted this art form and developed the art of bonsai using Japanese aesthetics and taste.

For the past several decades, China has once again, introduced their art of penjing to the world and are serious to expand its artistry and understanding. There have been quite a few penjing exhibitions and conventions. There are a lot of people in China and their exhibitions and conventions tend to draw huge crowds on the first day. The opening day is tomorrow and there were over 550 people at the welcome dinner this evening.

I was one of the two foreign invited judges and demonstrators. China is a long distance from Rochester, New York, and took over 30 hours for me and my “supervisor” to safely travel to China, then drive another three hours to the large modern hotel.

There are over 250 huge bonsai in the outdoor exhibition, plus a few smaller and shohin size beautiful treasures. Most of the trees needed to be moved by fork lift trucks because of the size and weight.  Judging bonsai in China is serious business. There were a total of 16 judges from China and Mike Siow (Malaysia) and me.

We were allotted three hours to judge each tree. Points were given, with a minimum of 65 to a maximum of 98. There were 29 pages of judging forms and each judge needed to sign each page. 

More details and photos tomorrow, I’m tired now and must be ready for my demonstration at 7:30 am.

APRIL 16, 2025!!

Advanced Open Workshops are now beginning at the International Bonsai Arboretum, Rochester, New York, conducted by William N. Valavanis. The Introductory Bonsai Course will soon begin on the four Monday evenings in April.

Today we were busy and used a Sawzall, miniature chain saw, drill and chisels, That’s in addition to the traditional bonsai tools. I would like to share some interesting photos with you from today. Unfortunately, time does not allow me time to fully explain in detail what we were doing now, must prepare for another session in 12 hours.

After designing and setting up the main bonsai alcove (using a spring theme,) to welcome the students with a spring theme I made coffee to help them awaken to our world of bonsai in my studio.

Oto Hime Japanese maple display and thinning out extra buds. This bonsai, like many of my creations can be enjoyed from two sides, Fortunately the surface root display is great on both. I find this two-sided bonsai comes in very handy when setting up a bonsai display.

One student brought in a Trident maple forest, in addition to extra trees. Last year he got lucky and was able to obtain a very shallow container for a forest. It is dangerously shallow, and the trees need to be carefully selected. Several years ago, I got a similar container, even more shallow and have been lucky, with Diane and dedicated assistants to keep it still alive. The new Trident maple forest is not finished and needs quite a few adjustments to refine the composition.

For the past month or so, from early February my assistants got quite a few bonsai transplanted. Broken containers were repaired. A large Hawthorne was transplanted. It had a large, thick straight surface root we wanted to split in half. After considerable time, we decided to just remove the entire root to better balance the surface roots.

A maple was transplanted, and it was difficult to remove from the container because of the incurving side walls. After using a bonsai cycle, we got out my German miniature chain saw and the entire root mass was released.

Of course, this is the season for our annual “dancing with the bonsai.” Young opening buds on deciduous trees must be in the full sun to maintain the small leaves and delicate twigs which have developed over 30 to 40 years ago.

So, the bonsai are taken out of the garage during the day and brought back in when the temperature is forecast to become cold. We had lots of bonsai sunning and the weather forecast was for below 30F on Sunday. My assistants come on Saturday so it would not take much effort for one person to move them. Outside on the driveway was a beautiful, colorful bonsai display. However, Diane heard an updated forecast, and the low temperature was to be around 30F. No help was around so Diane moved everything back into the garage for protection. I assisted and directed. It really hurts when you spend decades refining a tree, then let it be damaged during a cold spell. It was getting dark, and light rain was falling, but she did it, mostly alone, I’m very blessed to have a loving wife who supports my efforts to improve and refine the bonsai community. They don’t teach this in the books, you must experience it yourself. By the way, the low temperature last night at 4 am was 28F. The tender new buds and opening leaves would have severely damaged, not necessarily killed. But definitely not be up to my standards to display this year.

Other techniques were also used to air layer the top off a Cork-bark Chinese elm to improve the main trunk line.

We also thread grafted a new shoot which was allowed to lengthen to be inserted through the trunk to add a needed branch in the ideal location. Rough bark Japanese maples do not bud back on old plated bark.

We all had fun, enjoyed each other’s company, learned a few techniques while improving and refining our bonsai. AND, we get to do this again tomorrow and every Friday and Saturday through the spring season.

We shrunk the dogs!

This year, like many others, the exhibition was held in two parts. Part 1 February 8-11, and Part 2 February 13-16, 2025. On Wednesday all the bonsai were replaced with fresh masterpieces so another 200 trees could be enjoyed. Yes, I know both the English and Japanese guides say 154. However, those are the exhibit areas, not the number of individual bonsai. Many of the shohin bonsai compositions displayed six or more trees and the medium size bonsai were usually two and sometimes three individual trees.

Unfortunately, I fell and broke my left kneecap and not stand or walk, so I had to return home after ONLY one day in Japan. Therefore I missed the entire Part 2 and the Suiseki Exhibition. Fortunately my good friend, Julian Adams from Lynchburg, Virginia, took the time to photograph each one of the 154 bonsai displays. He did a superb job with the photos and allowed me to share them with you. If you happen to see Julian, please thank him for his generosity.

All photos by Julian Adams

The 99^th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition is being held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan. It is considered to be the world’s finest bonsai exhibition. Part1 is being held on February 8-11, 2025, while Part 2 runs from February 13-16, 2025. On Wednesday, February 12 the exhibition is closed to the public while every bonsai is replaced with fresh trees, it is actually another new exhibition.

This is the 99^th exhibition, next year will highlight the 100^th exhibition. The first exhibition was held in March 1934 (91 years ago, not 100 years) twice each year in late winter and autumn. The exhibition held this twice yearly schedule from 1934 to 1944, then cancelled during the war. It began again in 1947 until present. Most were yearly, but there was one exhibition held in two a few years later. It has been held yearly in February until 1988 when the exhibition was held in two parts. There was only one part in 2022 (covid?) When the museum was resigned, to make it handicap accessible fewer trees could be displayed. Now the exhibition is held in two parts so more bonsai can be displayed.

Part 2 of the longest running bonsai exhibition will be held on February 13-136, the same time as the Nippon Suiseki Exhibition, also in the same building on the fourth floor.

A Few Personal Observations on Part 1:

The backgrounds and lighting were improved a few years ago and continues to highlight each bonsai. A couple of years ago the restriction of photos was eliminated. Probably the extensive use of small mobile phones with cameras had an influence.

This year it seemed as though there was a larger number of junipers and pines compared with deciduous species. Like in past exhibitions there were fewer rock plantings and forests but more literati style bonsai displayed. The Japanese flowering apricot bonsai were well represented, and in blossom too. There was a good representation of Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine bonsai.

Five Kokufu Prizes were awarded to outstanding bonsai and I believe only the second time a shohin bonsai composition received one of these prestigious awards. Masterpieces shown.There were 13 Important Bonsai As always all the bonsai were beautiful and simply displayed to allow their beauty to shine.

WARNING, this entry is not about bonsai, but rather saga of my trip. So please feel free to skip this entry. 

My first trip to Japan was in 1970. Since then I’ve had over 100 trips to Japan which were wonderful but not quite as exciting as this trip. Julian Adams joined me for a relaxing eight-day visit to the 99^th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition with a free schedule to visit the show and take a shuttle bus to the Ueno Green Club, the three-story building full of bonsai and even in the parking lot around the building is full of vendors. Since I’ve had a “tenancy” to fall down Diane will not let me go to Japan alone anymore, because it’s dangerous. Actually, she did not want me to go, even with my friend Julian.

I should have listened to her….

On the first morning, we took a taxi to the museum where the exhibition is held. I’ve been using a walking cane for some time now to help prevent falls. It did not work this time. Just as we were turning the entrance way to the museum I lost my balance and took out a few azaleas in a hedge. Julian could not lift me by himself and it took three strong men to lift me, then I immediately dropped again and again. I was not able to walk or stand alone. My saviors went into the museum and got me a wheelchair. Julian pushed me around the entire exhibition until 11:30 when we went upstairs for lunch. When I was nearly finished I had a few chest pains and got nauseated. Julian found a large trash can, but fortunately quieted down and we left. Even with a pacemaker and defibrillaodefri I still must be careful. Julian thought I might be having a heart attack and was quite concerned. Dying at Kokufu ten certainly have been eventful.

After lunch, we went downstairs to finish studying the small and shohin compositions. Then we started off to the Ueno Green Club for shopping, and reality kicked in. How am I to get to the shuttle bus, since I can’t stand? We decided to “borrow” one of the museum’s wheelchairs and return it tomorrow. WE quickly walked and wheeled out of the museum until a security cop caught and detained us. I tried to talk my way into them allow me to rent the wheelchair. The security cop, naturally had to call his boss. Not speaking English, we just stood around looking at each other until the museum director who spoke English arrived and we had more discussions. I was allowed to use the wheelchair on museum property but could not rent it or remove it. 

So, I asked the three officers, what to do now. Finally, they took me away, (I thought to a Japanese prison,) a first floor exit and several more museum personal joined to question us. I was very fortunate to have my long-time friend Makiko Kobayashi, who had lived in the US and translates and writes bonsai articles in English translating for all of us. I probably would have ended up in Japanese prison without Makio’s assistance.

I said how about an ambulance to take me a hospital and then I thought rent a wheelchair. After a 30 minute discussion, the EMTs and driver and hospital the tried to find one which could help and accept me, during this holiday when most people are off their jobs. I was warned, several times, that if I must spend the night in the hospital, one of Tokyo finest. The daily charge would be about US $7,000 per night. At this point I’m not certain my Medicare or supplemental insurance would cover it.

After a 20 minute fast moving ambulance ride, complete with sirens, we arrived at very nice and clean hospital emergency room. They instantly checked my name and birthdate and put me a curtained area. My nurse suddenly appeared to help me. The chief doctor in the ER came to introduce himself and we chatted. He took blood samples while I was attached to an EKG, and having tubes shoved up my arms. All the nurses and doctors spoke English, and they all appeared to be than 40 years old. I have been in an emergency room “a few times” with waits from four hours to over eight before someone looked at me.

Following the testing the doctor ordered x-rays of my left knee. It was a very short time before they returned with the news that my left knee cap was fractured. They warned me to keep weight off my left leg because the fracture might travel and need surgery. They provided me with a leg brace, the X-rays, crutches, directions and prescriptions for pain relief. A special ambulance taxi to take us all, Julian, Makiko and her husband, who came bearing sandwiches to our hotel. The ambulance taxi was large and they transferred me into a comfortable chair like a Lazy Boy rocker.

We arrive at the hotel which only has an escalator which goes down not up. There was a steep staircase next to the escalator, and that went both up and down. The receptionist came and change the direction of the escalator. I hobbled to the escalator and held onto both moving handrails. There was one person in front and one in back in case I would fall.

I was so tired, and in some pain, I decided to return home today, on Monday rather than next Sunday. I did not want to miss part 2 of the exhibition and the suiseki exhibition as well, a most difficult decision to make. United Airlines wanted to charge me $500 for the date change. So, I told the customer representative that is ridiculous! This is a medical emergency change plus I’m a member of the Million Mile Club and have gold status for life.

I got home with no problem and pain. Got lucky both my flights were not full so had an entire row to keep my leg straight. One suitcase and I arrived on time, while the other suitcase arrived the next day.

Reflecting back, I did not purchase ANYTHING in Japan (a first) that was not consumable. Although I did have a taxi ride and three ambulance taxi rides to pay for.
 
My next blog entry on BONSAI will be coming soon because Diane will not let me off the sofa with my leg straight.

My next blog entry on BONSAI will be coming soon because Diane will not let me off the sofa with my leg straight.