Last week before the Opening Ceremony of the 8^th World Bonsai Convention in Saitama, our group visited Mr. Kobayashi’s museum. Each time I visit this special garden there seems to be more and more bonsai, especially large size specimens. This visit was not an exception, except that the garden was also full of foreign visitors from Europe and China.

Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Kobayashi took time to greet us and autograph his books. His museum has about a dozen alcoves where his masterpiece bonsai and suiseki are formally displayed in the three levels of formality. It was wonderful to see the deciduous bonsai with fresh green foliage as I usually see them in their autumn colors or in their defoliated stage.