Bonsai tree: Gomangoku – the Daiju-en family bonsai exhibit

Friday, December 2, 2011

Bonsai tree: Gomangoku – the Daiju-en family bonsai exhibit

Gomangoku – the Daiju-en family bonsai exhibit


Gomangoku is the Daiju-en family’s annual bonsai exhibit – it was held a few weeks ago over the first weekend in November. The phrase “Daiju-en family” refers, in this case, to Toru Suzuki, head of the Daiju-en garden in Okazaki, Aichi, and all of the available bonsai professionals who have studied there with Suzuki.


Daiju-en sans oyakata


Daiju-en extended family with the glaring omission of Toru Suzuki. Standing: Ken-senpai, Hino-senpai, Tok-senpai, Yasuo Mitsuya, Peter Tea, me, Junichiro Tanaka. Squatting: Fu-senpai, Taka-senpai, Isao-senpai, Uch-senpai. A wonderful bunch of very talented bonsai professionals.


Gomangoku is a relatively small exhibit at around 50 displays, but the quality of the trees is very high. Peter Tea has written a great rundown of the event – see Gomangoku 五万石盆栽展 (Daiju-en show) 2011 for the full story. I was able to tag along as I’m spending time in Japan through Peter’s Apprenticeship Program at Aichi-en. Helping with the exhibit was a great experience – here is an overwhelming number of photos from the event.


Big trees


Sitting in a miniature forest


Kinbon shooting the show


The photo setup used by the Kinbon folks


Uch-senpai with Moriyama shinpaku


Uch-senpai, currently 3 years into his apprenticeship at Daiju-en, sitting with Mr. Moriyama’s very large shimpaku


Posing with Ooishi maple


Posing next to a great Japanese maple from Ooishi


Large Japanese maple


Giant maple greeting visitors at the front door


Almost ready


Adding the final touches before the night before show opens


White pine


White pine


Choujubai


Choujubai quince


Rose


Rose


Shohin pyracantha


Pyracantha


Accent


Accent


Princess persimmon


Princess persimmon


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Akebia


Akebia


White pine


White pine


Trident maple


Trident maple


Pyracantha


Pyracantha


Beech


Japanese beech


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Choujubai


Choujubai quince


White pine


White pine


White pine


White pine


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Japanese maple


Japanese maple


Accent


Accent


Yew


Yew


Kaido


Kaido


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Pyracantha


Pyracantha


Korean hornbeam


Korean hornbeam


White pine


White pine


Persimmon


Persimmon


Black pine


White pine


Deciduous tree


Accent


Variegated jasmine


Jasmine


Needle juniper


Needle juniper


Japanese maple


Japanese maple


Bonus points for those of you who have noticed a second glaring omission – there are no black pines pictured here! Daiju-en is well-known for their pines – I’ll share them in a future post.



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