Bonsai tree: Taikan-ten – awesome bonsai

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Taikan-ten – awesome bonsai

I hope it’s been obvious from my recent posts, but in case it isn’t, I’d like to underscore the fact that the great bonsai exhibits in Japan feature some really great trees. The Taikan-ten in Kyoto is the second largest exhibit in Japan and it always includes some outstanding trees. Special displays feature Kokufu and Sakufu prize-winners. These are typically very large and very old bonsai. It can be difficult to keep such trees healthy, let alone move them from one bench to another. Their beauty reflects not only great bonsai skill, but also great caring as their maintenance over long periods of time requires considerable resources.

Although the show isn’t organized by size or variety, I’ve taken license in presenting like groups of trees for dramatic effect. Doing this helps remind me just how many fantastic pines, for instance, the show contained.

I hope you enjoy the photos below, and I’d like to wish you all a happy new year!  I appreciate your readership and engaged comments – they mean a lot to me. To borrow a phrase from Peter Tea, thanks for reading!

Japanese black pine from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese black pine – work by a Daiju-en graduate

Japanese black pine – from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine displayed at this year’s Gomangoku

Japanese black pine

Semi-cascade Japanese black pine

Japanese black pine on a rock

Cascade Japanese black pine

Japanese white pine from Mr. Moriyama’s collection – one of the trees I helped prepare for the exhibit

Japanese white pine

Japanese white pine – although the pot looks new, it’s likely over 100 years old

Japanese white pine – a great conversation piece

Japanese white pine

Hemlock – a favorite among many Taikan-ten visitors

Formal upright hinoki bonsai

Ezo spruce

Ezo spruce

Needle juniper

Shimpaku

Shimpaku

Shiimpaku

Roughbark Japanese maple

Trident maple – from Mr. Moriyama’s collection

Japanese winterberry – work by a Daiju-en graduate

Japanese maple

Ginkgo

Korean hornbeam

Japanese maple – possibly shishigashira

Japanese flowering quince – ‘Chojubai’

Kadsura

Satsuki azalea

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Bonsai tree: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and environs

Source: Bonsai Tonight
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and environs

The people of Saitama City pooled impressive resources to open the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in 2010. Billed as the world’s first publicly-operated bonsai art museum, the museum is home to outstanding trees, pots, stands, and historical documents relating to bonsai. Their brochure claims that three principles form the pillars of the museum’s activities:

1. The bonsai research center - The Museum carries out research on the history and significance of bonsai from diverse perspectives. The results are disseminated in an easy to understand way through exhibitions, lectures, classes, and so on.

2. A new tourist attraction for Saitama City - The Museum aims to become a new tourist attraction for Saitama City, one where people can easily encounter the beauty of bonsai.

3. An aid to the revitalization of the bonsai industry - By providing many people with opportunities to become familiar with bonsai, the Museum works to revitalize this traditional industry.

The museum didn’t skimp on trees. A rotating collection of bonsai gives life to exhibits and to the garden at the museum’s center. Here are some of the trees on display the rainy day we visited.

Japanese maple – the tree is named Musashi-ga-oka

Large Japanese black pine in huge antique pot

Modern bonsai display

Red pine and ginkgo

Amazing white pine

Mélange of bonsai colors

Japanese maple

Bonsai garden

Bonsai garden

The rest of the garden

On our way to the museum, we stopped to pick up Yu-senpai. Yu-senpai’s nursery is about 15 minutes away from the museum and contains a great mix of varieties. His father is a fan of Japanese maples.

Japanese maple in development

Peter enjoying the deciduous trees

Japanese maples

More Japanese maples

A twisty shimpaku

We also stopped by a bonsai supply nursery. Inside we looked at crowded rooms of tools, trinkets, antiques, pottery, stands and furniture. Outside sat pallets of bonsai soil and shelf after shelf of bonsai pots. Fun shopping!

Some of the smaller pots

More pots

All kinds of bonsai related supplies

I picked up a few knick-knacks – an old woodworking tool, bamboo stands for accent plants – and spent the rest of the time perusing pots. Most were new Japanese or new Chinese. Despite the great selection, I demurred and saved my Yen for older pots.

Not a hat – the pot that made Peter smile

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