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100th Koku-Fu Bonsai Exhibition opened today, February 8, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan. When it began in March 1934 two exhibitions were held yearly, one in winter and autumn. This schedule was repeated until World War II began and stopped and began after a few years. Several decades ago a double exhibition was held on the tenth years to commemorate the milestones. Then the Nippon Bonsai Association began to sponsor the exhibition in 1964. Before it was sponsored by the Koku-Fu Bonsai Club. Then it was decided to hold double show yearly where approximately all 250 masterpieces were replaced by new bonsai. So, this historic exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary, not 100 years.

NO these bonsai are not packed for sale! That’s winter protection for valuable bonsai masterpieces  at Mr. Takeyama’s Fuyo-en bonsai garden.  More later

Here is an interlude post about my trip to Okinawa. Next week, back to bonsai, where I hope to share some wonderful old bonsai on Honshu.

Last month the Bay Area Bonsai Associates held their 42nd annual exhibit at the Lake Merritt Garden Center in Oakland, California. The event featured an exhibit, sales area, and Saturday evening demonstration by Adam Toth.

Here’s one more rough Japanese Black Pine.
There hasn’t been much taper on these 3 pines. A large cut to a new leader is in order for this one as well.

Here’s another Japanese Black Pine with major choices ahead.

In bonsai, some styles announce themselves immediately. Cascades dramatise gravity, literati defy it, and formal uprights project an almost architectural authority. The twin trunk style—Sōkan in Japanese—does something very different. It speaks softly. Its power lies not in spectacle, but in relationship.

I like the Full-Moon maple, Acer japonicum, which is native to Japan and Korea. It is a similar to the widely popular Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, which is also native to Japan, Korea China and Russia. The Full-Moon maple has slightly larger leaves than the Japanese species. However, the main difference is in the leaf shape. Japanese maples have five, seven and rarely nine acutely long serrated leaf lobes which are often extend to the main petiole. While the Full-Moon maple has seven to 13 serrated leaf lobes which are not as long and look like a full moon shape with the shorter leaf lobes. In early spring the young foliage of Full-Moon maples have a white downy hair which is gone by the summer.

Last week we took a look at this leggy Black Pine.
The pine reminded me of a crane. Taking off with its long neck stretched out.

I usually aim to prune flowering quince such as boke, toyonishiki, or chojubai in fall after most of the leaves turn color and begin to fall off. In recent years, however, my garden has lacked the cold required to make this happen.