Masahiko Kimura Studio
Today’s tour was visitation to the private studio of Masahiko Kimura, the great and innovator of unusual, fine bonsai. His garden is always changing and on today’s visit I noticed a great number of new bonsai, mostly Sargent juniper, Japanese five-needle pine and Japanese black pine. One of the reasons I enjoy his garden is that many of the trees on display are still in training with heavy rebar, lots of wiring and numerous trees he is changing the foliage with superior varieties. Also, he is friendly and answers all my questions.
Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
This museum is under 15 years old and continues to change the garden design as well as the indoor exhibits. Most noticeably is a new garden pond with a gentle waterfall lined with bonsai. Many of the named famous bonsai were recently changed into slightly larger containers. Although it is easier to maintain evergreens rather than deciduous and broad-leaf evergreen species in the same style and size for decades, there comes a time when the tree must grow slightly to maintain health. Mr. Kimura’s most famous “Dragon” Sargent juniper bonsai has never been repotted in about 30 years. That’s amazing because it always looks healthy. I asked me some time back if he removed and replaced some of the soil and he said no.
Bonsai Village Gardens
We visited three most famous collections of Takahiro Kato (Mansai-en), Tomio Yamada (Seiko-en) and finally Hiroshi Takeyama (Fuyo-en.) Each of these three bonsai varied in species and styles, but all were beautifully trained and maintained. The atmosphere of each was apparent, if you could distinguish and understand the differences. Many of the most famous named masterwork bonsai were displayed but not labeled.
S-Cube, Uchiku-tei Bonsai Garden of Seiji Morimae
Hanyu, Japan
This is probably the largest bonsai garden in Japan and is loaded with fine-quality bonsai, antique and modern containers, display tables, hanging scrolls, suiseki and both Chinese and Japanese antique art used to display and appreciate bonsai. He has “everything” for sale except tools, wire and soil. He now operates two other retail shops in Tokyo.
Mr. Morimae patiently waited for our group’s visit before rushing off to Kyoto for the Taikan Bonsai Exhibition. We will be visiting on Friday the opening day. Two large semi-trucks filled with trees and other art for his sales area at the exhibition had just left for the seven to eight journey, in addition to a HiAce large van with more sales items. He is traveling by Bullet train.
For the past several years he has been producing a weekly FREE YouTube series “Wabi Channel.”When searching for it be sure to add “Channel”, as there are many videos which begin with Wabi. They are very educational. Although most topics are for more experienced hobbyists, several have been aimed for beginners. Other topics such as pricing bonsai, old famous masterpiece bonsai, suiseki (both how to display two stones together and discusses the cutting of stones), care and maintenance, how bonsai are shaped and much more.
He has about 200 different episodes. All are well-produced by his daughter Yukiko, who makes him film with only ONE take and with no script too! Although the videos are in Japanese, they are all well translated with good English captions which can be easily found. The only thing I don’t like is that I carefully must watch to read the English captions, if you don’t speak Japanese. Here is a hint from Diane to makes things easier to read the captions. Just change the speed to 50% or 75% to give you enough time to properly understand and read the captions. The Japanese audio will sound funny played slowly. But, if you don’t understand, it makes no difference how it sounds.
www.youtube.com/@WABICHANNEL-kf5xf/videos
Last week’s episode was on the “Spirit of Antique Chinese Containers.” The episodes do not drag out and most are approximately 10 to 15 minutes in length.
Have fun and learn a lot, I do, as does Diane who watches them with me.
