Japanese Bonsai is an ancient traditional art that originally came from China over 1,000 years ago. But through the years, Japanese Bonsai evolved and developed to become its own original brand and art of bonsai. Some bonsai trees are hundreds of years old and can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.
My old university friend, Masaki, who is Japanese but now lives in the US, has been practicing Japanese bonsai for the last two years. It is ironic as he is from Japan but went to the US where is now learning Japanese Bonsai and Japanese tea ceremony from American Senseis! Anyway, the annual Gafu-ten Bonsai Exhibition in Kyoto which is held every year in January is supposed to be one of the biggest bonsai events held in Japan. So he came back to Japan to see it and invited me to join him.
I have seen and heard about Japanese bonsai but never heard much about it recently. I thought it was a dying ancient Japanese art. But recently there is increased interest from women in Japan and foreigners, and there has always been a legacy of bonsai with Japanese immigrants who emigrated to Hawaii, the United States, Canada, and South America. This video talks about the bonsai exhibition and the visit to Datokuji Temple to see the bonsai garden there.
YouTube Channel page with #shorts and long format videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeMatsuno
Getting to Work in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSr7HATHQF0
Best Rice in the World: https://youtu.be/QFyfOB6vyMs
Japan Bath: https://youtu.be/tPyJliDAm4Q
Japanese curry: https://youtu.be/FFseCI802R4
Please subscribe and share: https://www.youtube.com/MikeMatsuno
Mike’s website: https://www.goglobal.me/.
#japaneseart #bonsai #japaneseculture
5 Comments
Mike, does Masaki san happen to know of Dick Keusink (now passed away) who was president of the Curry County or Brookings Bonsai Club, in Brookings, Oregon? Thanks for the great video.
Like many things, Bonsai seems super popular as a Japanese cultural export, so it's interesting to hear it actually appears to be in decline. There still seem to be young people taking on the hobby, though – one of the more colorful outliers of the Bonsai world I've recently discovered is a guy called Teppei Kojima, who styles himself as a "Producer" for Bonsai like you'd see in pop music… really quite a different take on the subject. I wouldn't write off this art form quite yet.
Bonsai is still a big deal in NorCal! Lots of classes and “experts”. Good to see you becoming “artsy” in your old age, lol!
Aloha Braddah i just went join your channel my dad is from japan i was born in Honolulu
I really like your videos. You’re a very friendly and informative guide. Also, I really like bonsai. I’ve enjoying growing things since I was a child. Thank you.