This tree is one of my favorites that I’ve worked on so far. When Mr. Fujikawa brought it back from an auction, most of the main branches already had wire on them, but as you can see it had yet to be styled. The first step was removing the bottom branches and changing the planting angle. We then guy wired the right side of the trunk to the left to make the entire tree more compact. Once Mr. Fujikawa was content with the overall direction, he let me go at it alone. After about 7 hours of arranging the larger branches, wiring the secondary growth and repotting, the tree finally took shape and I think it turned out alright. In the future, the low-hanging jin that’s touching the soil will be cut shorter and the guy wires pulled tighter to make the tree even more compact. But for now, that particular jin is keeping the tree stable. Feel free to comment and critique, thanks!
Working on Hakuryuu (the “White Dragon”) at Fujikawa Kouka-en
The weather has started changing here in Japan so the bonsai scene is picking up rapidly. Exhibition season starts in the fall and runs through late spring so we’re beginning to prep trees for the various shows around Japan. I’ve somehow managed to get one of the trees I styled into the Taikan-ten in Kyoto this november and another into the Sakufu-ten in Tokyo this december. I’ve posted a few new trees in the Before/After section and will be putting up more in the near future. If anyone reading this is planning to be in Kyoto this november for the Taikan-ten, please contact me either through this site or at bjornb7@juno.com I would be happy to meet up with anyone visiting Japan at that time!
Myself, Mr. Fujikawa, and a Gansekisho Black Pine
It’s been extremely hot here in Osaka these past few weeks so work has slowed down a bit, other than watering of course. Mr. Fujikawa recently came back from an auction in Mie Prefecture with a truckload of raw material, collected and field grown, for me to start working on. Summer isn’t the best time to be wiring trees, but Mr. Fujikawa tells me I need the practice, so I’ve been working non-stop on styling the new material. I posted several before and after shots in the gallery section listed above. Feel free to check those out and leave comments, thanks!
I’m not sure why this was deleted the first time around, but I’ll post it again. These are pics of a chuuhin Shimpaku Juniper I wired up this past week. Feel free to comment!
The Shimpaku before…
And after
Working on the tree at the nursery
Halfway through the 8-hour styling
Detail of the lower branches
One display option (Fujikawa didn’t go for it)
A second display option
I’ve officially started my apprenticeship at Fujikawa Kouka-en in Ikeda City, Japan! The first few days have been trying but equally as fun. Before I arrived, I was told by Mr. Fujikawa that I would be required to undergo a two or three month trial period before he would decide about whether or not to keep me on as an apprentice long-term. I assumed this meant I would be sweeping and cleaning the nursery for hours on end and never getting to lay a hand on anything until those two or three months were up. Much to my surprise, I was asked to jump right in on the first day and got to work on some material! Even more surprisingly, the bonsai I worked on weren’t just bland, mass produced material but rather Kokufu-ten and National Treasure bonsai!
In the first few days on the job I’ve also learned a lot about Mr. Fujikawa. Turns out he originally apprenticed with Saburo Kato at Mansei-en in Omiya, Japan for a 5-year period nearly 25 years ago! Mr. Fujikawa’s style in terms of bonsai reflects that of Mr. Kato in many ways – most of his trees are of a quiet nature and reflect the natural landscape of Japan. Fujikawa also grows just about every type and size of tree he can find, though most of the bonsai in the nursery are large deciduous plants. We’ve been thinning and defoliating maples, quince, oleaster, and stewartia among other species for about 10 hours straight every single day. I don’t mind the work at all, as a matter of fact I have it relatively easy compared to most apprentices in Japan and Mr. Fujikawa is a nice, laid-back boss.
Below are a few pictures of the nursery and some of the material we’ve been working on over the past few days/weeks. I’ll be posting more in the near future. Thanks and enjoy!
Some of the shohin bonsai
Large, old Japanese Maple – recently on display at Daihatsu Co. Headquarters
Large Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria) – future Kokufu entry
“Hakuryuu” – The White Dragon after I finished pinching and cleaning it
One of the top 3 Star Jasmine’s in Japan (and the world)
This past weekend, the Knoxville Bonsai Society hosted the 5th annual Knoxville Bonsai Show on the University of Tennessee Ag Campus. I’ve posted some pictures from the event in the gallery section listed above. Enjoy!