ASPAC Takamatsu Japan 2011 and BCI Tour

I follow this tread with great interest....I wish I was there.

Please send photos from the galladinners, and the menucards too

Kind regards Yvonne

Here are a few photos from the special exhibit at Tamano Park featuring two Imperial Bonsai, Kokfu-ten winning bonsai and a few from the original Matsudaira Shohin Bonsai Collection. Also from the bonsai exhibit and suiseki exhibit from the convention.


Imperial Japanese Black Pine



Camellia



Satsuki



Shimpaku Juniper



Waterfall Suiseki



Demonstration by Omachi and Iura with back towards viewers, assisted by Sakurai...



Finished demo tree. Iura's T shirt reads better from the front than from the back!

i just showed Mandy the £820,000 pine tree and she said " oh no, you've found out what you xmas present is!" what a woman

Rob and Bill, thanks for posting.

Rob, the large shimpaku you posted belongs to and was trained by Mr. Takeo Kawabe. He has a book out now called "The Bonsai Crafstman". While in Japan, get a copy. You will really like it. On another note, Mr. Kawabe was an apprentice of Kimura Masahiko for over eleven years.

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

Bill, so there were a few Count Matsudaira trees on display! Good. Do you still have you Matsudaira maple?

Thanks for the report.

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

Love that camellia!

Could you ask that guy where he got his "boner" T-shirt? I'll bet the "7" is an over-statement. God I miss "Engrish".

Russel, I believe he bought it here...

Japan uses the metric system.

A few hours ago there was a special "Night Auction" at the convention. Many famous bonsai dealers and artists quickly bid on the 50 or so items. Everyone carefully examined the bonsai, containers, tables and suiseki prior to the auction. Then, halfway through the auctions suddenly more suiseki appeared which we did not notice earlier. We looked over to the side and they were quickly unpacking more suiseki, probably because they were about the only thing foreigners could afford. Items went from about US100 to US$37,000.

It was very interesting because as the item went up for auction two very large screens, one on each side of the ballroom displayed an image of the item next to a chart of the current bid in Japanese yen, US dollars and Chinese Yuan. They used the official exchange rate at the end of the day at 5pm. It was kind of dangerous because they accepted charge cards. Several times were successfully bid by Americans. I did not see many Chinese, but then there are always others bidding for big time spenders or had dealers bid on items.



Large size Osakazuki satsuki azalea, 200 years old, collected from old temple or shrine. This was one of the demo trees and was very large.



Score board, items went quite quickly because mostly professional bonsai dealers were bidding, plus a few foreigners which slowed down the process as well as verbal bidding announcing current pricing in yen, dollars and yuan. Isao Omachi on the right helped move the items, but needed help, three others to move this size bonsai.

Jose,

Yes, I'm still have one of the original Matsudaira shohin bonsai, 26 years now. Count Matsudaira is responsible for starting and promoting shohin bonsai in the early 1930's. Originally I was acting as a "curator" trying to keep the Japanese maple in the same general shape, size and spirit of Count Matsudaira. However about ten years ago I noticed other bonsai from the Matsudaira Bonsai Collection displayed in Japan were being "updated" and changed. There are only a certain number of years one can maintain a bonsai (any size, any species) at a certain size, especially deciduous and broadleaf species. So I decided to act as an "artist" rather than a "curator" for the Japanese maple bonsai.

Attached is an image of the Matsudaira Japanese maple bonsai taken in spring 2011. Please note the upper branch which is being used to inarch a new branch. Actually many inarch branches have been added. Very old bonsai do not readily produce adventitious new shoots, so new beaches must be grafted.

Bill

Rob and Bill thanks for taking the time to post here guys... great reports keep them coming

Yes thank you guys both so much for taking the time to give us daily updates: I almost feel like I'm there except I'm here and there's no sushi.
-Jay

Hi
Now that azalea of Doug Paul is a real tree.
Beautiful atmosphere.
Looking at the amazing 300 year old Miyajima pine i ask my self
could it do with some design work?
Now it looks well maintained and in reach of what is possible but a bit in between of two designs.
Allows the branch structure a more open canopy giving more power to the strong trunk movement
or is the traditional dome shape the better option here ?
I am curious on what one of the Japanese bonsai masters would do with it, anyway keep it healthy please?
Sunip

There were many bonsai and non-bonsai exhibits set up.
This is a sample of a large Calligraphy painting in the lobby of the convention center (about 3 meters across). The characters say Kibo or hope in English. In an exhibit room they had these large calligraphy paintings with very impressive bonsai in front of them. No photos were allowed but they reminded me of the photos of Walter Pall tree's in front of modern art. This was a very modern and impressive way to display bonsai. I will see if I can get a photo as it was great.



Interesting choice (Light Blue) for the Daifuchi of the Byoubu...With the dark base it looks very nice...even though I have never been a big fan of the huge characters drawn with mops....

Kakejiku wrote:There were many bonsai and non-bonsai exhibits set up.
This is a sample of a large Calligraphy painting in the lobby of the convention center (about 3 meters across). The characters say Kibo or hope in English. In an exhibit room they had these large calligraphy paintings with very impressive bonsai in front of them. No photos were allowed but they reminded me of the photos of Walter Pall tree's in front of modern art. This was a very modern and impressive way to display bonsai. I will see if I can get a photo as it was great.



Interesting choice (Light Blue) for the Daifuchi of the Byoubu...With the dark base it looks very nice...even though I have never been a big fan of the huge characters drawn with mops....

Kakejiku,

These large calligraphy paintings were made by a young lady with Downs Syndrome. She has a great spirit and an innate eye for these large works of art. It's encouraging how each human can find their own way to express themselves.

PS the image uploader is no longer working for me, keep getting an Internet error message can't find the web page for the hosting services. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. Meanwhile I will try again when at a different hotel.

Rob,
I can't help with the technical computer "stuff". But I can say that this young woman shows strong spirit in her work. Her characters come alive; even on the Internet. What a gift! And kudos for the organizers to be inclusive! Bravo!

Todd Ellis wrote: But I can say that this young woman shows strong spirit in her work. Her characters come alive; even on the Internet. What a gift! And kudos for the organizers to be inclusive! Bravo!

spot on

[quote="Rob Kempinski"]We are having a good time in Japan the ASPAC 2011 in Takamatsu.
There was a mini reunion of IBC'ers - including Min Lo, Budi Sulistylo, Will Feldman, Bill Valvanis,Le Thanh Qui (Protomira), Billy Rhodes, CJ Leo, and myself.

Hi everyone
I ' ve just got back from Japan few hours ago...I got a very goodtimes there
Here is the photo taken on the first evening


More photos will be update later.
Rgds/ Quí

It appears the image loader is working again for me at my new hotel in Kyoto.
This is the BCI Tour Group headed for a group diner in our ASPAC Happi Coats. We had 8 different countries participate in the BCI tour. A fun group.
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On the last day of ASPAC, we took a group tour to Takasao En, in nearby Nihama. Mr Yamaji, one of the Japanese ASPAC committee members, and myself in the garden of the late Daizo Iwasaki. That's Alan Walker taking a photo in the right background.


At dinner I warned the Mexican amigos that ordering tako in Japan will not get the same result as in Mexico.


Takasago En has a bewildering number of bonsai trees, but alas with the passing of Mr Iwasaki, this was the last time the public will get to visit it. It will probably be liquidated.

More garden shots




Myself with Christine Leigh Walker of the UK. Christine has some fine trees in her collection.


Interesting Japanese English.

Translation?

Interesting choice (Light Blue) for the Daifuchi of the Byoubu...With the dark base it looks very nice...even though I have never been a big fan of the huge characters drawn with mops....[/quote]

Kakejiku,

These large calligraphy paintings were made by a young lady with Downs Syndrome. She has a great spirit and an innate eye for these large works of art. It's encouraging how each human can find their own way to express themselves. quote]

Kempinski様へ

I believe my main point was the color selection of the border for the byoubu. I did not say the work was without merit. I only stated I am not a fan of the large characters, because of ink spattering, not straight lines, lack of proper haneru, tomeru etcetera. It has been the rage since late 90's to draw these large works with a moplike Fude...In 2001-2002 before moving back to the US I saw many televised shows with these calligraphy demonstrations, using the mop. Many traditionalist 書家 would probably say the same, that they do not particularly enjoy it. Since I am not a trained calligrapher then that is my opinion, and I will get back to my own works which will be posted in December. Unfortunately, only one of the scrolls is commissioned for a Suiseki...and none for a bonsai...

P.S. My other job, besides making scrolls, is being a substitute teacher for Special Education in the local school district...

i'm sorry kakejiku but even though i may be thick i feel you will have a better response and complete understanding of your posts if you use english. I know there are 'proper' terms, and that you may be versed in their names, wrote a book even i think ? etc but saying "the border",or "the brush", or the "backing paper" will make more sense to us, the mere common readers.

once a person is understandable they become approachable, then they may sell more scrolls to the mere bonsai people i for one would be interested in a swooping bird of prey plummetting from the sky to a creature only it can see. This needs to be a harvest / late summer scene, but its not only the scroll that matters, it is the person behind its' creation i need to gell with to be happy to part with money to - same as buying a tree really ! the world is full of people, but i need to connect with the ones i deal with - i think we are all much the same on that one.
swooping perigrine falcon your thing ? with the description of the paper, border, trim etc in english to sell it to me !!

cheers Marcus

marcus watts wrote:i'm sorry kakejiku but even though i may be thick i feel you will have a better response and complete understanding of your posts if you use english. I know there are 'proper' terms, and that you may be versed in their names, wrote a book even i think ? etc but saying "the border",or "the brush", or the "backing paper" will make more sense to us, the mere common readers.

once a person is understandable they become approachable, then they may sell more scrolls to the mere bonsai people i for one would be interested in a swooping bird of prey plummetting from the sky to a creature only it can see. This needs to be a harvest / late summer scene, but its not only the scroll that matters, it is the person behind its' creation i need to gell with to be happy to part with money to - same as buying a tree really ! the world is full of people, but i need to connect with the ones i deal with - i think we are all much the same on that one.
swooping perigrine falcon your thing ? with the description of the paper, border, trim etc in english to sell it to me !!

cheers Marcus

I am afraid this post was hijacked by myself...Let it get back to the bonsai...If you have questions about a Kakejiku, you are welcome to PM to me.

BCI Excellent awards were also given for bonsai and suiseki. Here is the presentation picture on bonsai followed by on suiseki

Hey Budi, great to see you again.
here's a closer shot of the ASPAC Award ceremony assistants and their beautful kimonos.




Yvonne, you might remember our friends from South Africa from the China trip. Here we are making friends with some local guys at a Yakitori house in Takamatsu.
(from the left Toby Kleynhans (in the back), SA, Hennie Nel, SA, me, Sandy Kleynhans, SA, and Glin Varco, USA). The two Japanese guys were locals and we called them Artist and Postman. I think the Postman nickname (guy on right with tie) is going to stick on him.


We moved on from Takamatsu to Kyoto for the Taikanten exhibition but not before some sightseeing of the wonderful gardens and shrines in Kyoto.

Could you post some more bonsai pictures and less, um, people?

We're stuck over here living vicariously through you, and we know what you look like