Japan 2011 - Koju-en - Tomohiro Masumi

One of many tasks a this trip to Japan, was a revisit to Koju-en, run by Tomohiro Masumi. It was very pleasant to see him again, after he was here in Denmark just a month ago. Tomohiro runs this specialized nursery who deals with shohin only. It is a high quality nursery that aims a customers who wants to exhibit shohin-bonsai. Many fine bonsai and a huge selection of valuable and antique pots are available too. The space is narrow but a friendly atmosphere. Also the father of Tomohiro, Hiroichi (who started the nursery) were at the nursery when we visited the place. Lots of great knowledge gained at this visit, and some will be forwarded in an issue of Bonsai Focus later.

Regards
Morten Albek



Tomohiro Masumi


Hiroichi Masumi










Johnny Eslykke















... more pictures at www.shohin-europe.com ...

Outstanding!

Love those pots! I´ve been looking for a yellow one!

Thanks a lot for the pictures, Morten. I guess I´ll take a lot at more in shohin-europe. Greetings from El Salvador .

morten albek wrote:One of many tasks a this trip to Japan, was a revisit to Koju-en, run by Tomohiro Masumi. It was very pleasant to see him again, after he was here in Denmark just a month ago. Tomohiro runs this specialized nursery who deals with shohin only. It is a high quality nursery that aims a customers who wants to exhibit shohin-bonsai. Many fine bonsai and a huge selection of valuable and antique pots are available too. The space is narrow but a friendly atmosphere. Also the father of Tomohiro, Hiroichi (who started the nursery) were at the nursery when we visited the place. Lots of great knowledge gained at this visit, and some will be forwarded in an issue of Bonsai Focus later.

Regards
Morten Albek

Thanks for posting your potos Morten. Looks like a great trip.

That last tree sure looks like a Ficus Microcarpa. Nice small leaves too! The small blue pot is great with it.

Top Quality. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Hi Rob

The tree is a Gardenia with small leaves and flowers suited for shohin. It is not winter hardy for cold climates.

Regards
Morten

Hi Morten, you are so lucky to get to visit these guys... can I come with you next time

morten albek wrote:Hi Rob

The tree is a Gardenia with small leaves and flowers suited for shohin. It is not winter hardy for cold climates.

Regards
Morten

Thanks for the info- still a sweet little tree.

I saw a couple of Ficus trees on my last visit to Japan but no shohin though.

tony wrote:Hi Morten, you are so lucky to get to visit these guys... can I come with you next time

Next time will be a little far away I am afraid. And next time will not be in the heat of the humid summer. It is far too hot, but it was the only possible time this year. I hope to take one of the big exhibition as the next one. Gafu-ten is in the top of the list

Regards
Morten

morten albek wrote:

tony wrote:Hi Morten, you are so lucky to get to visit these guys... can I come with you next time

Next time will be a little far away I am afraid. And next time will not be in the heat of the humid summer. It is far too hot, but it was the only possible time this year. I hope to take one of the big exhibition as the next one. Gafu-ten is in the top of the list

Regards
Morten

This November with ASPAC one weekend and the next weekend Taikanten would be a good time to visit Japan. ASPAC may be one of the largest displays of Japanese bonsai ever. I heard as many as 1,000 trees on display.

BCI is taking a tour if you are interested.

Nice images that you will carry with you always for sure.

Cosmos

Thank you Morten for sharing this extraordinary trip with us. I would love to see such a nursery here in the U.S. specializing in Shohin. WOW, amazing pots, so under studied here in our neck of the woods. I have become a student of learning pots and enjoying their beauty. They are just as beautiful to observe as a bonsai. Thank you again.

thanks for the wonderful posts morten:

the quality of japanese bonsai is exceptional - the bar is so high there. for rob: I've seen amazing shohin ficus pumila in japan-not microcarpa, though. the japanese gardenia loves hawaii and thrives here. see you in takamatsu in november.

best wishes, sam

Morten,

thank you for all the wonderful pictures from your trip, awesome trees! Some of the nurseries look like gardens, very lovely details carefully arranged.

-dorothy

dorothy7774 wrote:Morten,

thank you for all the wonderful pictures from your trip, awesome trees! Some of the nurseries look like gardens, very lovely details carefully arranged.

-dorothy

Especially those places I like, that arranges the surroundings very beautiful. But at some nurseries the space is simply not available. Especially the Satsuki-en nursery has a very nice atmosphere I think.

Regards
Morten

Thanks for the photos Morten. Not only are the bonsai that you photograph works of art but so are your photos. I hope to one day travel to Japan and see these trees for myself. Thanks again