2012 KOKUFU BONSAI EXHIBITION REPORT

Yesterday I completed my three day study at this year's Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition.

Yes, you are correct about the different colored bark on the Shishigashira Japanese maple bonsai. They are constantly watering the bonsai and it was difficult to photograph and enjoy the bark in the dry condition.

Although many bonsai were lost in the tsunami, including Doug Paul's Shimpaku juniper which was displayed in last year's exhibition, they still have plenty of fine quality masterpieces to show. He also had a large Shimpaku juniper in this year's show too.

Now, as far as wiring goes, I did some research yesterday on the wired bonsai in the exhibition:

Total bonsai exhibits on display: 252 (including 7 shohin bonsai compositions)

130 narrow leaf evergreens (large and medium size only, not shohin bonsai)

118 bonsai wired
12 unwired
(and most of the unwired bonsai looked that way and could have used some wire)

It seems to me that many Westerners try to be more "pure" than the Japanese when displaying bonsai. Also looks like many Westerners are also trying to be more "pure" than the Japanese as far as suiseki goes too.

Just a few first hand observations in my opinion.
Bill

Hello Rob,

I truly believe that many countrys are in the "race" to achieve top events and be part of the front row and that is all good news for all Bonsai lovers. Still Japan takes a huge part not only in their local Bonsai scene but also in the world of Bonsai, without them probably most of us would never had the chance to practice this amazing art form.

In Europe for example there are a huge number of imported material from Japan, well known exhibitions like the fantastic Noelanders and many others have many Japanese trees and they usually win, and not because they are Japanese, they win because they are amazing specimens and above all because they are mature (wabi sabi). I don't know much about the North America Bonsai scene a part from names like Ryan Neil (which I love his work) but I tend to believe that there is also a quite large number of Japanese trees over there and I'm sure they go to Exhibitions.

Now has a European I believe that time is on our side (and for the rest of the world) because what I see is that we still don't have a large number of mature trees, still there are loads of amazing raw material but it's simply impossible to compete against Japanese trees who have been worked for 70, 80, 90, 100 years, because time takes a HUGE part on this art.

With time I truly believe we can take our trees to the next level, learning from artists who traveled to Japan and dedicate their lifes to Bonsai like Mario Komsta, Ryan Neil and many many others...but above all we need time to achieve our goals, so it's just a matter of patience, but hey this is Bonsai and Patience also takes a huge part

p.s - Thanks to all participants on this thread, for the very constructive discussion about this theme

Cheers,

Hello Bill,

Well to be honest I'm still bulding my opinion on wired trees on exhbition, from what I've heard there were a few wired winners at the Noelanders Trophy so I don't know what to think. At first glance if you ask me if it looks bad, yes it looks Still like you said, we must not forget about the tsunami and I bet it did not help at all the artists, the people, the exhibition and the country.

About "Bonsai Rules" I think Westerns have much to learn about the Japanese thinking & teaching, we tend to take rules in a very strict way (sometimes too strictly!) and I tend to think that we need to see "Japanese Bonsai Rules" has a Guide or friendly advice, we are different and I'm sure that you know that but hey I never been to Japan hope to study Bonsai there in a couple of years

Cheers,

I think pre show wiring is totally acceptable to present the foliage perfectly neat and aligned, pads with crisp edges, negative spaces clear and defined etc. It was very interesting to read the vast majority of the show entries had some wire on them, but then the nurseries that enter them have a responsability to the owners to present the tree in the best possible state so 'show preping' is part of the service.

Very interesting observations Rob, it is interesting to hear of a nation hungry to 'take the crown' through hard work - I look forward to the show. I was looking through other picture blogs of this show and a few amazing trees were shown , the great hinoki, kimuras juniper mountain etc, but there were some wild looking trees too - this could be the japanese artists breaking from the rigid neatness of previous generations, who knows?

cheers Marcus

Thank you Bill,

Great information, and much appreciated !

Ed

Thank you Bill for sharing your trip. I liked your "favorite" juniper as well! See you in Lynchburg in a few weeks!
Best,
Todd

Amazing trees and thank you so much for sharing.

David Carvalho wrote:Hello José Luis,

Sorry to totally disagree but you can't really compare 86 Kokufu's to any other real Bonsai exhibition in the world, not only Kokufu has raised the standards every year has they set the new tree design trends and we must be humble enough to accept that. I admire many exhibitions around the world but I'm sure that even the organizers of those exhibitions you pointed out, look up at Kokufu not only with respect but has a goal to achieve.

We have much to learn not only from 86 Kokufu's but for more than 1000 years of Japanese Bonsai.

Cheers,

David,

So, you cannot compare the Kokufu Ten to any other bonsai exhibition in the world? Well, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I guess you must be in a privileged position to make such a general statement.

Thanks for your valuable input.

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

jrodriguez wrote:

David Carvalho wrote:Hello José Luis,

Sorry to totally disagree but you can't really compare 86 Kokufu's to any other real Bonsai exhibition in the world, not only Kokufu has raised the standards every year has they set the new tree design trends and we must be humble enough to accept that. I admire many exhibitions around the world but I'm sure that even the organizers of those exhibitions you pointed out, look up at Kokufu not only with respect but has a goal to achieve.

We have much to learn not only from 86 Kokufu's but for more than 1000 years of Japanese Bonsai.

Cheers,

David,

So, you cannot compare the Kokufu Ten to any other bonsai exhibition in the world? Well, I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I guess you must be in a privileged position to make such a general statement.

Thanks for your valuable input.

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

The trees you posted from the Taiwan exhibit are some of the most incredible and refined bonsai I have ever seen. The thing that struck me most was the diversity of the species. I don't think I saw two of the same species! This makes this exhibit very special in my eyes. As you mentioned, different flavours... all great.

Bill, thanks for the pictures, informations n insights. All the best.

Cheers,

CJ

Thanks for the photos and report Bill!!!
One thing that you notice about the displays at Kokufu is the attention to details.
Not only the wonderful Bonsai, but the quality of the the stands, the perfect match
of tree and pot, the quality of the pots, the perfect match of tree and stand, the perfect match of accessories,
the care in proper placement of the tree on the stand and in the space allowed. Try to compare
with other exhibits mentioned and see how they fare.

Hi Bill

Thanks for sharing theese nice photos from the Kokufu Ten.

Kind regards Yvonne

Mark wrote:the care in proper placement of the tree on the stand and in the space allowed. Try to compare
with other exhibits mentioned and see how they fare.

I thought the photos from the Taiwan show were really good examples of the Japanese display principle of 右勝手左流れ or 左勝手右流れ...

Kakejiku wrote:

Mark wrote:the care in proper placement of the tree on the stand and in the space allowed. Try to compare
with other exhibits mentioned and see how they fare.

I thought the photos from the Taiwan show were really good examples of the Japanese display principle of 右勝手左流れ or 左勝手右流れ...

sorry but a pointless comment unless you translate it.............

The taiwan pics are superb, but they are also completley inspired by japanese trees and in no way show some magical style of their own - this is why they are getting such a great response from us -they are trees of the neatest and highest refined quality. Unfortunately the show layout is greatly lacking the japanese quality - the backdrops are so short the trees have not been framed fully in pictures so we are seeing the building and general background over the top.

both shows are showing fantastic trees, are the thai trees fully styled by their owners or by paid proffesionals? that would be interesting to know.

cheers Marcus

marcus watts wrote:

Kakejiku wrote:

Mark wrote:the care in proper placement of the tree on the stand and in the space allowed. Try to compare
with other exhibits mentioned and see how they fare.

I thought the photos from the Taiwan show were really good examples of the Japanese display principle of 右勝手左流れ or 左勝手右流れ...

sorry but a pointless comment unless you translate it.............

The taiwan pics are superb, but they are also completley inspired by japanese trees and in no way show some magical style of their own - this is why they are getting such a great response from us -they are trees of the neatest and highest refined quality. Unfortunately the show layout is greatly lacking the japanese quality - the backdrops are so short the trees have not been framed fully in pictures so we are seeing the building and general background over the top.

both shows are showing fantastic trees, are the thai trees fully styled by their owners or by paid proffesionals? that would be interesting to know.

cheers Marcus

Marcus,

I read your statement many times before I could gather my thoughts and offer a responsible answer. First of all, Taiwanese trees are NOT completely inspired by the Japanese. They do have a style of their own, which has revived the character of ancient chinese art. Like you mention, Taiwanese trees do not show some MAGICAL style of their own. Taiwanese bonsai techniques and branch configuration did not come to existence by pure magic. It is the result of trial and error. Of seizing opportunity from adversity and learning from their natural surroundings. Each tree is styled according to the behavior and particular characteristics of each species. Also, Taiwanese deciduous and broad leaf evergreens place emphasis on vertical and horizontal tapering branches, merging 'grow and cut' techniques with positional wiring. Japanese deciduous and broad leaf trees are usually shaped into domes or plains. A totally distinct approach. Is one superior to the other; it all depends on you personal taste; a subjective issue.

So you state that the only reason Taiwanese trees appeal to the forum readers is the fact that they are totally inspired by Japanese bonsai. This statement is also false. The forum readers are very wise and have learned to appreciate bonsai for bonsai, not because they come from Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Europe, Latin America or North and South America. They are wise enough to distinguish one fact: Good bonsai is good bonsai, no matter where it comes from.

Also, the trees I posted are not Thai, but Taiwanese. By the way, Thailand has spectacular bonsai!

Bill,

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to, once again, post your annual Kokufu Ten report. Perhaps I should have refrained from posting the pictures from the Hwa Fong, in order to avoid any kind of misunderstandings. I will be wiser and more thoughtful next time.

My late friend Mr. Daizo Iwasaki once told me, when a mutual acquaintance asked him which country was number one in the bonsai world, everybody is number one!!!

Warm regards,

Jose Luis

marcus watts wrote:

Kakejiku wrote:

Mark wrote:the care in proper placement of the tree on the stand and in the space allowed. Try to compare
with other exhibits mentioned and see how they fare.

I thought the photos from the Taiwan show were really good examples of the Japanese display principle of 右勝手左流れ or 左勝手右流れ...

sorry but a pointless comment unless you translate it.............

Marcus

Watts様へ
I was not writing about trees....Look carefully at the original quote. The care in proper placement of the tree on the stand...That is exactly the principle that I was writing about. In Japanese a Migishoute Hidari Nagare display or a Hidari Shoute Migi Nagare display.

My point was that the Show in Taiwan is providing good examples of that Japanese (Maybe it is universal to both China & Japan) display principle and if I, (a non-bonsai artist), could see it, then a seasoned bonsai artist should have seen it as well.

I was not talking about the trees at all...So I do not understand how my quote devolved into a discussion about the bonsai and the styling of the bonsai etc.

Doug Paul, the Kennett Collection in Pennsylvania had another bonsai on display this year. A Shimpaku juniper and I look forward to when it can be displayed in a future US National Bonsai Exhibition.

Bil


Doug Paul's Shimpaku juniper bonsai

haha kakejiku

i asked for a translation to the hyroglyphic mumbo jumbo you decided to type in japanese that none of us mere bonsai artists could understand...."I thought the photos from the Taiwan show were really good examples of the Japanese display principle of ????????? or ????????..." As you had already said it in the original quote why feel the need to say it again in a foreign language that a tiny minority may understand, trying to be somewhat elitest ?, and still pointless! Other foreign speaking members dont feel the need to repost their previous comments in different languages afterall ...

If you just wanted to comment that the position of the trees, stands and accents were perfect in relation to each other and to the display space they were set in, i think it comes across perfectly well in English.

Bill,
That is another beautiful juniper heading to the US. Obviously the tree is perfectly cared for in Japan while at a registered QT facility - but where in the United States will the tree be looked after, watered, pruned etc while it completes the US part of the qt?

cheers Marcus

The Shimpaku juniper bonsai will be well kept at a private USDA approved quarantine house and will be cared for by bonsai professionals.
Bill

William N. Valavanis wrote:The Shimpaku juniper bonsai will be well kept at a private USDA approved quarantine house and will be cared for by bonsai professionals.
Bill

Where is it kept? In US soil or in Japan and for how long Bill? Two years?

Xuan