In today’s post, we visit the wonderful and well provisioned big-box-bonsai-store that is Seiji Morimae’s S-Cube(pun definitely intended and apologized for), then we visit the well-known-in-the-West mecca of Shohin and pottery, Yorozuen, where my friend Toriumi Atsuishi meets us with a surprise.
S-Cube
S-Cube, the garden and sales area of Seiji Morimae, is truly an incredible place. From Stones, to pots both inexpensive and antique, small and immense, to trees of every size and quality level, Morimae San has something for everyone. He’s truly an erudite and interesting fellow, to boot, and well worth your taking the time for a chat. Absent that, pick up his book “A Dialogue with Bonsai”, it’s an interesting read about the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual side of bonsai, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Morimae San takes the time to explain the ceremonial tea house and it’s origins, and the position and design of the gardens…

Esiste un bellissimo magazine italiano (qui è riprodotta la seconda di copertina dell’ultimo numero uscito) che si occupa di divulgazione delle arti, della cultura del mondo orientale: Bonsai & Suiseki Magazine. Ha una sua personale pagina su Facebook Bonsai & Suiseki Magazine (Facebook) dove oltre ai numeri della rivista è possibile avre informazioni sulle attività culturali (a tema) di tutta Italia e immagini bellissime (o video) del mondo giapponese.

Una simile realtà alla portata di tutti è testimonianza della passione, cultura e professionalità delle persone che non solo l’hanno ideata, ma che ne seguono passo passo l’evoluzione. Articoli estremamente interessanti corredati da stupende foto (una mia predilezione vanno ai capolavori di Fabio Canneta) che fanno penetrare neofiti ed appassionati in un mondo di suggestioni ed incanto.

La bellezza di questo progetto (oltre alla sua specifica fruibilità) è che i temi trattati interessano a 360°. Non c’è cesura tra bonsai…

In today’s episode, we visit the garden of legendary artist Masahiko Kimura. It was interesting seeing the bonsai I had seen and admired(as have all of you) in magazines and books, through the years. The garden is immaculate to the point of sterility, with nary a weed or blade of grass out of place.

On a the wall in the receiving room(a boardroom-esque affair standing in stark contrast to the living room environment at other Nurseries), photos of trees receiving major awards stretch into the distance.
Junipers

One of Kimura San’s famous Junipers. If memory serves, I think this Is one where the ten-Jin are actually roots, the tree itself flipped entirely upside down by partially separating the live vein from existing deadwood.

Some close ups of the deadwood.

Another famous Juniper. This surprised me. I’d never considered it before, but the foliage is actually quite coarse. I do believe…

Bellissime foto, favolosi ricordi, aspettanto la prossima edizione di Bonsai Summer Festival.

Un grazie speciale a Carlo Scafuri per la disponibilità, a Nicola per le splendide foto, a me per l’articolo.

enjoy bonsai!!

…love, Melanie!

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Great photos, fabulous memories, waitin for the next edition of Bonsai Summer Festival.

Special thanks to Carso Scafuri for availability, to Nicola for the beutiful photos, to me for the article.

enjoy bonsai!

… love, Melanie!

The next morning saw us bright and early at Shinji Suzuki’s wonderful garden. Everything about Mr. Suzuki’s garden spoke of taste and refinement, from the trees, to the garden environs, the pots…even the tea, and obligatory snacks, were tasteful and high class.

While most all of the nurseries we visited had at least one, if not several, Kichou(registered large bonsai masterpiece) or Miyabi(registered shohin and chuhin cultural treasure) Bonsai, At the Suzuki garden, there were nearly more Kichou bonsai than we saw the entire rest of the trip!

American apprentices Matt Reel and Tyler Sherrod hard at work. In addition to these two talented gentlemen, Michael Hagedorn was also a Deshi here, once upon a time.

The first trees one sees upon entrance: those are NOT shohin. Around 5 feet tall, with the massive pots.

And, turning a corner…
A Few Bench Shots

Some Individual Trees

Mr. Suzuki’s famous Tosho

After a two hour delay and airplane evacuation in Chicago due to tornadoes, we finally arrived in Japan for our semi annual bonsai tour led by Kora Dalager and me. This time we have a good small group of eleven people including two ladies from Australia.

Moving one of the February Kokufu bonsai ten exhibition prize winning trees to be loaded for display in the Taikan Bonsai Ten exhibition in Kyoto. This bonsai belongs to a client of Masahiko Kimura.

Beautyberry and Firethorn bonsai in the container room.

Tuesday we first visited Masahiko Kimura’s garden, near Omiya, by our private bus. As always, his bonsai are spectacular and although I’ve been visiting his garden for over 30 years, the trees looked the best this time. Our tour enjoyed glorious, warm sunny weather, and the bonsai took on a special glow, which reflected their unique beauty as well the tender loving…

The next morning had us up bright and early to visit Fujikawa Kouka-en. If you’re reading this blog, chances are good that you’re a hobbyist advanced enough to be very familiar with Fujikawa San, the nursery, and the wonderful videos created there by Bjorn Bjornholm. You are also probably familiar with American professional Owen Reich, Maeoka San, David Martinez, and probably even many of the trees at the nursery.
If you are Not, head over to the YouTube as soon as you are done reading here and spend a couple of days watching them! And while you’re at it, stop by Owen’s and Bjorn blogs as well.
The Bonsai Art of Japan
Bjorvala Bonsai Studio
Owen’s Bonsai Unearthed

Fujikawa San was a gracious host, and had Bjorn guide us throughout the the nursery, despite his workload of a very large and impressive hinoki undergoing an air layer.
So, let’s check…