tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24123366749995101382024-02-20T23:33:37.045+09:00Katsura-leaf bonsaiA passion for trees, born in KyotoJonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-33967280419118698932013-06-20T22:35:00.000+09:002013-06-20T23:41:03.895+09:00Tokonoma trials<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKuCZ5bHAWSm_0WmH1jq77vJZyMRoOqdOjgzhOBK-3bdDAYYqHKzFdOoBGHoYFerlGmcERI1yAoLpmzGrg4t443rhgVJRb5hyme4cTXahyphenhyphen0QQSUHVJjlMgusprCi2jhASfEHJOslz1S0/s1600/DSCN2760_Kuchinashi.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKuCZ5bHAWSm_0WmH1jq77vJZyMRoOqdOjgzhOBK-3bdDAYYqHKzFdOoBGHoYFerlGmcERI1yAoLpmzGrg4t443rhgVJRb5hyme4cTXahyphenhyphen0QQSUHVJjlMgusprCi2jhASfEHJOslz1S0/s200/DSCN2760_Kuchinashi.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuchinashi - Gardenia</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">A great aspect of apprenticing at Shunkaen is that we get to study not only the creation of bonsai but also how to display them properly in a tokonoma. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">The tokonoma is a recessed alcove found in traditional Japanese rooms such as guest rooms, tea rooms and meeting halls. It's been an essential part of Japanese architecture for hundreds of years, being a principal place for the display of art and pretty things. These days few Japanese homes have them, tatami rooms are unpopular and where the space is available, it's sometimes covered with doors and used for storage.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of our tables. Is there ever such a thing as enough<br />
storage space?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">It's usually the apprentices that put together the displays, changing them about every one or two weeks. They say we have 15 tokonomas all in all, so far I've only been able to count to twelve, of which we routinely use about 8 or 9. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Putting together a display is a fun challenge of one's aesthetic senses. We mostly go by gut feeling in judging whether the display is harmonious or not, though Mr Kobayashi is sure to "tune" that feeling when we get it wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">First we choose a healthy tree suitable for the size of the tokonoma we are filling. Then we choose a table for the tree, this is often where we struggle the most to find a good fit, even though we are fortunate to have quite a collection to choose from. Finding the right width is easy, and we look for a table with power and strength to match the tree, with slender light tables for maples and thick heavy powerful tables for big rough pines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">The tricky part is finding a good height, especially since we don't want to match any of the platforms in the left and right of the tokonoma while also considering the width and height of the pot, trunk and foliage. We often try out a few tables with the tree in the tokonoma before deciding on the best match. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">The tree and table is put in the left or right side of the tokonoma depending on the direction of the tree. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Finally we pick a suitable scroll and accent. I'm still pretty lost in this department, but I'm starting to appreciate the use of accent plants, "kusamono", to express a season or environment together with the other pieces in the display.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1NWJ1vMc-g9ksVDVkMUGpHuZa-Tae_ZaH4i1rzmDnLV3hQRSeDScUIY9kxEEf_uzqhllE7diI5WPGtycjUMSmIHVlrGsr7gjYyEnGXlZnjwATs412pS2JnwyuLflTB89kcfuSIpc7E0/s1600/DSCN2693_juniper1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1NWJ1vMc-g9ksVDVkMUGpHuZa-Tae_ZaH4i1rzmDnLV3hQRSeDScUIY9kxEEf_uzqhllE7diI5WPGtycjUMSmIHVlrGsr7gjYyEnGXlZnjwATs412pS2JnwyuLflTB89kcfuSIpc7E0/s320/DSCN2693_juniper1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The table we originally decided to use.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QFuGR2ZVb-p_cvkDj4E80McgbadqPItW4_aomkipPclHHvEP765DfqbFGrDfhkM1_fe9jqm82Kt3AaWTBTtPfiCGUAGvOPIVlLTLk3E8OO6s5qJ9PGUhbjx3avM0pCYXTyfZw9Q4RXo/s1600/DSCN2695_juniper2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QFuGR2ZVb-p_cvkDj4E80McgbadqPItW4_aomkipPclHHvEP765DfqbFGrDfhkM1_fe9jqm82Kt3AaWTBTtPfiCGUAGvOPIVlLTLk3E8OO6s5qJ9PGUhbjx3avM0pCYXTyfZw9Q4RXo/s320/DSCN2695_juniper2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only table we could find that fit the description of <br />
Fukita-san, but it's too big, overpowering the tree.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Here's a particularly hairy case, where we eventually got some help from one of the earliest apprentices, Fukita-san, who happened to be visiting from Sendai. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">We had earlier found this table, but upon seeing a picture of the tree, he immediately thought of a table he knew that we had that would be the perfect fit. All if the tables matching his description were way too big, so we tried with a few other ones, but he was hard to please. Eventually we found his table in one of our pot-rooms, and I have to agree it was a good fit. He mentioned the fact that the foliage curls inward at the bottom, this is picked up much better with the final table compared with one with straight legs. He got all excited talking about the table, saying that this particular one could match almost any tree of the right size, and bring out its best features. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuldTwMRdecUwwQTnEMQ4YSVFb_XuOZ_an6-4czxTC4Oe5MO_sQJKNHKWphrWo9LaJVKDwYLPVmi9M0s5wXAvTE0H75Asf2dfa8mmgXVIIyjPZHoopD72K-QpDdq1oL6HwXhOGrbBA5As/s1600/DSCN2696_juniper3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuldTwMRdecUwwQTnEMQ4YSVFb_XuOZ_an6-4czxTC4Oe5MO_sQJKNHKWphrWo9LaJVKDwYLPVmi9M0s5wXAvTE0H75Asf2dfa8mmgXVIIyjPZHoopD72K-QpDdq1oL6HwXhOGrbBA5As/s320/DSCN2696_juniper3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My suggestion, in place of the one we we couldn't find</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">We also discussed the direction of the tree. We had earlier incorrectly placed it to the right in the tokonoma, seeing it as a left-facing tree. He said that many of its features are indeed going towards the left, but we missed the obvious fact that it's planted slightly offset to left, indicating that the maker's intention is to have it going to the right. Looking closer, we can also see that the foliage is much more sparse and held back on the left side while it is let to grow out on the right side. In fact, it is Mr Kobayashi who has his mind set on making it right-facing, and it was Fukita-san and Peter Warren who last repotted it. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfCh4PJdizUovwkFbHBHHA00H93D6fltowg4ym_x_LTAjZ6hbP0mXnV0dKL_A6hGeZzbvrD7GFiIuWNYn6QkGtOYZjuU0L9CYAcZX-jTvGpGlrhyphenhyphen5f2R69U7R1l3xSBLdx9awFzywDYE/s1600/DSCN2697_juniper4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfCh4PJdizUovwkFbHBHHA00H93D6fltowg4ym_x_LTAjZ6hbP0mXnV0dKL_A6hGeZzbvrD7GFiIuWNYn6QkGtOYZjuU0L9CYAcZX-jTvGpGlrhyphenhyphen5f2R69U7R1l3xSBLdx9awFzywDYE/s320/DSCN2697_juniper4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found it! I have to admit it's a pretty good fit. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Fukita-san also turned our attention to the beauty of a tree that has not been touched for some time, giving it a natural roundness and irregularity that simply cannot be emulated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Splendour in a pot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Another long post. And guess what? I'm at the immigration office, probably for the last time, about to pick up my Culture studies visa. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Here's for short, concise and frequent blog posts in the future :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...Now how about if you did this? Make any sense?"</td></tr>
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Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-18831936205434131032013-06-14T23:14:00.002+09:002013-06-14T23:14:53.651+09:00Bonsai eyes<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">I got to spend a day at Meiji-jingu watering the trees that were on display, cleaning up the pots and tables and talking to the visitors. I got into quite a lengthy conversation (monologue) with an older gentleman who had some interesting observations on the way people tend to look at bonsai, and other things, in exhibitions and in general. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Most foreigners (and I would add most younger Japanese people) tend to start comparing age and price, they might go so far as to select their favourite (usually the oldest or most expensive), snap a few pictures and move on. According to the gentleman I mentioned, it is part of the Japanese tradition to view an object of art or beauty not only on its surface but also to consider its inner qualities. For example, does it express age, hardship, loneliness, tranquillity etc? Imagine the number of people to whom this object has belonged, and other such "beyond what meets the eyes" type of values. In his view, the Japanese people have a habit of making such considerations, while others seem not to. He thought I ought to spread a little sense of deeper appreciation to the people of Sweden, and a few of the neighbours too while I was at it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Earlier I was talking to some interested tourists and started explaining some of the aspects that go into a display. Well actually I only got as far as mentioning the match between a particular tree and table, but this small thing alone opened up their eyes and, i think, allowed them to enjoy the other trees that little bit more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Perhaps it's knowledge and practice, rather than inherent habit, that we need to start appreciating the inner beauty of things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.984375px;">Here's for taking a good look before whipping out the camera in the future.</span>Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-75366339120246893592013-06-03T12:48:00.001+09:002013-06-03T12:48:23.556+09:00Satsuki season<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgtKct_hZa8Z-Wv9J-fDGTgm0Zjp76S_V1ZB9wD6RVH6dZLG09l8B13LcEhyphenhyphensCTOgb3TDhV8yyPn2ftSAUGuyqumg98UeHsc991kXATX7hjuTozLfHUdKPK1UCB1McOPFqh8lxU_8iOs/s1600/DSCN2209_before+exhibit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgtKct_hZa8Z-Wv9J-fDGTgm0Zjp76S_V1ZB9wD6RVH6dZLG09l8B13LcEhyphenhyphensCTOgb3TDhV8yyPn2ftSAUGuyqumg98UeHsc991kXATX7hjuTozLfHUdKPK1UCB1McOPFqh8lxU_8iOs/s320/DSCN2209_before+exhibit.JPG" width="320" /></a>As I'm writing this, the flowering season for Japanese azaleas, known as satsuki is nearing it's end. <br />
We're currently busy removing all flowers and doing a rough pruning to stimulate the production of flower buds for next season. For the next few posts, I want to share a few of my impressions, starting with the preparations for exhibiting the trees. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_olLWnvVLyiu6iJ0Dj8qpRSUcutzZN-KDQgGRCD7Wb_QwB5Ky15Ypb5qiDri4-_cev2Wt-8d2g9ft5yWjxvoKnTNM1frnAn-o0uJDA8OJzr9UNuHwvncmDmJiZr8d37qvaSwaLN81umw/s1600/DSCN2231Before+exhibit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_olLWnvVLyiu6iJ0Dj8qpRSUcutzZN-KDQgGRCD7Wb_QwB5Ky15Ypb5qiDri4-_cev2Wt-8d2g9ft5yWjxvoKnTNM1frnAn-o0uJDA8OJzr9UNuHwvncmDmJiZr8d37qvaSwaLN81umw/s320/DSCN2231Before+exhibit.JPG" width="320" /></a><b>Moss-n'-wash</b><br />
There are several exhibitions for azalea bonsai around the Tokyo area in the end of May, I heard the words Kanuma, Tochigi, Ueno park and Meiji Jingu tossed around a lot. In addition, we arrange an exhibition ourselves, showing off our own and our customers' trees. For all of the exhibitions, we gather all of the trees at Shunkaen, make sure they are in top condition, make sure they are well watered through and transport them to and from the venues. Around mid May there was an impressive collection of trees, kept under roof to protect the flowers from rain, giving lots of sun to bring out the flowers on slow specimens while keeping the ones in full flower in the shade.
I got to help with putting moss on the trees and cleaning the trunk and visible branches from green algae, mostly using a toothbrush.
Some of the customers had done the moss-job themselves, it was fun comparing the different styles. One principle is to keep brighter shades of moss between and around the surface roots to bring them out a much as possible. Another style is to create the image of sunlight coming in from above by arranging lighter patches of moss in front center of the pot, perhaps going off slightly to one side, taking the outline of branches on the front of the tree into consideration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHoND1sOd4KzrXcA6UacLQWzoeRnE4pyRr-00kcHeCe1MMUfleAPVvrCTnE3o2Pb4dTQ0_ihnAW1aAabZwb7cgPbcQ7YeezihUoGp6Te-0viZu7ALMaoCsUStr1wnWGKciFik1ijnSlc/s1600/DSCN2242_my+moss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHoND1sOd4KzrXcA6UacLQWzoeRnE4pyRr-00kcHeCe1MMUfleAPVvrCTnE3o2Pb4dTQ0_ihnAW1aAabZwb7cgPbcQ7YeezihUoGp6Te-0viZu7ALMaoCsUStr1wnWGKciFik1ijnSlc/s320/DSCN2242_my+moss.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first moss job. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCgT_idsZV77FjdNVnNMva8PJhljyjSiwexaGSMVJkz7vKP4hOznpG_4PF-mRsy12LSjeLewwciRYw-psXUDbPoMLHXuhsRuZKDRYmqudWXu_J3YX44-szSjQCwBPcokPCzkZJD7bdr4/s1600/DSCN2254moss-before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCgT_idsZV77FjdNVnNMva8PJhljyjSiwexaGSMVJkz7vKP4hOznpG_4PF-mRsy12LSjeLewwciRYw-psXUDbPoMLHXuhsRuZKDRYmqudWXu_J3YX44-szSjQCwBPcokPCzkZJD7bdr4/s320/DSCN2254moss-before.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before scrubbing the trunk and putting moss</td></tr>
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I had a hard enough time puzzling patches together, trying to fit them tight enough that no edges or gaps would be visible. In the larger exhibitions, prices are awarded to the best trees. As some of the customers were keen to compete, it was important to do a good job. I enjoyed this task and I was pretty happy with the outcome, being a first-timer. I was told that the owner of the second tree I did was at the hospital battling cancer, and he wanted to have his favorite tree displayed for perhaps the last time. Hearing this made the task a lot more personal and really encouraged me to focus and do my best. Being about to finish, one the older apprentices asked me to hurry up a bit, as we had a big batch of trees to finish before supper. This is oft repeated here; what separates the pro from the amateur is the ability to not only do things well, but also to do it fast. Recently, I've been thinking, at least hoping, that if you have a little practice using your aesthetic sense, you'll reach the same result whether you force yourself to finish in an hour, or spend a whole day pondering.<br />
At this stage, I think I know what I like when I see it, getting there is the challenge, getting there fast is just plain difficult.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After. My second one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT0TW3mNSOEyQXqcaM7wvx2NrrD1qlXojqTL5HRiKlPZZn3xRaurgA7Pro-8GllY2rGcW68ylS59ZtNolOZ-2k-WteA1_RxdKmxMyqFCubOnDdXynvCQoEFVFbAunL2itNdkqOivd4uU/s1600/DSCN2244_moss.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT0TW3mNSOEyQXqcaM7wvx2NrrD1qlXojqTL5HRiKlPZZn3xRaurgA7Pro-8GllY2rGcW68ylS59ZtNolOZ-2k-WteA1_RxdKmxMyqFCubOnDdXynvCQoEFVFbAunL2itNdkqOivd4uU/s400/DSCN2244_moss.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the customers did this one by himself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done by Yoda-san who started one month before me. I was impressed.</td></tr>
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Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-53237522430614690882013-05-17T18:27:00.001+09:002013-05-17T18:27:43.676+09:00Day 17 - Mealtime manners<p>It's been a bit more than two weeks and I'm starting to have faith that I can adapt to the customs and expectations by the people at Shunkaen. It's an unbelievable experience just to stay in this house, to wake up in the morning and walk barefoot in hallways of tatami mats, to look out over rows of excellent bonsai while brushing your teeth, and that's before any of the work and learning has even begun. But it's also probably the most difficult and challenging situation I've every been put in. Doing bonsai is the "easy" and relaxing time, most of my energy is spent trying to satisfy all of the more or less mysterious expectations. If it was only about hard work then it wouldn't have been so difficult. The challenge is that you are not told what to do, you have to be constantly on your toes ready to help out faster than any of the higher apprentices, who are equally eager to win the race. This is especially evident at meal times, you need to be the first one to finish eating in order to make and serve tea before anyone else. Before and after meals there's a flurry of activity with all the lower apprentices stumbling over each other to help set the table, carry things dish up rice etc. If you're slow to act, you'll be scorned for not helping out. Even when it's apparent someone else will beat you to the kitchen for fetching the soup, it's good form to get up and make an honest attempt. As I'm used to calm and relaxing meals, either taking care of everything or nothing, this was a difficult change. At first I kept wanting to suggest that if they left it all to me (I'm the most recent arrival) we could all have a more relaxing time, but that's not how it works. A week ago I thought this was one custom I could never get used to, but these days my speed-eating abilities have improved, and I'm starting to understand the order of things. <br>
Another peculiarity that was easier to master is the concept of higher and lower positions at the table, where the middle is usually the higher, except for at home where the chief has his high seat in front of the tokonoma, the lower seats being at the far end (well, not that far actually). This is easy enough even for a novice to grasp (I knew of it but have rarely seen it practised) but to spice things up, the higher apprentices are ever ready to invite you to the high seats, especially if you don't appear busy arranging things. The unsuspecting novice who does as he is told is soon to get some funny looks and has to endure the agony of watching his superiors fetch soup, tea and clean up the table at the end of the meal as most of us are seated on benches. Once when we went to a restaurant, the two seats closest to the chief were empty, as the higher apprentices took lower seats and me and a Japanese guy, coming last, outsmarted the game by sitting down at a nearby table. When in Rome...</p>
<p>I thought I was pretty well versed in Japanese traditions, but this place is probably more traditional than most. Now that I'm starting to feel more comfortable in this little world, I think the traditional ways are are a unique experience in itself, as the bonsai world is probably one of the few areas where old traditions and values are still alive, Sumo being another such sphere. <br>
Whatever I did know has certainly been of great help, my new friend and the next most recent apprentice, Marcelo from Bolivia has had a hard time learning the ways and fitting in, and probably won't be staying for as long as he had hoped. </p>
<p>If you made it all the way down here, you're probably wondering how I found time to write such a momentous piece of a blog post. The answer is that I've spent the last four hours waiting for my turn to hand in my visa application at the immigration office. Only three numbers left...</p>
Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-27704748826677509542013-05-02T19:39:00.004+09:002013-05-02T19:39:48.192+09:00Apprenticing at Shunkaen - Day 1<br />
I was expected, so they walked me with my luggage straight to my room, the old kitchen that they no longer use. Then the crew from a local paper seized the opportunity to interview me shortly, and then it was time to get to work. I de-leaved a plum, de-flowered an azalea, and then I got to thin and trim a japanese black pine, which took me most of the day and all evening.<br />
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It all felt surprisingly unceremonious. You walk through the door and pof! - you're part of the team. We have still to discuss the practical issues, especially of the monetary kind. I'm also not yet sure if I'll be able to get a visa for the period I'm hoping for, until October. I'd like to stay until next spring, especially with all the exhibitions during the winter, but my plants at home would face fairly certain death if I don't return.<br />
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Apparently, 10 pm is when all the magic happens. I felt pretty much finished with my work on the black pine when 'Oyakata', our master Mr. <a href="http://www.kunio-kobayashi.com/english/" target="_blank">Kunio Kobayashi</a> came into the studio to inspect. "hm, yeah looks good enough" he said, turned the tree almost 90 degrees to it's side, pulled out the BIG branch-cutter and tore away, cutting off perhaps two thirds of the foliage in big chunks. It's safe to say I was a bit surprised. Or to put it this way, I had been working on a millimeter scale for hours, pondering which bud to cut, while he chopped away at a decimeter scale, transforming the tree in about 15 minutes. He said he also changed the tree from a common and unsurprising piece to something much more interesting, expecting a four-fold increase in it's value. He never said so, but it was fairly clear that instead of chopping it down right away, I was given the chance to practice some thinning first. Pretty cool for a first day.<br />
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And now that I have found a spot with some wi-fi, I feel pretty well settled in.<br />
Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-44873585710273695622013-02-20T00:09:00.002+09:002013-02-20T00:09:47.630+09:00Winter - exhibition seasonSome time after my previous post I was tempted to think "Hey, stuff is going dormant, not much to write about" but I couldn't be farther from the truth - now is when it all happens! It's time for bonsai exhibitions. Why now? Well mostly because deciduous trees have shed their leaves so that it's possible to see the structure of branches, a way of assessing quality. I have to think that another reason is the lack of other pressing bonsai chores during autumn and winter, an exhibition in late spring or summer would probably be a lot more disruptive, especially for the professionals.<br />
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First out was Koju-ten on October 19th-21st. I've been pondering a blog-post about this local club-exhibition for four months! The Bonsai nursery just south of Kyoto station, Koju-en, organizes a shohin-bonsai exhibition every year. Instead of hosting it in some anonymous convention-centre, they cooperate with a temple, Zuishin-in in south-eastern Kyoto. It's a great environment, very relaxing and good for photos, if a bit dark at times. With many of the sliding doors removed, you are ever on the border between the garden outside, and bonsai inside. Gone are the crowds pushing you on from behind or brushing past you when you take a minute to observe. Here you get to kneel on a tatami mat before a tree on a low table, daylight reflected from behind and observe all you want. You won't find an exhibition with quite the feeling of authenticity as this. The summer heat has passed, but the winter chills have yet to come.<br />
Fond memories indeed, especially as my room has kept a constant 13 degrees C (55 F) for the past three days, Indoors!<br />
Pictures (of the exhibition) are up at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jspyro/sets/72157631819750221/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>.<br />
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Next was the 32nd Taikan-ten, on the 23rd to 26th of November in Kyoto. This is the second largest exhibition in Japan, next after Kokufu-ten. For Kokufu-ten there is a jury which decides on the trees that are exhibited; from what I understand, there is no such jury for Taikan-ten. You pay - You get. I don't know how they manage to keep the number of trees approximately equal from year to year but the systems appear to be different between the shows. Taikan-ten is considered more eclectic, both in terms of quality but also in the variety of species. Of the four exhibitions I've been to, this is my favorite.<br />
In Kyoto the weather is still pretty mild around this time in November, the autumn colour of maples were mostly at their peak except at higher altitudes. This means that there's a good chance of seeing a few trees in leaf, and lots of fruit such as Japanese persimmon and Chinese quince. I did spot a few fruits at Gafu-ten in January but at that point, the time for picking had both come and gone.<br />
Another thing I like about this show is the good atmosphere around the sales area which is pretty much a continuation of the exhibition-space. There's food and tea available, and some open tables for just hanging out and waiting for your friends. Pictures available <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jspyro/sets/72157632771674602/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I got both <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jspyro/sets/72157632771770636/" target="_blank">pictures</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvjr-qgT8-I" target="_blank">a video</a> from Gafu-ten - Kyoto's big shohin-exhibition.<br />
From Kokufu-ten, some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jspyro/sets/72157632771527068/" target="_blank">pictures</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qadhalezGsE" target="_blank">video</a> as well. More on those two, and perhaps on the upcoming Shunga-ten in Osaka, in another post.Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-53389765489696586222012-11-20T09:49:00.000+09:002012-11-20T09:49:07.421+09:00Maple air-layer update<br />
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I should have written this post long ago, when I actually took the picture. As it got colder, it hasn't grown much since the picture was taken on October 15, so it's still fairly representative. Soon after the original post, with lots of sun and water, the growth just exploded. Several more buds developed seemingly from nothing and sent out long shoots with healthy foliage, all in two weeks. Expecting no more than a couple of meager leaf-stalks from the one or two green twigs still remaining, I was pleasantly. Especially since there was hardly any root-system at all just a few weeks earlier. I'm not counting on the tender new twigs to survive the winter, we will certainly have a few degrees below freezing for a few days or weeks, but in any case, I'm pretty confident it will come right back and spray foliage in all directions come spring, as long as I keep the pot protected from the cold. Then I have to figure out what to do with it =)<br />
Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-10099258413817587872012-10-15T02:13:00.000+09:002012-10-15T02:13:53.425+09:00Buying tools in Kyoto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love tools. I consider a trip to the local home center or hardware store a bit of good weekend fun. And of course, in bonsai there's plenty of room for satisfaction in that department. It is perhaps considered 'shallow' to be more concerned with the tools than the craft, art or creativity of bonsai, like how some golfers tend to spend a fortune on clubs rather than actually go out and do some serious practice, and I wouldn't want to go that far. I just think it's yet another aspect to enjoy.<br />
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Anyway, it wasn't long after I joined the local bonsai club at <a href="http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/masumi-t/0index.html" target="_blank">Koju-en</a> that I started looking out for tool-shops. Here's what I've found:</div>
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Kikuichi monji <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(菊一文字)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kikuichimonji.co.jp/">http://www.kikuichimonji.co.jp/</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kikuichi monji</td></tr>
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Of the shops I've been to, this has the largest collection of bonsai tools. Originally a sword smith for the emperor, now their main focus is knives. From what I have been reading on knife forums, they no longer actually make knives themselves, but the stuff they sell is apparently high quality stuff. Nice staff who knew enough bonsai to give a newbie like me some advice and typical use cases for different tools. They even had a info-leaflet on some typical types of tools, their japanese name and use. Lots of choices on scissors and secateurs in different price ranges, a few branch/trunk splitters, not so many options when it came to angled/concave cutters, knob-cutters etc. I got my first (well, so far my only) pair of scissors there for 2600 yen, a good deal as far as I'm concerned. </div>
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See the map and picture for details on the location. It's on the south side of the short bit of covered arcade on Sanjo street, just a few shops west of the big Sanjo-Kawaramachi intersection. If this doesn't tell you anything, on a map try looking 3/4 of the way from Kyoto station to the huge green rectangle that is the imperial palace park and you should find Sanjo street. Kawaramachi is just west of the north-south flowing river Kamogawa. </div>
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"The little corner-shop" </div>
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Excuse my poor research here, unfortunately I don't know the name of this shop, though I have it scribbled on a piece of paper somewhere. I found this one by coincidence even before I really knew I was going into bonsai. It's about the size of a telephone booth when you get inside, so you'll have a hard time trying to do much window-shopping without eventually communicating a bit with the cute old couple running the shop. It's been a while since I last went there, as far as I remember they had a bit of everything, from knives to "ninja" throwing stars. I got a pair of branch cutters, and since I bought it as a present for my dad, the price must have been quite reasonable. They also had a few full tool-kits with cases. I just have a feeling that if you say "bonsai" and stick around for a bit, you might just find a great deal on a very decent Japanese tool. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The little corner shop"</td></tr>
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It's hidden away in a small dark alley off of Shijo west of the river, the busiest big-brand shopping street in Kyoto. I think the map/picture below should get you there, the mouse cursor is pointed at the store on the map. You might walk by the alley without even noticing though, it's a sneaker store, only there is no back wall - you just walk through the store and then you are in the alley. Actually, you should go there just for the experience of this secret back alley. I just love these places. </div>
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Aritsugu</div>
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Previously another supplier of imperial swords, this is where Kyoto chefs get their blades, and it's all the rage among knife-junkies on English-speaking forums. Sometimes also known as "The place where you can get your name stamped into the blade when you buy it". Probably a bit pricier, though someone said that for blades of this superb quality, you often pay more. I don't know much about their bonsai tools, I just felt that they didn't have much, and that it was a bit on the expensive side. You'll find it on Nishiki-koji food market street, parallel with Shijo, starting at covered arcade Teramachi. </div>
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The scissor-maker</div>
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Again, I don't know the name of the shop. There's a sign on the picture, but I'm just as likely to read it all wrong if I tried. I walk by here every month on my way to and from the bonsai club, and it's usually opened even in the Sunday afternoons. So eventually I popped my head in and had a chat. Apparently, a lot of people headed for Koju-en end up at his place asking for directions. I was shopping around for a branch-cutter, and he explained that his trade was making garden scissors, loppers and shears. He did eventually find an old branch-cutter, and I asked if he knew whether the cutting edges should actually meet or if they should be slightly offset on purpose, as was the case on the tool at hand. He didn't really know (neither did the guy at Kikuichi) but I have later learned that if the edges met straight on, they would quickly go dull, therefore one edge is always set slightly above the other. He wasn't sure whether the price-tag read 800 or 8000 yen, but he couldn't believe that it was 8000 so he quoted the former price! I'm pretty sure that was an insane bargain smiling at me, but I didn't feel quite ready to settle for any tool before I knew more. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scissor maker south-west of Kyoto station. </td></tr>
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I asked if he knew any other tool-shops in Kyoto, and he wrote the names and addresses of three places. When I looked them up, it turned out to be the one's I have listed above, so it seems I have most of them covered :) We talked a bit more and from what I understood, his customers were mostly the gardeners of Kyoto. When I asked about the difference between home-center cheap tools and hand-made more expensive stuff, he said that some gardeners bought the cheap Chinese stuff, used it a season and threw it away. They didn't really need to care if it started to rust or if the quality was a bit shoddy. Others bought quality stuff, cared for it well, kept it sharpened, and those tools would last them decades. It wasn't that one way was better than the other, it was more of a personal choice. He made tools to last. If you are looking for some of the stuff that he makes himself, and you feel confident that you can tell good from bad, then I think you could get some really good value for money, without any "brand-premium" added. </div>
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Again, I hope the map will help. Pretty much all you need to do is keep walking west along Hachijo-street, which is just outside Kyoto station on the south side. The store is on a south-east corner just before the point where the road meets the railroad tracks and bends south slightly. The star you see in the low left-hand corner marks Koju-en by the way. </div>
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Still wondering why I went off making fun of materialist golfers? I practically grew up in the wild overgrown parts of a golf course, helping dad clear out thorny bushes, prune trees and tidy up in the wooded hills between holes. That's how he liked to spend the weekends :) Well there is where I got to know a lot of golfers anyway. I never got much skills on the fairway, there was lots more fun to be had in the woods. </div>
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If you have any questions, or if you found this post helpful, don't hesitate to drop me a line!<br />
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I'll try to be back soon<br />
Time for bed<br />
/Jonas<br />
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PS. I saw the maps came out a bit tiny, here's bigger versions:<br />
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Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-85119487354181023132012-09-22T07:41:00.000+09:002012-09-25T08:00:18.074+09:00Maple air-layer<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First tiny buds on my air-layered Japanese maple.</td></tr>
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Having read up and watched some videos on doing air-layers, my fingers were itching to try it out. I first scouted a place in the far north east corner of Kyoto, following a stream about as far up as I could go. There were lots of maples growing wild along the steep sides of the valley, growing in all kinds of weird bends and shapes grasping for light. I spent hours looking at trunks and branches, following the lines, trying to measure up their potential for a small tree in a pot. As I don't really have the "eyes" for bonsai yet, I find this incredibly challenging, but it's fun and I'm sure practice make perfect. I was careful not to consider anything growing close to a path as I think it would be offensive to any passer by to find a cut stump in the middle of wilderness. I doubt the place gets much traffic though..<br />
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I came back the next weekend with all the stuff I needed. It was early June, a bit late perhaps, but I decided to give it a shot. Most instructions mention holes in the top and bottom for drainage and refill, but being as remote as it was, I would hardly be able to come back and water it often enough, so I went for a big bulge of sphagnum and then did my best to cover it as air-tight as possible.<br />
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I checked on it a few weeks later and it was still moist and good, the bark above the cut cracking up and showing white callous-like tissue so I wrapped it back up and decided to wait for a full three months. Early September, I was disappointed to find only a few short stubby roots, growing mostly just on the underside of the branch. Judging by the smell of things, some kind of rot was getting to the moss, it's possible some water had seeped in from above and saturated the whole package as it was pretty wet. I knew that the few roots would be far from enough to support much of anything, but if I left it for another few months or over the winter, it seemed likely that it would all just rot and die. The fact that my calendar said "Pick up air-layer" was probably a big factor too. With that mindset, it's hard to make an objective decision.<br />
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So I cut it off and brought it home. I had gotten a big pot, tray, a brick of palm fiber and some rice husk charcoal (don't ask me) at a 100yen shop, so I mixed up the fiber and charcoal in akadama and potted the stump, still covered with some bits of moss still clinging to it to protect the roots. Soon the leaves started wilting, drying crisp and green, so I got a 90L clear plastic bag and covered the whole thing to help it retain some moisture, and put it on the table in my tiny room. The leaves slowly shriveled up and turned brown, but now the tree appeared to have a chance to suck the juices back down before dropping the leaves. Along with the humidity came a lot of fungus, and I recently spent an evening scraping of the rotted bark. Pros and cons.<br />
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Now two weeks later, a few tiny buds are swelling and developing fast, a great joy to behold. It will be interesting to see if the tiny twig will have a chance to harden off before winter. It's late in the season of course, but on the other hand, the winters here are pretty late and mild.<br />
I've done a lot of things wrong, but I'm learning a lot! I just can't decide whether the plastic bag was a good thing or not. I'm leaning towards the former as I think a lot of "juice" would have been trapped in the foliage and leaf-stalks if they dried out quicker. The fungus did quite a lot of damage too, but it's possible those areas of bark would have died off anyway.<br />
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If you have any thoughts or suggestions, hit me in the comments. Even if it's a year from now, I'd love to hear it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilruMhR8T1upfzGj2uTuR5JNFG09mdF5kDjTVHtCYuIeX81ddQKc_63rlQdYARorG10BmrO9G-KVeBb8I6OZh0orZi23rb9M0HGz1BY-62Hl7VJGMXWHOIwdEvhi4C4MAMlSpdnZn2X58/s1600/Maple_s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilruMhR8T1upfzGj2uTuR5JNFG09mdF5kDjTVHtCYuIeX81ddQKc_63rlQdYARorG10BmrO9G-KVeBb8I6OZh0orZi23rb9M0HGz1BY-62Hl7VJGMXWHOIwdEvhi4C4MAMlSpdnZn2X58/s640/Maple_s.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full view of my experiment. Wires have since been applied to keep it steady.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1CspzrLWjBzVeoCBZz4X3dcFi6N59IR1ikFSCSYTbPiWO58HiqRNdCr3EZHXRyMb7jLXRFngueoUxOADGTBylBVQyLJVOyuXewFYR9vZyaTMzO-3udXLj91LDyOTz1lFeph3P3lR8wc/s1600/Trees-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1CspzrLWjBzVeoCBZz4X3dcFi6N59IR1ikFSCSYTbPiWO58HiqRNdCr3EZHXRyMb7jLXRFngueoUxOADGTBylBVQyLJVOyuXewFYR9vZyaTMzO-3udXLj91LDyOTz1lFeph3P3lR8wc/s400/Trees-010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were right next to the place I was working. Amazing how they survived as seedlings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9tRm5A6ce02UTJB0fqT9-ExTs9GRH6o0Sy-bcmCnre31SsD_MNsOXbHDJM0qbEulqNoGCHd_1E32UBj8YvBQn2VT1z_sK63qSfyZIbMvDrKDoSpE2ma8wawUTjpToh9wtryTtGw5t5g/s1600/Trees-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9tRm5A6ce02UTJB0fqT9-ExTs9GRH6o0Sy-bcmCnre31SsD_MNsOXbHDJM0qbEulqNoGCHd_1E32UBj8YvBQn2VT1z_sK63qSfyZIbMvDrKDoSpE2ma8wawUTjpToh9wtryTtGw5t5g/s640/Trees-011.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep trying buddy, you'll get there.</td></tr>
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Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-3376671556832847352012-09-20T08:21:00.001+09:002012-09-25T08:06:26.312+09:00The slippery slope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g2pY4XjtwFehGUPG3CUHwAsNZZlEjQdO2GIwqKKZsm5Vmu-2IqUDVBLkR6BYYlK-GBA6S72e2ZRA0mu4KNgQSd_4RNIzqmdGnuipGTrtCRgssqw9rnN5tQg966RONz1-QyXqHXCC_KQ/s1600/Trees-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g2pY4XjtwFehGUPG3CUHwAsNZZlEjQdO2GIwqKKZsm5Vmu-2IqUDVBLkR6BYYlK-GBA6S72e2ZRA0mu4KNgQSd_4RNIzqmdGnuipGTrtCRgssqw9rnN5tQg966RONz1-QyXqHXCC_KQ/s320/Trees-003.jpg" title="Cornus florida" width="212" /></a></div>
I've always liked being in nature, especially hiking, but I had no thoughts of bonsai as I came to Kyoto in March last year. Yet when I found a discounted book on the subject for sale at a café, I immediately snapped it up. It all happened pretty fast after that. The single item on my Christmas wishlist was more bonsai books and the following spring some switch was flipped and I got completely absorbed with trees, watching all the pines and cherries and oaks and zelkovas and...<br />
I also joined a monthly study group hosted by the only bonsai nursery I know of in Kyoto, Koju-en. I just wish we would meet more often. I have gotten in touch with a well-known master in Tokyo, and he seems open to the idea of accepting an apprentice. I'm super excited about that, there is nothing I want more than to start training over there. <br />
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More recently, I learned that well known bonsai professional <a href="http://www.saruyama.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peter Warren</a> from the UK also started as a freshly graduated student who went to Japan for a short trip without a thought of bonsai, discovered bonsai, and went on to study as an apprentice for seven years. I am not the first to walk this path, and I'm sure I'm not the last. <br />
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I don't own any mature or styled trees at the moment, as the regulations on importing plants to Sweden are strict so I'm not sure I would be able to bring anything back. Outside the monthly meetings I've mostly been "getting a feel for it" by digging up small seedlings and nursing them to bigger plants, rooting cuttings and collecting and sowing seeds. I even tried a few air-layers in the forest. More on that soon.<br />
If I could go back in time, I would have gotten a few trees from the start to play with, and then perhaps sold them at one of the auctions organized by the nursery if I decided it was impossible to bring them home. <br />
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What is your story? I would love to hear if anyone else had a similar start in their life as bonsaiists, or what it was that got You started.Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412336674999510138.post-48744953563820591202012-09-18T00:48:00.000+09:002012-09-18T00:48:02.319+09:00First post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79icoYwyjbOl5_ap9xTIev-ufGRKQm2EOxIyddrVUk8YBQgcUUNS4yQoOUlDSk0cgvkzPV9Iwxh_LlxLHBOW_gKpO6wvjkS2ubJpLmxWf4b8WIIuN1_BRSUvWiignWrGLWWoOITpBN0/s1600/Katsura_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79icoYwyjbOl5_ap9xTIev-ufGRKQm2EOxIyddrVUk8YBQgcUUNS4yQoOUlDSk0cgvkzPV9Iwxh_LlxLHBOW_gKpO6wvjkS2ubJpLmxWf4b8WIIuN1_BRSUvWiignWrGLWWoOITpBN0/s320/Katsura_s.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
Let me start off with a bit of background about myself and what I have in mind for this blog.<br />
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. I moved to Uppsala to earn a degree in chemistry. During that time, I studied as an exchange student in Sendai, Japan for one year. I had a fantastic time and as soon as I came home to Sweden, I started longing to go back to Japan. I eventually found a scholarship for two years of graduate level studies in Japan and now here I am, working on my Masters thesis in Kyoto with high hopes of graduating by the end of March next year.<br />
I came down with the bonsai-fever sometime at the end of 2011, but more on that in another post.<br />
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My imagined reader is the next lucky fellow who happens to be in the Kyoto or Kansai area, gets mad about bonsai and wants to get at it sooner than quick. Or any happy traveller. Well anyone who takes an interest really :)<br />
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Oh, and about the name of the blog? I just had the most incredible experience once, when I brought home a small seedling plant of Katsura - Cercidiphyllum japonica. The leaves got a bit ruffled in my bag on the way home so when I opened the bag and brought it out, the leaves gave off this extraordinary fantastic sweet fragrance. I was stunned, baffled, just couldn't bring myself to stop smelling it, at the same time giggling at my own reaction. The sweetness of the scent was somehow light, balanced, just perfect and utterly addictive. It's a good thing the foliage gives off this scent naturally in the autumn as they are about to fall, otherwise I would probably be left with a brown barren stick by now.<br />
Trees can be like that - no matter how much you take in, you keep wanting more. :)<br />
<br />Jonas Sandellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07116517837098594034noreply@blogger.com3