Bonsai exhibitions[edit]
There are exhibitions, shows and competitions dedicated to bonsai all around the world, however there is consensus that the best specimens are in Japan. Japan has several private and public museums dedicated to bonsai, such as the Shunka-en Bonsai Garden in Tokyo and the Omiya Bonsai Museum in Saitama.[84]
In the United States there are two museums dedicated to bonsai, the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum in Washington DC and the Pacific Bonsai Museum close to Tacoma, WA.[85][86]
Japan also hosts several annual bonsai competitions where trees compete for awards in different categories. The most prestigious bonsai competition for amateur-owned trees, although most trees are prepared for display by professionals, is the Kokufu-ten, held every year in the month of February in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The Kokufu-ten is the oldest competition in Japan, celebrating in 2023 its 97th edition. Awards are presented in different categories.[87]
For bonsai professionals, the top competition in Japan is the Nippon Bonsai Sakufuten organized by the Japan Bonsai Cooperative Association. The competition is held in December of each year and the top prize is the Prime Minister Award, which went to Hiroaki Suzuki in 2022 for a Shimpaku Juniper tree.[88][89]
Size classifications[edit]
Japanese bonsai exhibitions and catalogs frequently refer to the size of individual bonsai specimens by assigning them to size classes (see table below). Not all sources agree on the exact sizes or names for these size ranges, but the concept of the ranges is well-established and useful to both the cultivation and the aesthetic understanding of the trees. A photograph of a bonsai may not give the viewer an accurate impression of the tree's real size, so printed documents may complement a photograph by naming the bonsai's size class. The size class implies the height and weight of the tree in its container.
In the very largest size ranges, a recognized Japanese practice is to name the trees "two-handed", "four-handed", and so on, based on the number of men required to move the tree and pot. These trees will have dozens of branches and can closely simulate a full-size tree. The very largest size, called "imperial", is named after the enormous potted trees of Japan's Imperial Palace.[90]
At the other end of the size spectrum, there are a number of specific techniques and styles associated solely with the smallest common sizes, mame and shito. These techniques take advantage of the bonsai's minute dimensions and compensate for the limited number of branches and leaves that can appear on a tree this small.
| Common names for bonsai size classes[91] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Large bonsai | ||
| Common name | Size class | Tree Height |
| Imperial bonsai | Eight-handed | 152–203 cm (60–80 in) |
| Hachi-uye | Six-handed | 102–152 cm (40–60 in) |
| Dai | Four-handed | 76–122 cm (30–48 in) |
| Omono | Four-handed | 76–122 cm (30–48 in) |
| Medium-size bonsai | ||
| Common name | Size class | Tree Height |
| Chiu | Two-handed | 41–91 cm (16–36 in) |
| Chumono | Two-handed | 41–91 cm (16–36 in) |
| Katade-mochi | One-handed | 25–46 cm (10–18 in) |
| Miniature bonsai | ||
| Common name | Size class | Tree Height |
| Komono | One-handed | 15–25 cm (6–10 in) |
| Shohin | One-handed | 13–20 cm (5–8 in) |
| Mame | Palm size | 5–15 cm (2–6 in) |
| Shito | Fingertip size | 5–10 cm (2–4 in) |
| Keshitsubo | Poppy-seed size | 3–8 cm (1–3 in) |
Indoor bonsai[edit]
The Japanese tradition of bonsai does not include indoor bonsai, and bonsai appearing at Japanese exhibitions or in catalogs have been grown outdoors for their entire lives. In less-traditional settings, including climates more severe than Japan's, indoor bonsai may appear in the form of potted trees cultivated for the indoor environment.[92]
Traditionally, bonsai are temperate climate trees grown outdoors in containers.[93] Kept in the artificial environment of a home, these trees weaken and die. However, a number of tropical and sub-tropical tree species will survive and grow indoors.
In popular culture[edit]
Bonsai is taught in schools. It has also featured in manga, anime and been shown on television.
- In the Karate Kid film franchise Mr. Miyagi practices bonsai and teaches through it, up to even being the central feature of the film in The Karate Kid Part III.[94], and many years later being part of the plot of the Cobra Kai sequel TV series.[95]
- In Sazae-san bonsai features as a hobby of her father Isono Namihei[96]
- The Pokémon Bonsly is based on a bonsai tree.
See also[edit]
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