Flowering bonsai exhibition

An exhibition of flowering bonsai is held
at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum
until March 27, 2013.

The bonsai nurseries in the Omiya Bonsai Village
exhibit bonsai with spring blooms like
Japanese apricot, camellia and cherry blossoms.

I hope you feel the arrival of spring from bonsai
at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.

Hairy souvenirs

It is my great, not to say only enjoyment during the Kokufu ten period
to bring back souvenirs for myself from the Ueno Green Club sales area.

This year I was especially fascinated by what were hairy.

From left to right,

a stainless steel and brass wire brush,  

a spiral brass wire brush, 

a spiral nylon brush, 

a hemp palm brush (large),　

a hemp palm brush (small).

I'm not sure if I really use them.

I already have a collection of hairy things.

But that doesn't matter.

I bought them because they were hairy.

Kokufu ten photos (don't expect too much)

Kokufu ten and Risshun Bonsai Oichi,
two of Japanese largest bonsai events were over.

This year it was the first Kokufu ten
after the facility improvement of
the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. 

I heard that the planning of the flow line was awkward
and sometimes many people had to wait before entrance
forming a line outside the museum.

I hope this point is improved, too next year.

At Kokufu ten, photo is not allowed, 
but I collected blogs with pictures taken at Kokufu ten.

Some are officially allowed, some are sneak shots,
and some are captured from Shumi no Engei.

http://www.bonsai.co.jp/ec/bonsaipic/?p=2328 

http://stuff.tochinoha.com/?eid=958141 

http://ameblo.jp/unotaku/entry-11462349225.html 

http://ameblo.jp/outdoor-life083/entry-11466208443.html 

http://ameblo.jp/tokorozawa-engei/entry-11466219194.html 

http://ameblo.jp/umaleeno/entry-11466857031.html 

http://ameblo.jp/harahetta-k/entry-11484330122.html

http://karen0619.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-287.html 

http://mttamasa3412.blog96.fc2.com/blog-entry-1716.html 

http://ameblo.jp/chamicha0612/entry-11468530907.html 

http://koshiro3777.at.webry.info/201302/article_7.html 

http://koshiro3777.at.webry.info/201302/article_8.html 

http://koshiro3777.at.webry.info/201302/article_9.html 

http://koshiro3777.at.webry.info/201302/article_10.html

Limited time bonsai cafe

At Showa Kinen Park (国営昭和記念公園,
Showa Commemorative National Government Park）,
a limited time bonsai cafe is open until
February 17, 2013.

It is aimed at being the center of an international meeting
of bonsai lovers.

A blog introducing the bonsai cafe:
http://chibita.blog.tsuge.jp/archives/1817556.html

TV program featuring bonsai

A nationwide TV program about horticulture,
Shumi no Engei (趣味の園芸，hobby horticulture, horticulture as a hobby)
will feature bonsai and Kokufu Ten on February 2, 2013.

The program will be broadcast at 8:30 - 8:55 a.m..

If you are in Japan, tune in E tele.

If not, fly now.

You will be in time for the rebroadcast
on February 13 at 9:30 - 9:55 p.m.
and February 14 at 10:30 - 10:55 a.m..

MASAKUNI awarded "Master craftsman of modern times"

The other day, I went to a municipal library to photocopy 

the newspaper articles about MASAKUNI 3rd.

He was awarded Gendai no meiko 

(現代の名工, Master craftsman of modern times)

by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in November last year.

It means that the quality of Japanese best bonsai tools is officially certified.

I feel glad as a descendant of MURTA Kyuzo who worked with 

MASAKUNI 1st to make up almost all the basic designs of 

the bonsai tools of the present day.

The Mainichi Newspapers morning paper of Saitama local edition, 

November 8, 2012.

(C) The Mainichi Newspapers. All rights reserved.

Closed days of the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in February 2013

February 2013, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is closed on:

7(Thu),
14(Thu),
21(Thu),
28(Thu).

On Thursdays, nurseries in Omiya Bonsai Village are closed, too.

But during the Kokufu Ten period, some nurseries may be open, I think.

Sales area of Kokufu Ten

Every year during the Kokufu Ten period,
Risshun Bonsai Oichi
(立春盆栽大市, literally Lichun Bonsai Grand Market)
is held at Ueno Green Club.

It is one of Japanese largest markets of bonsai, pots, tools,
suiseki (viewing stone) and related materials.

Risshun Bonsai Oichi 2012 movie:


It is virtually a sales area of Kokufu Ten
because no commercial activities are allowed in
the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (東京都美術館)
where Kokufu Ten is held.

As you see, in the Japanese bonsai world,
Kokufu Bonsai Ten is always abbreviated as
Kokufu Ten or simply as Kokufu.

And nobody says Risshun Bonsai Oichi.
Kokufu no baiten (国風の売店, sales area of Kokufu)
will do.

It takes about 20 minutes to go from the museum to
Ueno Green Club on foot if you are familiar with Ueno area.

For the convenience of the visitors,
every year during the Kokufu Ten period,
a connecting limo (or minibus) runs between
the museum and Ueno Green Club.

Usually, the bus departs from here on the museum side.

View Larger Map

I hope you visit Ueno Green Club with a fat wallet,
and leave with a thin wallet and satisfaction.


Ueno Green Club map:

View Larger Map

Shooting for a TV program

Every year in the Kokufu Bonsai Ten period,
Mr. William N. Valavanis who presides
the International Bonsai Arboretum
brings a bonsai tour to Japan.

This time, he visited Omiya Bonsai Village
accompanying a shooting crew of a Japanese BS TV program,
Ippin (イッピン, masterpiece, fine piece, one thing).

This program introduces by a scientific approach
Japanese traditional products which match a modern life style.

I am glad that bonsai is taken up in a nationwide TV program.

The program is scheduled to be broadcast this April,
but I have one problem.

I don't have a parabolic antenna for BS.

Ippin web site:
http://www4.nhk.or.jp/ippin/x/2013-04-09/10/15809/

90th anniversary of Omiya Bonsai Village

A bonsai exhibition to commemorate 

the 90th anniversary of Omiya Bonsai Village 

will be held this February at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. 

First part:

February 1 - 6, 2013

Latter part:

February 8 - 13, 2013

Kyuka-en will exhibit bonsai of trident maple (唐楓, to-kaede) 

in the latter part of the exhibition.

Let's visit the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum and Omiya Bonsai Village 

before, or after, or before & after Kokufu Bonsai Ten.

Flyer of the 90th anniversary exhibition of Omiya Bonsai Village: