Sales area closed

The bonsai shop in the parking lot of
the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is closed today (January 30)
because of snow.

44th Zenkoku Shohin Bonsai Meihin-ten(new link added AGAIN )

The 44th Zenkoku Shohin Bonsai Meihin-ten
(全国小品盆栽名品展, National Exhibition of Fine Pieces of Shohin Bonsai),
was held at Ueno Green Club(上野グリーンクラブ)
from January 9 - 11, 2015.

(cf. http://japan-bonsai.blogspot.jp/2013/01/two-directions-of-shohin-bonsai.html)

Gafu-ten(雅風展) is the most prestigious exhibition of sho-hin bonsai
or an apparatus to sell expensive bonsai.
Some people say it shows over maturity before fall
because it has already hit the ceiling.

On the other hand, Zenkoku Shohin Bonsai Meihin-ten has
big presence on the web.

Because its size and style have high affinity with
the internet users in Japan, I think.

Some of the exhibitors make even the pots themselves.
It is a "hand-made" exhibition of bonsai lovers.

Displays at the 44th Zenkoku Shohin Bonsai Meihin-ten:

http://ameblo.jp/bonsaihajime/entry-11976099650.html

http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11975229553.html
http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11975735579.html
http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11976006218.html
http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11976458889.html
http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11976459125.html
http://ameblo.jp/honobonobon/entry-11976459890.html(new link)

http://ameblo.jp/bonsaidou/entry-11975727608.html

http://ameblo.jp/sa-yura/entry-11975571160.html
http://ameblo.jp/sa-yura/entry-11975883788.html

http://ameblo.jp/soushuumiura/entry-11976395697.html
http://ameblo.jp/soushuumiura/entry-11976411827.html
http://ameblo.jp/soushuumiura/entry-11976423866.html

http://ameblo.jp/isso-bachi/entry-11976232635.html
http://ameblo.jp/isso-bachi/entry-11975469695.html
http://ameblo.jp/isso-bachi/entry-11976967209.html
http://ameblo.jp/isso-bachi/entry-11977417268.html

http://ameblo.jp/tenoribonsai/entry-11978542444.html(new link)

My first and last work in 2015

Today, I went to a nearby DIY store to buy Akadama.

I know people in the world sometimes have difficulties in getting Akadama.

But in Japan it is one of the most basic soils for growing plants, 

and it is available anywhere if you don't mind the quality, or hardness of the grain.

At the store, I found a white Japanese apricot sold in a basket 

which was not even potted.

Akadama is available anytime, so I bought the apricot.

It is easy to plant it in a well-made bonsai pot and 

raise the overall quality as bonsai.

But I have learnt that the higher I raise the quality and the price, 

the lower the marketability becomes.

At first I thought of potting it in a blue oval pot but it was too small.

Then I made compromise by this red pot, 

though I thought it was a bit too massive.

I raised the trunk slightly.

I will offer it for a fair price for not bonsai lovers 

but those who want apricot blossoms at hand. 

I used aluminium wire to fasten the tree in the pot.

The wire is not visible from outside.

Sometimes I use magic which is different from that of so-called bonsai masters.

My magic is hidden and discreet like this wire.

Closed days of the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum in January 2015

January 2015, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is closed on:

1(Thu) - 3(Sat),
8(Thu),
15(Thu),
22(Thu),
29(Thu).

From November - February,
the museum is open until 16:00 (entrance before 15:30).

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