HANG OUT VOL.5

Authentic Bonsai

Chapter 06

2025.1.24

Photo：Hiroki Oe

Text：Shinri Kobayashi

Edit：Shinri Kobayashi

HANG OUT VOL.5

HANG OUT VOL.5Authentic Bonsai

Let's start with greenery. Or even start with bonsai.

If you want to enrich your interior, why not start by growing some greenery that is also good for your mental health? Or maybe even try bonsai, which is a little more twisted. Now is the best time to get started before it becomes popular, with the attention of overseas bonsai artists and the emergence of a new generation. This time, we visited Toshoen, a group of young bonsai artists with an average age of 20, and learned the basics of bonsai.

Chapter 06 | Authentic Bonsai

Takehiro Kasai

Representative of "Momomatsuen". He aimed to compete in the Olympic Games in weightlifting, but failed, so he turned to his hobby of bonsai. The shop name comes from the fact that his family runs a peach farm. However, he has no experience growing peaches.

The ABCs of bonsai.

-This is powerful and extremely cool.

It's a nice piece. It's a type of juniper tree, and the dead, white trunk is called the "shari" and the living part is called the "mizu-suki." The contrast between the two, which symbolize life and death, is striking and very popular.

-What does bonsai represent?

There are various theories, but it is believed that the Chinese culture of "bonkei" was imported to Japan and developed there. Bonsai is a way of expressing natural beauty in a pot. There are theories for creators, but as a hobbyist, I hope you will enjoy it freely. You can try growing bonsai, or just enjoy it without growing it, and everyone can enjoy it in their own way.

-What made you get interested in bonsai?

I saw a floating bonsai at an apparel shop in Harajuku called "DOMICILE TOKYO" and thought it was cool.

-How did you go from there to launching Tomatsuen as a business?

I was originally a weightlifter, aiming to compete in the Rio, Tokyo, and Paris Olympics, and was active until 2023. As a result, I was unable to participate, so I wondered what to do next. Even though I was no longer an athlete, I wanted to do a job that I could put the same amount of passion into rather than a regular job, and I thought it would be nice to turn bonsai, which had been my hobby until then, into a job. But I thought I could make a living from it.

-Why is that?

At the time, I was growing them in an apartment in Tokyo where I lived, and when I uploaded them to Instagram, I got DMs from people who wanted to buy them, and even though I wasn't a professional, I sold them for more than I paid for them. I thought it was interesting that while making them is fun, if you make them well, people will recognize you even more. I also felt the same thing as the world of athletes.

-What do you mean?

I think it's the same in any field, but if you set a goal and work hard to achieve it, you can succeed. As an athlete, I've been number one in Japan many times, and I'm good at setting goals and seeing them through.

-Once again, please tell us what you find so fascinating about bonsai.

What's interesting about shaping nature in this pot? Of course it's artificial because it's done by humans, but it's really fun to be able to create something more beautiful than the original nature by adding human touches to it while using the power of nature as a base. And when it turns out to be something that others can recognize, it feels even better.

-What do you find most difficult about growing bonsai?

The beauty of a bonsai is only for a moment. If you don't water it, it will wither, and if you don't cut it with scissors, it will grow as much as it likes. A beautiful, good appearance is only for a moment. Even if it looks good now, new buds will appear a year later, and the fact that it changes with time is what makes it both difficult and interesting.

Bonsai is popular worldwide.

-In the world of bonsai, there are trees that are hundreds of years old.

So there is a possibility that it will remain even after you are gone. It is common for something that was raised by someone else to come to you temporarily and then be passed on to someone else.

-What is the difference between these and ornamental plants?

Generally, ornamental plants are grown indoors. Bonsai need light, so they are generally grown outdoors. Of course, they can be grown indoors, but they will weaken, so I would recommend that you only keep them indoors for about a week.

Form a scalene triangle just like in the textbook.

-Is there a theory for deciding the shape?

It is said that a scalene triangle is the most beautiful shape. Also, it looks better if the branches are lowered and the buds are raised up.

- To make the transformation you use wire like this, right?

Yes, it's one of the techniques. You can use aluminum, but professionals use copper wire because once you bend it, it hardens into that shape. But the important thing is to have a clear image of what shape you want to make. Anyone can wrap wire, but it's important to imagine how to make a triangle from it. If you can't imagine that, you won't be able to make a good shape.

-Mr. Kasai, in your opinion, are there any people whose bonsai you think are amazing?

There are two great masters, Kunio Kobayashi and Masahiko Kimura, who are like gods. Please look them up on the internet. The bonsai they made have even been priced at over a billion yen.

-Bonsai is incredibly popular overseas too.

Yes. I feel that bonsai is becoming more popular not only in Europe and the US, but also in Asia, such as Thailand and Vietnam. It is not uncommon for Asian buyers to come to Toshoen and make purchases. It has been about a year since Toshoen started, so I personally feel that it is a dream come true. On the other hand, although exports overseas are increasing, the number of people making bonsai is decreasing, and I think that this is a fundamental issue in the bonsai industry. That is why I want to raise the level of the industry itself, not just increase short-term sales, so I produce bonsai materials and lease and rent bonsai.

Bonsai instruction for beginners.

On the left is a Chinese juniper, which costs several tens of thousands of yen, and on the right is a Japanese black pine, which costs several thousand yen (prices are from Momomatsuen).

-If I were to start with bonsai, what kind of plant should I buy?

I recommend strong tree species that do not die easily. For example, pines such as Japanese white pine and Japanese black pine are originally alpine plants and grow naturally in places with little water such as gravel, so they can handle cold places. I also recommend the popular Japanese yew. I recommend starting with a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of yen. If you are looking for something for a few tens of thousands of yen, you should be able to find a shape that you like. I also recommend bonsai of miscellaneous trees such as maples and ginkgo trees for people who like them. There are also lucky trees. For example, plum blossoms are said to be the first flowers to bloom in the year, and are considered to be auspicious flowers that bring good fortune. Cherry blossoms are also beautiful when they bloom, but when they are not blooming, they are just trees...

(Left) Cherry Blossoms: Beautiful flowers bloom in spring.
<br> (Right) Japanese white pine: This form truly embodies the image of a bonsai.

(Left) Cherry Blossoms: Beautiful flowers bloom in spring.
(Right) Japanese white pine: This form truly embodies the image of a bonsai.

-What about choosing a pot?

There are many types of pots, such as high, low, square, and round, but I think it's best to use a pot you like. However, the theory is that it's more beautiful when the plant fits into the pot rather than overflowing. That said, I think it's best to use a pot you personally like. Incidentally, from that perspective, Japanese white pine, with its short leaves, is also suitable for bonsai.

-What tools do I need?

All you need are scissors to cut the buds and leaves, and wire cutters. You can get these at any 100 yen shop.

- Any other advice you'd like to share?

The pots are thin and small, which means there is little soil, so the plants dry out easily and need to be watered frequently, so they are not suitable for beginners.

- There are various techniques, such as wrapping wire, but isn't it easy to get started?

You can learn techniques such as pruning, wiring, and repotting later if you need them. You can learn in a classroom, but there are plenty of instructional videos on YouTube, so it's enough to just look it up as you go. As for soil, it's sold everywhere, but Akadama soil is good. First, buy a pot of your favorite plant, water it, and start growing it.

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