The 34^th Nippon Taikan Bonsai Exhibition opened this morning after the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. The show was well attended and the crowds continued to increase until mid-afternoon. Although anyone could take photos it was a bit difficult with people getting in the way. Also the yellow and purple backgrounds did not help with the white balance and different lighting.

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora

Rock cotoneaster, Cotoneaster horizonatlis

Japanese yew, Taxus cuspidata

While setting up the exhibition I happen to notice a couple photos of my trees being assembled for a special exhibit. The photos were recognized but I wonder where they got them. So I asked and was told that Toru Suzuki asked for photos for a special World Bonsai Corner photo display. Then I remembered that I did send the photos months ago. Perhaps a bit of old age creeping up here, no just gracefully “maturing.”

Bonsai displayed by members of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York

At Hatsuji Kato’s Mansei-en Bonsai Garden in Omiya Bonsai Village I noticed Mr. Hirao preparing a large Kiyo Hime Japanese maple for this exhibition. The tree is perhaps the finest, and one of the largest Kiyo Hime Japanese maple bonsai. It received one of the Kokufu Awards in February’s Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition. At that time it was in a blue glazed antique Chinese container. Now it is planted in an unglazed brown container by Gyozan, currently the leading bonsai container artist in Tokoname, Japan, and it was difficult to photograph in Omiya. Apparently the antique Chinese container was too valuable to keep the tree during the growing season. I personally like both containers and would have both in my collection if I had this bonsai. But, I could not even afford the display table, let alone the valuable two containers and the tree as well.

Kiyo Hime Japanese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Kiyo Hime’ in February 2014

Kiyo Hime Japanese maple, Acer palmatum ‘Kiyo Hime’ in November 2014

Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora ‘Zuisho’

Sargent juniper, Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii ‘Shimpaku’

Akebia, Akebia quinata

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora

Winged spindle tree, Euonymus sieboldiana 

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora