Bonsai

Bonsai is the art of growing ornamental, artificially dwarfed varieties of trees and shrubs in pots.
Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and shaping miniature trees in containers, with a long documented history of influences and native Japanese development over a thousand years, and with unique aesthetics, cultural history, and terminology derived from its evolution in Japan.
Kunio Kobayashi is one of Japan's distinguished bonsai masters. Despite starting his unconventional self-taught journey at the age of 28, relatively late compared to his peers, his inherent determination and unparalleled sensibilities have earned him the prestigious Prime Minister Award four times at the Nihon Bonsai Sakufuten and the Commissioner’s Award from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Kobayashi is also the Director of Shunkaen Bonsai Museum which he founded in 2002 to share the wonders of bonsai.
My father was a horticulturist, and I intended to follow in his footsteps. I studied at a high school with a horticulture program and worked at a nursery while I dabbled with bonsai in my spare time. One day, I visited a bonsai exhibition and was struck by a piece titled "Oku no Kyomatsu." Although I was familiar with the beauty of plants and nature growing up in a nursery, this was different. I was fascinated by the powerful trunk, the delicate branches and leaves, and the overall dignity conveyed by the bonsai. It was a profound experience that resonated deeply within me, determining my path.

But at the time, I was 28, married, and had two children. Impractical to go through the typical apprenticeship to live with and learn from the master, I had no choice but to train myself. I visited many bonsai exhibitions and gardens, asked countless questions, and learned techniques through observation and inquiry. Starting late in the field only fueled my inherent drive and passion.
The beauty of bonsai is that there are many ways to enjoy it. There's the joy of watching the trees grow, the satisfaction of nurturing, and the appreciation of beauty. For me, bonsai is life itself. I will not forget the “dignity of life” I experienced that day that changed my life. While flowers may wither in a few days, with proper care bonsai can live for hundreds of years. Even if a part of a bonsai tree dies, if another part of the trunk continues to draw water, the piece can celebrate its vibrant foliage, creating a dramatic intertwine of life and death. The Japanese phrase "hisureba" implies the complex art of bonsai to evoke the unseen. I want to express the tree’s inner beauty, and it is an art I aspire to pursue with my life.
At 77, I still work 15 hours a day, but I’ve never found it burdensome. Rather it’s an incredible joy. Bonsai is my calling, my hobby, and my ikigai. People have called me "the man chosen by the bonsai gods.” If that's true, I am truly grateful.Baca lagi