APPRECIATING NATURE, THE JAPANESE WAY

When exploring traditional Japanese aesthetics, one will find that a significant theme is the well-known love and respect for nature. From poetry to architecture, it shows in most aspects of Japanese culture and is embedded in the way of life. Although traditional artists of all genres have looked to nature for inspiration when pursuing aesthetic perfection, perhaps this is most prominent in the world of bonsai.

Bonsai is the widely known Japanese art of planting and sculpting trees in pots to represent natural scenery. The growth of the tree is restricted by years of pruning, wiring, and repotting. An array of species can be potted, and it is the artist's job to create a miniature version that mimics the natural form and leaves no human trace. As with most Japanese art forms, the process is complicated yet subtle and requires immense patience and care. Artists devote their time and effort daily to maintain the perfect asymmetrical balance and appealing lines. This craft of a living tree requires years of training to maintain healthy conditions and centuries of dedication without the prospect of completion. Due to such immense discipline that it takes to refine skills and a sense of the art, few masters have gained world recognition, but there is a place in Tokyo where you can experience their artistry firsthand.

Kunio Kobayashi is a world-famous bonsai master and a recipient of four Prime Minister’s Awards and numerous other accolades. His work—which often features dead wood on a living bonsai to express nature’s beauty and create a dramatic intertwine of life and death—is admired worldwide and sells for up to 100 million yen (or about 1 million USD). He has dedicated nearly 50 years as an artist and teacher, passing on the tradition to hundreds of apprentices and international students. To spread the beauty of Japanese bonsai, Kobayashi also runs the Shunkaen Bonsai Museum located in East Tokyo, where the artist and his staff can be seen watering and tending the large and old to very small bonsai trees at certain times. Walk with Kobayashi outdoors through the garden and inside 15 traditional rooms where over 1,000 trees are on display, including the most famous within the collection that is estimated to be nearly 1,000 years old. As he guides you to discover the character, harmony, and elegance in each, enthusiasts will be enlightened by his skills and profound knowledge, while his philosophy and masterpieces will inspire those less familiar. Here you can learn from his life’s dedication to nature through hands-on lessons of molding a tree or by seeing bonsai artists at work and what it takes to fully care for them. Immerse yourself in this beautiful living form of art for a new appreciation of nature and Japanese culture.