Authentic Bonsai Experience Using Century-old Trees, Taught by a Professional at Suishoen in Hyogo

Bonsai’s Growing Global Appeal

As the world’s attention turned inward during the coronavirus pandemic, bonsai saw a surge in popularity around the globe. This traditional Japanese gardening art – in which tiny microcosms of the natural world are cultivated in pots and planting trays, shaped and sculpted over time by branch pruning and wiring – was a perfect hobby for leisure time increasingly spent at home. In the time since, that following has not waned, with many enthusiasts traveling to Japan’s bonsai gardens for apprenticeships and returning to work as professionals in the art in their home countries.

Magnificent bonsai trees hundreds of years old in the Suishoen garden

Bonsai Suishoen sits a 40 minute drive from the scenic and historic landmark Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site. The garden’s owner Koji Matsusue works to promote the art in Japan and overseas, and has given bonsai demonstrations and lessons in Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA, as well as served in the Japan-US-UK landscape and horticulture exchange and training fellowship TRIAD as an instructor. After a five year apprenticeship at one of Japan’s historic bonsai gardens, he founded Suishoen.

The affable and approachable Matsusue, who instructs in the art as well as practicing it, is your guide into the depths of bonsai

Acquiring Bonsai Expertise

The plan starts with a talk from Matsusue, a chance at deep learning on a broad range of bonsai topics including concepts for its appreciation, how to use its tools, and its history. The ancestor of this art form actually began in China, taking root in Japan roughly 12 centuries ago and developing independently into the bonsai of today. Since then, it has captured the imaginations of generations with its tiny worlds and miniaturized nature landscapes unfurling within planting pots.

Matsusue has over 500 bonsai specimens on display in the garden, ranging from the grand to the diminutive

In the early days of bonsai, yamatori-shi (“mountain gatherers”) traversed the wilds, collecting tree specimens, and shitate-shi (“tailors”) cut and molded them into bonsai. Understanding that the yamatori-shi often put their lives at risk to gather choice specimens – and that some of those historic specimens survive to this very day – sheds light on the high prices bonsai trees can command.

A keen eye sees unique personality and expressiveness in each and every bonsai

Matsusue illuminates this rich history in fascinating depth, tracing the roots and branches of the tradition reaching into the present day.

Bonsai as Expression of Landscape Ideals

After Matsusue’s talk, move next to his atelier for observation of his craft at work. Watch as Matsusue demonstrates the basic techniques of pruning branches with shears and wiring them to sculpt and shape. As you wield your shears and face the bonsai before you, it is important, Mr. Matsusue says, to visualize the shape you wish it to grow into. There is no substitute for actually watching a master of a craft use his skills.

Pruning: a professional knows to spare the weaker lower branches from excess cutting

Observation gives way to hands-on practice as you get to work on a black pine specimen approximately a century old. In addition to applying the pruning techniques you have observed, try wiring the branches, wrapping them to direct their positioning and growth.

The beauty of the empty space between and around branches and trunk is a key concept in bonsai. This advanced plan offers in-depth instruction in bringing your vision to reality, and in the techniques of pruning and wiring that account for utilizing this space. It is an excellent opportunity to spend more time and get into more depth than the introductory plan, picking up authentic professional-grade bonsai techniques from Matsusue.

Wiring with confidence, thanks to seasoned professional guidance

The time spent facing your tree is time spent facing your inner self. Discover the joy of creating a bonsai that reflects your sensibilities and ideals.

Bonsai as Landscapes of the Mind Made Real

When your bonsai is finished, give it its place in the garden, and take a commemorative photo. “Bonsai is the realization of a natural landscape within the confines of a planting pot,” says Matsusue. “Bringing the landscape in your mind into reality: that is bonsai.”

Bonsai as prepared in this experience (left: this advanced plan; right: the introductory plan)

You are apt to develop a bond with your tree thanks to the close attention and care you give it over the course of the three hours of this plan. Matsusue will also offer constructive feedback and pointers based on your work, giving you an excellent reference for future creations.

The capricious seasonal expressiveness of bonsai

For Matsusue, with his years of experience in bonsai, its appeal is in “its contending with the very inner world of the human experience.” Practice in sharpening your sensibilities to find and visualize your ideal yields insights that go far beyond bonsai itself, as does the meditative patience and willingness to let go of control and instant gratification that bonsai fosters. And so the craft becomes a new path to self discovery.

Bonsai Care Cultivation as Self Care and Cultivation

The very reason that century-old bonsai trees survive to be available for experiences like this today is because people of the past cultivated and nurtured them, even though the trees would change hands again and again long after the cultivators were gone. This profound continuity, in some regards a living physical manifestation of tradition itself, is a facet of Japanese culture worth proudly celebrating. Matsusue hopes to continue to share that beauty and expand its reach both at home and abroad, and that this experience can be a window into the best parts of the culture of Japan.

Bonsai is a richly rewarding tradition whose profound power only grows in appeal the more you explore it

Bonsai trees become constant companions, as their cultivators spend countless hours with them through the joys and sorrows of life, and in so doing offer a soothing dialogue with the natural world. Far from the constant hustle and grind of city life, who wouldn’t want to spend some time in that tranquil repose?