The 2014 88^th KOKUFU BONSAI EXHIBITION

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Gallery, Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan

 Part 1: February 4-7, 2014

Part 2: February 9-12, 2014

The Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, now sponsored by the Nippon Bonsai Association, is the premier bonsai exhibition in Japan, and the world. Hobbyists try quite hard, often for years to have their trees accepted for this judged event where only bonsai of the highest quality are displayed eligible for the coveted Kokufu Sho Prizes.

Japanese back pine

Japanese maple

Camellia, Kokufu sho Prize

Sargent juniper, displayed by American Doug Paul

An annual book is published after the exhibition featuring every bonsai in the show which make for excellent study of form, species and more importantly the current trends of the Japanese bonsai world.

No. 1 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, March 1934

No. 1 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, March 1934

The first Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition was held in March…

Part 2 of Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition was held on February 10-13, 2015 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan, following a day closed where 181 bonsai displays were replaced with all new bonsai, except for the four special displays. The Japan Suiseki Exhibition opened on the closed day and the Ueno Green Club sales area was also open for visitors.

These two views may quickly seem similar to Part 1, however all the trees are new. However under close examination a few of the companion plantings were identical, but slightly rotated. I’m not certain because my personal study of Part 2 has not been completed yet, but I think I remember seeing a few display tables from Part 1.

Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora

Gardenia, Gardenia jasmoindes

Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine, Pinus parviflora ‘Zuisjo.’ Perhaps the reason for the increased number of displayed of this choice cultivar is…

Today Ayr Bonsai Club on the west coast of Scotland played host to one of the best known faces in the bonsai world, Tony Tickle.

Tony provided a very informative talk on the development of 3 hawthorn trees from his collection and later in the afternoon carried out a critique on some of the members trees.

I had never seen Tony in action before, so this was an opportunity not to be missed. His  delivery is friendly, informal and entertaining and includes an excellent photographic history of his trees. The critic part of the event was helpful, informed and mindful to the sensitivities of the owners.

All in all, a very entertaining afternoon

Here are the three stunning trees that Tony brought along to illustrate his talk