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of bonsai apprentices and professionals in Japan. The documentary follows the daily activities of the Kouka- en bonsai nursery in Osaka, where Bjorn served a six- year apprenticeship with Keiichi Fujikawa, nursery owner, and producer of this film.
In Continuum, the subject is bonsai but the focus is on the people who cultivate them; anticipating the needs of the bonsai in their care and carrying out the work dictated by the weather and the season, to keep them healthy and to improve their artistic expression. The interactions between Keiichi Fujikawa and stu- dents gives us many glimpses into the mindful and hands-on teaching process. The film’s easy-going pace is relaxed and engaging.
Presented in four seasons: the documentary is in- structive, enlightening and punctuated with dramatic highlights, such as the “cloud of death” sequence that focuses on the well-orchestrated application of fun- gicides and pesticides, or the long hours of intense work preceding a major exhibition. The sound track
is lively and supports the action well. The production values are excellent.
Our local club has featured a few episodes of The Bonsai Art of Japan in the context of a discussion, presentation or workshop, so when club member Bob Shewchuk alerted us to the release of the documen- tary, Continuum - A Year in the Japanese Bonsai World, we ordered the DVD and screened it at a club meet- ing. It was a well-attended first meeting of the season and Continuum was an inspirational start to a year of bonsai activities. The reaction was very positive, and judging by comments and discussions after the show, it was a stimulating experience for many there. The discussions also prompted some questions, both bonsai-related and general interest. Bjorn was right, there is much interest and curiosity surrounding the traditional Japanese bonsai apprenticeship and how it is adapting to a new generation of professionals. I caught up with Bjorn by e-mail while he was on a non-stop three-week tour in eastern USA and I asked
Top; View of Kouka-en bonsai nursery in Osaka, Japan.
Bottom left; Bjorn Bjorholm, Kouka-en’s first apprentice, during his first year in 2008. Photo by Chris Malcolm.
Bottom center; owner of Kouka-en, Keiichi Fujikawa who served a five-year apprenticeship at Mansei-en Nursery in Omya Bonsai Village under the late Saburo Kato in the late ’80s.
Bottom right; Keiichi’s father, Minoru Fujikawa, who started Kouka-en in 1958.
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