Page 34 - BSAM 2016 Q3

Exploring the African Bonsai
Style
By Tobie Kleynhans, South Africa
32 | BCI | July/August/September 2016
The 90th Kokufu-ten bonsai exhibition was displayed in the Metropolitan Art museum from the 5th to the 8th and from the 10th to the 13th of February 2016 in Ueno Park, Tokyo.
e Kokufu-ten is the premier bonsai exhibition in Japan. e Nippon bonsai society celebrated their 90th exhibition by having a two part exhibition, replacing the trees a er the rst part with a new set of trees for the second part. More than 200 trees were on display during each part of the exhibition—and what a display it was!
It would take a lot more space to describe and analyze the Kokufu-ten exhibitions of 2016, but to summarize my rst impressions:
e trees on display were of the highest quality. e immaculate re nement on each and every tree. e absence of any trace of human interference. e quality and suitability of the pots, display tables and accent plants.
e number of antique pots used.
Most trees conform to a unique classical Japanese Style.
Describing the classical Japanese bonsai style is difficult, but walking around the Kokufu-ten exhibitions, the inherent characteristics of this style became quite clear. In a recent article William N Valavanis, International Bonsai, 2015/No.1) reiterated the two bonsai styles described by the Japanese: classical and naturalistic.