Page 7 - BSAM 2017 Q3

What a privilege it was to witness one of the greatest Bonsai events in this millennium and that too in the Mecca of Bonsai, Saitama City. e 8th World Bonsai Convention was
held in Saitama City (formerly called Omiya City), in Saitama Prefecture from the 27th – 30th April 2017. The World Bonsai Convention organized by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF) was re- turning to Saitama city 28 years a er the city held the rst convention in 1989. It was a landmark convention where no stone was le unturned to showcase some of the best bonsai talents from Japan and the rest of the world and a bonsai exhibition like no one has ever
seen before. e convention was attended by around 1200 delegates from 40 countries and regions of the world and visited by more than 45,000 people, much more than the expected number of visitors of 20,000!
The Opening Ceremony:
The Bonsai extravaganza commenced on 27th April 2017 with the o cial opening ceremony held in the huge Omiya Sonic Centre and attended by over 2000 guests and delegates. Mr. Yohei Kono, honorary Chairman of this year’s convention gave the opening speech. He evoked memories of the rst Chairman of the World Bonsai Convention Mr. Saburo Kato and outlined Kato’s belief that ‘the heart of Bonsai will lead
Top; The Convention was inaugurated by the Royal Highness Prince and Princess Akishino-miya. Mr. Jiro Fukuda, Chairman WBFF, introduced the headliners.
Inset; Nikunj Parekh, India region WBFF Director, gave
the guest speech inviting all regions of the world to unite as one fraternity for the cause of Bonsai art.
Bottom right; Ribbon cutting ceremony of the Exhibition on the morning of 28th April 2017.
July/August/September 2017 | BCI | 5