Page 50 - BSAM 2018 Q2

Kasahara felt that the true appreciation
of Suiseki was originally to appreciate the shape and form that nature can create.
Kasahara Manabu and the Modern Age of Suiseki in Japan
By Thomas Elias, USA Photos by Thomas Elias
Although Suiseki has a long history in Japan, the period from the 1960s to the present witnessed the most dramatic changes in this country’s stone appre- ciation practices. This period saw the
rapid development and expansion of collecting and appreciating native stones in Japan. No longer was stone appreciation in the near exclusive realm of the scholars and bureaucrats, but thousands of Japanese became involved with the practice of Suiseki to some degree during this period. This surge in the number of stone hobbyists began to wane in the late 1980s. Even under these conditions, there was a continuing refinement in stone appreciation practices. This article will examine this period through the eyes and life of Mr Kasahara Manabu, one of Japan’s long-time dealers and respected statesmen of Japanese Suiseki—while identifying several of the major trends that occurred during this time. The information presented here results from a series of meetings and interviews with Kasahara, along with additional data obtained
Top; Kasahara Manabu, examining a stone in the vendor area at the 2017 World Bonsai convention in Saitama City.
Bottom; Mr Kasahara was instrumental in helping to establish the new Japan Suiseki Exhibition in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park. Here he was setting up several exhibitions for his customers during the 2017 event.
48 | BCI | April/May/June 2018