The 92nd Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition is being held in two parts again this year. Part 1 is being held on February 8-11, 2018 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park. Part II will be held next week after all the bonsai are changed with new trees.

Sargent Juniper

Sekka Hinoki Cypress!

Japanese Maple

Chojubai Japanese Dwarf Flowering Quince planted with rocks

Crape Myrtle!

Both visual and physical balance are important so the bonsai looks stable and does not fall over…..

Sargent Juniper created by Minoru Akiyama who received the coveted Prime Minister Award a few years ago at the Sakufu Bonsai Exhibitions for professional bonsai artists. Here it is displayed under the owner’s name.

It never ceases to surprise me that there are so many bonsai I’ve never seen before, and I’ve seen quite a few bonsai throughout Japan. I’ve been blessed to have seen and studied bonsai at more than 40 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions.

2018 Part I Statistics

161 Individual Bonsai Displays

116 Large Size Bonsai

41 Medium Size Bonsai Displays (approx. 82 individual trees)

4 Shohin Bonsai Displays (23 individual trees)

Total Bonsai Displayed approx. 221

18 Registered Important Bonsai Masterpieces

5 Kokufu Bonsai Prizes

2 Bonsai Displayed with Suiseki

Kokufu Bonsai Award

Sargent Juniper

Kokufu Bonsai Award

Trident Maple

Kokufu Bonsai Award

Japanese Black Pine

Kokufu Bonsai Award

Chinese Quince (better photo coming)

Kokufu Bonsai Award

Shohin Bonsai Composition– Japanese black pine, Dwarf kumquat, Chojubai Japanese dwarf flowering quince, Sargent juniper, Privet and Needle juniper

These are only my initial findings, I will probably discover more during my next visits, as several are required, I’m a slow learner.

Again, the Nippon Bonsai Association has assembled and displayed a superb selection of some of the finest bonsai in the country and in world too. I look forward to Part II, but first look for more bonsai in my blog tomorrow from Part I. Remember, better photos will be in a future issue of International BONSAI. You can easily subscribe here:

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