What Happened On This Date in "Recent" Bonsai History?
JANUARY
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | 1994 -- The Takagi Bonsai Museum opened in an ultra-modern nine-story building across from central Tokyo's Ichigaya Station. The project was the brainchild of then 67-year old Reiji Takagi, founder and president of Meiko Corporation. One of seven children from a wealthy banker's family, Takagi's contact with horticulture began at an early age as a sort of gardening assistant to his father. When he was 18, his house and garden were blown to bits during the Allied bombings of Tokyo in WWII. After two years of going back and forth between being penniless and prosperous (repairing nylon stockings), he came upon a windblown pine seedling on Shikoku Island in southern Japan. Seeing his life mirrored in the tiny creature tossed about by life's torments, Takagi placed the seedling in a pot and filled the container with nutritious soil. He watered his "special friend" twice a day, and began to learn more about the art of bonsai -- and, unconsciously, about business. Takagi's life began to improve, he turned his attention to selling the newly introduced copy machines, and in 1956 opened his first company office. As his business grew, so did his bonsai collection. He invented a paper shredding machine four years later, and that overnight success led to a recycling side business. By now, thanks to huge profits brought about by his expanding business, Takagi's bonsai collection numbered in the hundreds. Some of the oldest and most esteemed of Japan's bonsai, often with documented histories, were purchased by Takagi for hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece. For three years, 1988-90, Takagi's collections won first prizes in Japan's national bonsai competitions. (He then took himself out of the running.) The nine-story building in 1994 allowed more room for both of Takagi's pursuits, bonsai and business. [Some of the 500 trees would be displayed on a rotating basis in the museum when not in the open-air rooftop garden. Additionally, rare ukiyo-e (woodblock) prints, hanging scrolls, and 4000 bonsai pots would be exhibited. Today, his priceless collection is classed in the same special category as the Imperial Household's -- for presenting to state guests. And Takagi's "special friend" is now a superb bonsai, as radiant as its proud owner.] ("Tree Story" by Scott Lynn Riley in All Nippon Airways' Wingspan, Complimentary Magazine, November 1996, pp. 27-31; Katsu Ogiya in personal e-mail to RJB on Jan. 27, 2002) |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | 1959 -- Yuji Yoshimura, 37 years old and in the U.S. barely six weeks with over one ton of teaching and demonstrating material, gave his first course at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, "Bonsai Study & Practice." The very successful course -- one of the orginal students was Jerald P. Stowell -- was one of many which Yoshimura-san taught on many levels during the spring and autumn of that year while on a C. Stuart Gager fellowship grant. ("Yuji Yoshimura, A Memorial Tribute To A Bonsai Master & Pioneer" by William N. Valavanis, International Bonsai, IBA, 1998/No. 1, pg. 34) SEE ALSO: Feb 27, Apr 23, Jun 15, Dec 24 |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | 1989 -- A most elegant naming ceremony for seven outstanding bonsai was conducted at the Japanese American Community Center in Los Angeles, CA by the Bei Koku Bonsai Meigo Kai, a panel of distinguished bonsai experts. The honored designers were Marybel Balendonck, Harry Hirao, Mas Moriguchi, John Y. Naka, Ben Oki, Richard Ota, and George Yamaguchi. The presentations were made by the Honorable Hiromoto Seki, Consul General of Japan. (Bonsai, BCI, March/April 1989, pp. 16-17) |
| 16 | |
| 17 | 1978 -- Editor of the American Bonsai Society Bonsai Journal Dorothy Ebel Hansell died unexpectedly. When she was a young woman in her twenties, she inherited from her father the publishing and editorial responsibilities of The Gardeners' Chronicle of America. At the same time, she was appointed executive secretary of the National Association of Gardeners. During the next 50 years she was a founding member, director, editor, and/or officer of many plant societies, including the American Rock Garden Society, the American Horticultural Society, the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, the Holly Society of America, the American Iris Society, the Garden Writers Association of America, and the New York Botanical Garden. Beginning in 1968, within a year of its founding, the American Bonsai Society was fortunate to have her as a consulting editor and then editor of its quarterly. ("A Tribute to Dorothy Hansell" by Dorothy S. Young, Bonsai Journal, ABS, Vol. 12, No. 1, Spring 1978, pg. 1) |
| 18 | |
| 19 | |
| 20 | |
| 21 | |
| 22 | 1970 -- The episode "Mr. Osaki's Tree" aired for the CBS-TV series "Family Affair." California teacher John Naka served as consultant for this episode about an old and sick Japanese man (Teru Shimada) going back to his country to die there. He gives his bonsai to Jody (Johnny Whitaker) who believes Mr. Osaki's health depends on the tree's health. [Naka, Bonsai Techniques, pg. 258; http://dawnrain.com/BrianKeith/contenus/fa-episodes.asp?episodeID=108&Submit=selected+episode+details; http://us.imdb.com/Name?Shimada,+Teru] |
| 23 | 1981 -- Fifteen individuals met at Fuku-Bonsai in Kurtistown, Hawaii to form the Big Island Bonsai Association (BIBA) as a non-profit group of individuals dedicated to the promotion, advancement, and fellowship of bonsai. It began a three year project consisting of the "Revitalization of Bonsai on the Big Island" that included forming new clubs, "bonsai day" promotional events in various areas, the first All-Big Island Bonsai Show at Wailoa Center in Hilo, and a 10-session bonsai course held over 10 weeks in Hilo, Kamuela, and Kona. The entire project was co-sponsored by the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Continuing Education and Community Service, University of Hawaii at Manoa Cooperative Extension Service, State of Hawaii - Wailoa Center, County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation, and various business sponsors and individuals. [The project would be an outstanding success and in 1984 BIBA would be honored with the Hawaii State First Lady VIP (Volunteers in Paradise) Award. And on the occasion of the 20th All-Big Island Show at Wailoa Center in 2001, certificates of appreciation were presented to those members that were still active and four of the original group were asked to create a formal bonsai niche exhibit.] ("Big Island Bonsai Association & All-Big Island Big Show," http://www.fukubonsai.com/5a12.html) |
| 24 | |
| 25 | |
| 26 | 1927 -- Ben Oki was born in Sacramento, CA [Six years later he
would go to Japan for his formal education, returning to California as
a young man, marrying, and beginning a landscape business. In 1958
he would start studying bonsai with teacher John Naka, the latter recognizing
the former's keen eye and talent with the art. Ben would assist John
in his demonstrations, travel with him beginning in 1973, and become a
sought-after teacher in his own right. He would be best recognized
for his rugged free form style, fine detail work, and whirlwind wiring
technique. Ben would become a member of numerous clubs in the U.S.,
and an honorary member of clubs in Columbia and South Africa.] ("Ben
Oki -- A Biography," Bonsai, BCI, Sept/Oct 1991, p. 33)
1939 -- Dan Robinson was born in Seattle, WA. [Thirty-nine years later while demonstrating for the first time at a national convention (Portland, BCI '78), he would transform an upright Ponderosa Pine into a cascade -- using a selection of power tools. This radical approach would be vilified by some in the bonsai community, but the BBG's Frank Okamura would comment at the convention that Dan was "the Picasso of Bonsai." Many -- including some of Dan's critics -- in this country and elsewhere would adopt similar methods for creation within a dozen years. Collecting trees across this continent, his undisputed artistic talents would always be tempered with a passion for "bringing them back alive." Dan would be hailed as the Father of American Bonsai as he further broadened our horizons with "Focal Point Bonsai Design." This would challenge the traditional triangular design for all trees by shaping the foliage and branches to surround and frame the area of greatest visual value in our arboreal compositions.] (RJB telephone conversation with Diane Robinson, Apr. 15, 2000; www.elandangardens.com website) SEE ALSO: Nov 5 |
| 27 | |
| 28 | 1902 -- Saichi Suzuki was born in Okazaki, Japan. [He would be considered the foremost authority and bonsai artist for conifers, especially Japanese black and five-needle pine. "Zuisho," a dwarf variety of the latter, was named and championed by Suzuki, who also won the 1976 Prime Minister's award at the First Bonsai Creator's Exhibition.] ("Zuisho" by Saichi Suzuki, International Bonsai, 1986/No.2, pp. 18-19, "About the Author") SEE ALSO: May 14 |
| 29 | 1991 -- The remaining four postage stamps and a souvenir sheet of the series "Bonsai" (first half released Dec. 9, 1990) were issued by the Maldive Islands to commemorate Expo '90, International Garden and Greenery Exposition in Osaka, Japan. SEE ALSO: Feb 3, Mar 27, Mar 31, Apr 3, Apr 6, Apr 18, Jul 20, Aug 20, Sep 22, Oct 4, Dec 9. |
| 30 | 1935 -- F. Chase Rosade was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[He would graduate in 1958 from Delaware Valley College of Science and
Agriculture with a major in Ornamental Horticulture. Two years later
he would wed Connie (Tokiwa) Ibara, a native of Japan who was raised and
educated in the U.S. Three years later the pair would begin a two-year
trip by land from London to Calcutta, and then fly to Japan. There,
after discovering the world of bonsai via Yuji Yoshimura's book, Chase
for 8 months would become an apprentice to Kyuzo Yoshida of Nara, a respected
bonsai artist and nurseryman who specialized in Japanese White Pines.
Chase would further his studies with a comprehensive course in Bonsai and
Saikei from Mr. Kawamoto, the innovator of container landscapes. Upon the
Rosades' return to Doylestown, PA, Chase would begin and develop a nursery,
begin teaching bonsai in 1968, and two years later would purchase 10 acres
of land in New Hope, PA to inaugurate the Rosade Bonsai Studio. Since
the early 1970s Chase would travel throughout the U.S. and Canada, South
America, Europe and Asia teaching and demonstrating before hundreds of
clubs and groups. His second wife, Solita D. Tafur of Cali, Columbia,
would also be an international demonstrator and officer, and bring to the
Rosade Bonsai Studio expertise with tropical material.] (bio,
International
Bonsai, 1986/No. 2, pg. 13; Bonsai, BCI, March/April 1986, pg.
18; "Master Chase Rosade," http://www.mnbonsai.com/workshops/Chaserosade.html;
"Lectures and Demonstrations Biographical Information -- Chase Rosade,"
http://www.rosadebonsai.com/Lectures.html)
1965 -- The first Bonsai Clubs Association Convention was held at the Gallery of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. [In three years the BCA would be renamed Bonsai Clubs International.] ("Hindsight on BCI" by Tom Heitkamp, Bonsai, BCI, Jan/Feb 1978, pg. 4) SEE ALSO: Feb 28, Apr 16 |
| 31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|