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| 3 | 1998 -- " Bonsai," a set of seven postage stamps, was issued by Vietnam. SEE ALSO: Jan 29, Feb 16, Mar 1, Mar 27, Mar 31, Apr 3, Apr 6, Apr 18, May 6, May 29, Jun 16, Jul 20, Aug 20, Aug 22, Sep 22, Oct 1, Oct 4, Dec 9. | ||||
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1890 -- The Yokohama Gardeners Association was established by a group of four Japanese nurserymen (Uhei Suzuki, Mr.
Yamaguchi, Mr. Iijima, and Mr. Suda) for the direct exportation of numerous varieties of Japanese plants, seeds, and
bulbs. Uhei Suzuki had worked for Louis Boehmer for seven years until he left with Boehmer's encouragement to
take a leading role in establishing this association. [The Yokohama Gardeners Association would issue its first
catalog in English in 1892. Through its Oakland,
California branch office, it would participate in the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893. This could easily
explain the origin of the large bonsai specimen that Charles Sargent would see in Chicago and write about in Gardens and
Forest magazine in that same year. Uhei Suzuki would come to the United States in 1893 and contract with
Henry & Lee Company for the promotion of the Yokohama Gardeners Association's products in all areas in the United States
east of the Mississippi River. At some point between 1893 and 1894, the Association, located at Nos. 21-35, Nakamura in
Yokohama, would re-organize into the Yokohama Nursery Company, Ltd. (aka Yokohama Seed Company, Ltd.) and continue issuing impressive catalogs in English with
beautiful colored, woodblock illustrations. They would close their California office in 1895 to concentrate on their
New York office. The Yokohama nursery catalogs would be the only ones to offer extensive information in English
concerning the cultural requirements for their dwarf trees. They would contain precise information about watering
techniques both during the winter and summer months, identify correct exposure and light conditions, and when and how to
apply fertilizer (finely powdered oil cakes or bone meal). Additional instruction on pruning conifers, flowering and
deciduous trees would be included. This consortium of nursery owners would dominate the lucrative market of flower export
at the height of the Western vogue for Japanese gardens. They would be a major influence in the introduction of exotics
into Europe and America. The Nursery would issue catalogs until at least 1925/26. [In December 1901, U. S. Department of Agriculture scientist and plant explorer David Fairchild would spend a day at the Yokohama Nursery with Suzuki and his son, Hamakichi. Fairchild would then in 1938 write that the nursery had offices in New York and London and was doing an enormous business in lily bulbs and employed over a hundred workers. Fairchild would provide evidence that bonsai was indeed a significant part of the Yokohama's nursery export business. He would see dwarf potted trees neatly arranged on long tables and even larger trees in figured blue and white porcelain pots. Also seen were tiny maples in small pots of green porcelain no larger than a teacup and flat porcelain trays containing groups representing little garden scenes, or miniature clumps of bamboos. [In 1906, Fairchild would import 100 flowering cherry trees -- nondwarfed -- from the Yokohama Nursery Company. He would plant the trees on a hillside on his own land in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where he was testing their hardiness. Pleased with the success of the trees, the following year he would begin to promote them for planting along the avenues of Washington, D.C. (continuing the idea originated by Eliza Scidmore two decades earlier). A total of 2,000 trees would arrive on Jan. 6, 1910 in Washington, D.C., but these would be infested with insects and diseases and would have to be destroyed. The following December cuttings would be taken from the famous collection on the bank of the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward, a suburb of Tokyo, and grafted on specially selected understock in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture. From these, 3,020 cherry trees would be shipped Feb. 14, 1912 from Yokohama to D.C.'s Tidal Basin via Seattle. [In 1911 Ernest Coe would buy some 30 dwarf potted trees from Yokohama and two years later Larz Anderson some forty trees from them also. These trees would become the start of two of America's oldest collections, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, respectively.] 
"Photograph of main office of the Yokohama Nursery Company from
(Elias, Thomas S. "History
of the Introduction and Establishment of Bonsai in the Western World," pp. 15, 23, 24, 25;
Henry Sotheran Limited, http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1hfrz/JapanesePrints/resources/64.htm,
pg. 64; Antique Print Room, "Botanical Foreign,"
http://www.antiqueprintroom.com/catalogue/view-catalogue?id=283368eea61beef3ba0789ada623c08a;
"Truth and Beauty, in Pots: Bonsai at Harvard,"
http://harvardmagazine.com/1999/09/treasure.html;
"The Cherry Trees of Washington, D.C., A Cultural Landscape,"
http://www.nps.gov/ncro/PublicAffairs/PressReleases/wa_USDA_Cherry_Trees_24Mar99.html )
SEE ALSO: Jan 1, Apr 13, May 14.
the 1908 catalogue." (Del Tredici, Peter "From Temple To Terrace," Arnoldia, Vol. 64, Numbers 2-3, 2006, pg. 5) |
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| 8 | 2008 -- Grandmaster Saburō Katō died in Omiya. (William N. Valavanis' post, "The Passing of Saburo Kato," Internet Bonsai Club, February 8, 2008, http://internetbonsaiclub.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=133&topic=23097.0) SEE ALSO: Feb Also, Mar 10, Mar 19, Mar 28, Apr 19, May 15, May 25, Oct 15, Nov 3, Nov 20, Dec 13 | ||||
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1965 -- The private Kokufu Bonsai Association was reorganized and renamed
"Nippon Bonsai Association." Because of
a rapid increase in the number of bonsai enthusiasts in Japan in the
early 1960s, the necessity to transform the Kokufu Bonsai Society into
a nationwide organization had become obvious. On this day, the private
Kokufu was dissolved and reorganized to become the parent body of the
public Nippon Bonsai Association. The NBA assumed the role of organizer of the annual
Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions.
(
Bonsai Masterpieces,
1972, English booklet, pg. iii; "Note on Nippon Bonsai Association,"
Bonsai,
BCI, May 1975, pg. 113; Morita, Kazuya and NBA Editorial Staff "Bonsai
in Japan," in Tsukiyama, Ted T. (ed.) Bonsai of the World, Book I
(Japan: World Bonsai Friendship Federation, 1993), pg. 89) SEE
ALSO: Oct 20
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| 16 | 1992 -- Ghana issued a set of 8 postage stamps plus 2 souvenir sheets to commemorate Phila Nippon '91. The theme was Japanese landmarks, with the addition of one stamp each depicting a geisha and a bonsai. SEE ALSO: Jan 29, Feb 3, Mar 1, Mar 27, Mar 31, Apr 3, Apr 6, Apr 18, May 6, May 29, Jun 16, Jul 20, Aug 20, Aug 22, Sep 22, Oct 1, Oct 4, Dec 9. | ||||
| 17 | 2005 -- The Art of Bonsai project was launched. After finding out that practically any serious and sometimes controversial discussion of the artistic aspects of bonsai seemed to be quickly shot down on other forums and continually marginalized, belittled, made fun of, interrupted, etc., the help of a few like-minded individuals was enlisted and AoB was born. Although most of its articles and profiles (interviews) and galleries are originally unique to AoB, occasionally some articles are found elsewheres which are so good that the editors of AoB ask to have them republished with credit on the AoB web site. (Per personal e-mail from Will Heath to RJB, May 30, 2006) | ||||
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1943 -- Roy Nagatoshi was born. [Though born in the U.S, he would spend his early years
through junior high school in Japan, returning to America at age 13. His first encounter
with bonsai would be in 1959, working side by side with his father, Shigeru, learning the
techniques on making bonsai. The younger would watch the elder work with many different
kinds of trees, pruning, wiring, shaping and potting. Homesick, Roy would be reminded by
the bonsai of the trees in the mountains, hills, and shorelines of Japan. He would attend
classes under John Naka. In 1965, with the encouragement of Mr. Iura, Shigeru's bonsai
master, father and son would open Fuji Bonsai Nursery in Sylmar, CA and both conduct classes there.
In 1975, Roy would receive a B.S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly University in Pomona.
The following year he would give his first lecture/demonstration to a local bonsai club. He would go
on to give many lectures and demonstrations and conduct workshops in local, regional, national, and
international settings. For four years he would teach bonsai at Santa Barbara Community College.
Shigeru would die in May 2000 at age 84, and Roy would continue the nursery business, teaching and lecturing.]
Roy Nagatoshi by Walter Pall, 03/04/2005.
(Per personal e-mail from Max Miller to RJB, Apr. 30, 2006; Banting, Donna
"Roy Nagatoshi and Pomegranate," Bonsai, BCI, Vol. XXX, No. 1, January/February 1991, pg. 3;
posting to rec.art.bonsai on May 23, 2000 by Marty Haber) SEE ALSO: Mar 18, Jun 30
(Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07) 1974 -- ABS President Dorothy Young addressed the Japan Bonsai Society at a special dinner in Tokyo held to celebrate the publication of the beautiful commemorative volume honoring the Matsudaira family. Kaname Kato, the noted horticulturalist, translated her talk into Japanese. Young talked of the history of the American Bonsai Society, of its plans for a symposium in Tokyo for its tenth anniversary in 1977, of the different kinds of trees being used as bonsai in the U.S., and of the ABS's full support for the proposed gift of bonsai from the Japanese to the American people for the Bicentennial. ("Call Me Ms. President," Journal, ABS, Vol. 8, No. 2, Summer 1974, pp. 45-46) SEE ALSO: Jul 9, Jul 21, Aug 7 |
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| 21 | 1991 -- The Latin-American Bonsai Federation (FELAB) was formally organized in Cali, Columbia. The Board of Directors representing nine countries included Solita Tafur as president. ("Latin-American Bonsai Federation Organized" by Jose R. Santisteban, Bonsai, BCI, July/August 1992, pg. 15) | ||||
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1909 -- George Hull was born in New York City. [As an author
and photographer, he would go on to be a well-known figure in the horticultural
world, and would be involved in the early days of both Bonsai Clubs International
and the American Bonsai Society.]
("About George Hull" by Dorothy Ebel Hansell,
Bonsai Journal, ABS, Spring 1975,
p. 15, with photograph; "In Memory...George Hull,"
Bonsai, BCI,
Jan/Feb 1975, p. 16) SEE ALSO: Nov 21
1923 -- Kenko Rokkaku was born near Kanuma City, Japan. [He would
become a promoter of Satsuki (azalea) bonsai, including being the publisher
of Japan's only magazine exclusively devoted to that subject, as well as
the monthly
Wildflowers and Alpine Plants.] 
Kenko Rokkaku (BCI Bonsai, May/June 1986, pg. 17) ("Biography of Mr. Kenko Rokkaku" by Bill Spencer, Bonsai, BCI, May/June 1986, pg. 17) SEE ALSO: Mar 2
1955 -- French dramatist, poet, and diplomat Paul Claudel died
in Paris. (He had been born on Aug. 6, 1868 in
Villeneuve-sur-Fère, into a family of farmers and gentry.
Having spent his first years in Champagne, he studied at the
lycée of Bar-le-Duc and at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in
1881, when his parents moved to Paris. Claudel was prolific,
authoring many plays, essays, poems and Christian apologetics. He
had many admirers and detractors. He made no concessions to the
public. Claudel's writings deal largely with man's inner spirit,
and reveal the influence of his profound and mystical
Catholicism. In his theatrical works Claudel combined extensive
use of symbols—primarily religious—and exotic backgrounds with the
techniques of pantomime, ballet, music, and the cinema. He was a
diplomat from 1893 to 1936, and many of his works were written during
this time, mirroring his global experiences. He was first
vice-consul in New York
(April 1893), and later in Boston (December 1893). He was French
consul in China (1895-1909), in Prague (December 1909), Frankfurt am
Main (October 1911), Hamburg (October 1913),
ministre plénipotentiaire
in Rio de Janeiro (1916), Copenhagen (1920), ambassador in Tokyo
(1922-1928), Washington, DC (1928-1933), and Brussels (1933-1936).
In 1936 he retired to his château in Brangues
(Isère). During the 1940's Claudel opposed the Nazis,
writing a triumphal ode to Charles DeGaul. He was elected at the
Académie française in 1946. His poetry, at
once devout and extraordinarily erotic, was then widely read. His
plays, many long considered unstageable, were finally being performed
to enthusiastic audiences. Said to be a misogynist, an
anti-semite and an Islamophobe, he was also regarded as one of the 20th
century's greatest dramatists. At his death his mental powers
were as keen as ever until the very end and, some say, his high temper
and animosities stayed strong as well.) (Ever since his death his
reputation would fluctuate violently. In France, the nature,
meaning and acceptability of his work remain the subject of
debate. In the UK, however, he has largely slipped from view.
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1917 -- Toshio Kawamoto was born in the Kanto (Tokyo+) area of Japan,
the first of seven children to bonsai master Tokichi Kawamoto.
[He would graduate from Azabu High School and continue studying and
assisting his father. At
his father's death in 1960, Toshio would take over the family's nursery
Meiju-En, establish the Nippon Bonsai-Saikei Institute, and form the Nippon
Saikei Association. After WWII, bonsai had still been a creative
pastime of only a small number of wealthy enthusiasts and the sons of bonsai
specialists. Toshio would feel that this could become a popular hobby
that anyone could enjoy, regardless of social or economic class.
He would combine the best of group plantings and rock-grown bonsai, which
were increasing in popularity at the time. Due to shortages of suitable
mature material for bonsai, young specimens would be utilized by this author
and lecturer to successfully depict sections of natural scenery.
These containerized living landscapes of trees, rocks and mosses would
be known with the registered name of
saikei. His first English-language book would be
Bonsai-Saikei
(1963), followed by
Saikei: Living Landscapes in Miniature
four years later. He would write and illustrate articles on saikei each month in a series published in
Bonsai World
magazine. His first lecture-demonstration outside of the Kanto
area would be in Kansas City, MO in July 1972 for a joint ABS-BCI
convention and some 400 registrants.]
"Mr. Kawamoto and Saikei Exhibited at Expo '70."
("Sokumenzu - Profile" by J. A. Dillon,
Bonsai, BCI, June 1972, pg. 12;
Saikei: Living Landscapes in Miniature
by Toshio Kawamoto, 1967, pp. 7-8)
(BCI Bonsai, June 1972, pg. 12) |
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| 25 | 1978 -- The two-day organizational meeting of a group whose name was chosen to be " Golden State Bonsai Federation " (over 5 other contenders) began today in Santa Maria and ran from noon until 4:30 p.m. Thirty persons from Santa Barbara and the South and seventeen people from Santa Maria and the North attended. Jim Barrett was elected President. As early as three years previously, discussions had started lamenting the fact that there were so few opportunities to become better acquainted with the art of bonsai among the 40+ California state socieities. An initial meeting had been convened at Jim Barrett's on Sept. 15, 1977 with Jim Everman, Khan and Kay Komai, and Dick and Dixie Shaner to get the ball rolling. A letter and questionnaire were drafted over the next week and sent out to all known state bonsai clubs and teachers. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that additional letters were sent out settling on a convenient date for all parties to meet regarding a "Federation of California Bonsai Societies." ("The Early Years: Part 1 -- Getting Organized" by Bill Hutchinson, Golden Statements, GSBF, Vol. XXV, No. 1, January/February 2002, pp. 15-17; "The Early Years: Part 2" by Bill Hutchinson, Golden Statements, GSBF, Vol. XXV, No. 2, March/April 2002, pp. 12-14) SEE ALSO: Jan 1. | ||||
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1921 --
Yuji Yoshimura
was born at the Taiko-En Bonsai Garden in Tokyo, Japan. He was the
second son of Toshiji Yoshimura, a leader in the bonsai world whose father
himself was a samurai and renowned garden designer. [Three years
later, the elder brother would die in childhood and the family bonsai tradition
would pass on to Yuji who would one day leave his mark on the art in many
places outside of his native land.]
("Yuji Yoshimura,
A Memorial Tribute To A Bonsai Master & Pioneer" by William N. Valavanis,
International Bonsai, IBA, 1998/No. 1, pg. 30;
Golden Statements, Golden State
Bonsai Federation, Sept/Oct 1994, pp. 23-24) SEE ALSO:
Jan 12, Apr 23, Jul 17, Dec 24
1972 -- Nonkey Torazo Ishiyama, died at the age of eighty-one. The McLean, VA owner of Beeches Nursery was a graduate of Chiba University in Japan, a professional horticulturist in landscape design, Japanese gardens, nursery ornamentals and bonsai. Nonkey had three articles published in the ABS Journal from 1969 to 1971, the last one being "Historical Notes on Japanese Bonsai" (Fall 1971, pp. 43-44). (Note at the end of the reprint of "Pruning Of Bonsai" by Nonkey T. Ishiyama, Journal, ABS, Vol. 21, No. 2, Summer 1987, pp. 8-9) |
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1963 -- The
Bonsai Society of Greater New York
was organized under
Yuji Yoshimura's guidance. [The group would start meeting, on May
15, at the New York Botanical Gardens where it didn't have to pay any
rent. An annual show would be held and a bonsai bulletin would be
printed for the membership.]
("Interview with a Legend" by Jill Hurd, Journal, ABS, Winter 1997, pg. 146) SEE ALSO: Jun 9
1963 -- The First Annual Meeting of the Bonsai Clubs Association, a group of six California clubs, was held. [In five years the BCA would be renamed Bonsai Clubs International.] ("Hindsight on BCI" by Tom Heitkamp, Bonsai, BCI, Jan/Feb 1978, pg. 4) SEE ALSO: Jan 30, Apr 16, Oct 22 2003 -- The declaration and signing of the Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation (ABFF) Charter and By-Laws was conducted smoothly at the Saiseki Restaurant in Manila. Attended and signed by Malaysia, Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia, the event was also witnessed by Pius Notter (Switzerland), I Chi Su (Taiwan) and an Indian representative. [Although representatives from Vietnam and Korea did not come to Manila, the Vietnam representative would sign both the declaration and the Charter at the subsequent first ABFF meeting in Jakarta, and the Korea representative would send its approval through fax, so 6 out of 7 of the initial country members would have signed off.]
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