June - Bonsai Book of Days

Also this month,

1921 -- The Bonsai Promotion Group organized by Seian Shimuzu and others was formed in Tokyo. [They would hold monthly exhibitions and publish what would become a very influential magazine, Bonsai. The group would be disbanded after the Sept. 1923 Great Earthquake, but the magazine would continue for nearly half a century.] (Koreshoff, Deborah R. Bonsai; Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy (Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1997), pg. 9) SEE ALSO: Sep 1

1973 -- David Benavente was born in Madrid, Spain. [He would first hear about the art in 1987 as a consequence of the Madrid Bonsai Club's annual exhibition. With his parents' support he would begin to cultivate trees and then in 1992 he would join the Alcobendas Bonsai Association's Executive Board. In 1994 and '95 David would work as a bonsai potter, and begin working for Luis Vallejo's Bonsai Studio as keeper of Alcobendas Bonsai Museum (built during that time as part of the so-called Japanese Garden of Arroyo de la Vega park). In 1996 part of a bonsai collection of 80 trees donated by Felipe González to the Madrid's Royal Botany Garden would become part of David's charges. (González, b.1942, was the Spanish Prime Minister from 1982 to 1996. On his retirement, he would give one of his treasured bonsai to each of his ministers as a parting present. The trees were carefully trimmed during his 13 years at the Moncloa residence and would be amassed as one of the largest collections in Europe.) The Museum's permanent collection, as of 2003, would include 60 bonsai as property of the Alcobendas' townhall, and also 17 from González' collection. (González' other bonsai would be housed in a new pavillion completed by June 1997 in the Botanical Gardens.) Other trees of private collectors would be added to the Alcobendas' permanent collection. David would go on assist Holland's bonsai master Hotsumi Terakawa at demonstrations in Madrid and enter his own trees in various international events. He would write articles for several international magazines.]

Luis Vallejo, 01/08/99
(Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

Hotsumi Terakawa, 09/10/02
(Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

("David Benavente," http://www.davidbenavente.com/primeraingles.htm et al, accessed 09/23/2004; James, Barry "Basques and Catalans Drive Tough Bargain With Aznar," http://www.iht.com/IHT/BJ/96/bj043096.html; Internet posting to listserve@home.ease.lsoft.com (hard copy kept by RJB) by Bob Thompson, 1 May 1996 referencing a Reuters news story.) SEE ALSO: Dec 18

1974 -- Ten thousand green-cloth-cover hardbound copies of the second revised edition of Wu Yee-Sun's book, now titled Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants, were published in Chinese with English text. Containing a new-to-the-West chronological history of the art, this included 355 photos (250 as b&w) of Chinese pot plants, miniature rock gardens, elaborate stands, and viewing stones. [In 1976 any unsold copies would be donated to the Hong Kong Baptist College for distribution.] (Wu, 2nd, pp. 24, 62; Fukumoto, David "Yee-Sun Wu: The Spirit of Man Lung Penjing!," Bonsai Magazine, BCI, Vol. 41, No. 4, July/August 2002, pg. 33) SEE ALSO: Mar 16, Mar 27, May 11, Jul Also, Jul 7, Sep 30, Dec 14.

1992 -- The Suzhou-style Bonsai Garden at the Singapore Jurong Garden opened. The 5,800 sq meter garden cost an estimated $3.8 million to build. Incorporating a main hall of 50 sq metres, it houses a collection of over 2,000 bonsai imported from China and other parts of the world. The two trees outside the Garden's entrance are said to come from Sichuan and to be over 280 years old. The Garden is designed as the largest Suzhou-style Bonsai garden of its kind outside of China. (In the early 1970s, the landscape of Jurong began to change, with the construction of factories and industries in the area. The Chinese Garden, located in Jurong East (a town on the west side of Singapore) was designed by Prof. Yuen-chen Yu, a well-known architect from Taiwan, and built in 1975 as part of JTC Corporation's efforts to introduce greenery to complement the industrial landscape of Jurong. The 13.5-ha Chinese Garden's concept is based on the traditional gardening art of the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping, specifically reminiscent of the Song dynasty period (960-1279). The main characteristic is the integration of splendid architectural features with the natural environment. Over the years, the Gardens have transformed into a popular attraction for both local and foreign visitors to Singapore. The thematic architectural elements and unique landscaped grounds of the Gardens provide a green oasis for the community.) [The Bonsai Garden would later take on a new look, newly revitalised, after the investment of an estimated $500,000 more. A Bonsai Training Centre would also be launched. The public would be encouraged to sign up for the course, which would be taught by the resident Bonsai experts from Shanghai and Suzhou (China).] ("Singapore Jurong Gardens," http://www.singapore-attractions.com/juronggardens.htm; http://www.singaporevr.com/vrs/chinese_gardens/japanese_gardens.html; Ahmad, Nureza "The Chinese Garden (Yu Hwa Yuan)," National Library Board Singapore, 2004-04-02, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_421_2005-01-03.html; some pics of bonsai/penjing there can be found about halfway down http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/Jurong-West/blog-337540.html)

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22	1984 -- Interest in bonsai received a shot in the arm today with the U.S. release of the Columbia Pictures film The Karate Kid. When we first see "Mr. Kesuke Miyagi" ( Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita ), he is in his workshed surrounded by perhaps half a dozen small to medium potted trees. Later when "Daniel LaRusso" (Ralph Macchio) visits him again and expresses some interest in bonsai, Mr. Miyagi encourages the reluctant Daniel-san to trim a juniper. Miyagi: "Close eye[s]. Trust. Concentrate. Think only tree. Make a perfect picture down to last pine [sic] needle. Wipe mind clean [of] everything but tree. Nothing in this whole world -- only tree. You got it? Open eye[s]. Remember picture? Make like picture. Just trust picture." Daniel: "But how will I know if my picture's the right one?" Miyagi: "If come from inside you, always right one." [The movie would cause children for the next decade to gleefully shout out "Look, Karate Kid" whenever they happened upon bonsai stands or displays.] ( http://us.imdb.com/ReleaseDates?0087538 )
23	1902 -- Kyuzo Murata was born in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. [He would go on to influence, protect, and promote the art of bonsai in many ways.] 1973 -- The first annual Great Lakes Regional Bonsai Show began its two-day run in Cleveland, Ohio. The bonsai exhibit featured both "Judged" and "Exhibition Only" Divisions. The Feature exhibit were three saikei created by Toshio Kawamoto at Bonsai Congress '72 in Kansas City. All three of these superb saikei were won by bonsai growers in the area and all three graciously agreed to exhibit here. Demonstration rooms and commercial booths also emphasized regional experience in the show co-sponsored by the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Bonsai Club, with cooperation from Youngstown and other Bonsai Clubs of the area. (Tooker, Larry and Leo Collins "Great Lakes Regional Bonsai Show," Bonsai Magazine, BCI, Vol. XII, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 1973, pg. 9) 2006 -- Philippe Mauviet died. (Former president of the Bonsai Club of Montpellier, Philippe was then president of Féderation Française de Bonsai (FFB) from 2001 to 2002, already serving as their contact to the European Bonsai Association. He was the organizer of the EBA Convention in Trévarez in May 2002. With Momoyo Nishiyama he translated the Japanese work into French as Les genévriers (Juniperus rigida), Comment former les bonsaïs. He was also translator of the works of the German author Willi Benz. And he collaborated with Michel Sacal from 2001 to 2002 on the bimonthly periodical France Bonsai. Philippe left behind his wife, Irmi, and daughters.) ("In Memoriam," http://replay.web.archive.org/20060901005736/; http://www.ebabonsai.com/upload/NL_57.pdf ; http://www.parlonsbonsai.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19735; photo from http://bonsai-emeraude.over-blog.com/article-3290474.html) SEE ALSO: Mar 10
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25	1958 -- Robert Steven was born in North Sumatra. [He would start doing and collecting bonsai in 1979. Beginning in 2002, he would be a BCI Board of Directors member. His first book Vision of My Soul would be published in 2005. By 2007, he would have a permanent exhibit centre with a collection of over 500 specimens in a wide variety of species, and Steven would have won more than 200 competition awards nationally as well as internationally. In mid-August of that year he would be expert editor of Green Hobby, the first bonsai magazine in the Indonesian language. He would intensively travel around the world conducting Bonsai and Penjing teaching, lectures, demos, workshops and judging including on a national TV program.] Robert Steven (Bonsai Magazine, BCI, Oct/Nov/Dec 2004, pg. 8) ("Robert Steven," Bonsai Societies of Florida, http://www.bonsai-bsf.com/resources/artists/artist.php?uid=13)
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28	1994 -- Hugo Storer, known as the first person of bonsai in Puerto Rico, passed away. (Born March 8, 1908, he had visited the Brooklyn Botanical Garden sometime between 1944 and 1948. Seeing bonsai there for the first time, he acquired books and information for his return to P.R. There he started several types of tropical plants from seed. In July 1970 he founded and was first president of the Horticultural Society of P.R. to study native and imported exotic plants and organize activities on this behalf. In 1977, to promote bonsai to all corners of the island, he organized a group which would later be called Club Bonsai de P.R.) ("History of Bonsai in Puerto Rico," http://www.pedrojmorales.com/bonsaipr.htm ) SEE ALSO June 28
29	1963 -- Morten Albek was born in Denmark. [He would win the Danish New Talent Bonsai Competition in 2001 and the Keyaki Masters Talent Competition in Denmark in 2003. A member of the All Japan Shohin-Bonsai Association (since 2005), the British Shohin Association (since 2006) and the Danish Bonsai Society (since 1993, and since 2009 be its Chairman), Morten would also be selected as the European representative to the American Shohin Bonsai Society in 2005. In 2003, he would establish the successful Shohin-bonsai Europe website to promote Shohin and Mame-bonsai more to the Western world. Morten would perform various bonsai demonstrations and workshops, both nationally in his native Denmark, and internationally. He would write articles which would be published in Bonsai Europe; for the all Japan Mame-Bonsai Association website; the Danish Bonsai Society and other publications. In 2008 his book Shohin Bonsai: Unlocking the Secrets of Small Trees would be released by Stone Lantern Publications. His non-bonsai full-time job would be as a camera operator at a regional TV-station in Denmark. Using this skill, he would travel to Japan to meet the masters of bonsai to learn more about bonsai by discussing aesthetic views of the art and during a recent trip, Morten would also produce a TV-program about bonsai. His bonsai videos can be found on his YouTube site.] Morten Albek, 10/24/06. (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07) ("Profile: Morten Albek," http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482; "Morten Albek - Denmark," http://whoisbonsai.com/?p=562, which also lists more of his achievements) SEE ALSO: Jun 20
30	1989 -- The third installment of The Karate Kid saga was released in the U.S. Of special interest is the fact that California teachers James Barrett and Roy Nagatoshi are listed in the credits as "Bonsai Plant Advisors." Their work included constructing at least three break-away "stunt doubles" for Mr. Miyagi's juniper, so that it could be torn apart by the bad guys. ( http://us.imdb.com/ReleaseDates?0097647 ) SEE ALSO: Jun 30, Nov 11