AusBonsai

While staying in Nagoya, Japan recently on a 2 week trip as a Japanese Bonsai Apprentice thanks to Peter Tea and Mr Tanaka (http://bonsaiaichien.com/apprenticeship-program-2/ ) I was able to work on both black and white pines. As it was winter while I was there that was predominantly the type of trees to work on anyway and the primary reason for me visiting at that time of year. I can tell you it wasn't for the weather as it was freezing!
This is the Tanak's house where I stayed at the nursery. This is the second tree I worked on, a nice healthy black pine. I was going to crop this shot but thought I would leave it in so you can see the back drop they use. It's a pull down cinema screen that they have just painted. A great trunk with very nice bark.

When I asked what they would like me to do I was told "Whatever I wanted". They said make any cuts I wanted and even if it was wrong it would be okay and we would discuss it all after I had finished styling the tree.

It was very daunting handling such a tree that I didn't own and it took a while to get used to. Every now and then Mr Tanaka would stop the tree he was working on, turn to look at my tree and just sit there having a smoke watching me work. He never interrupted or commented, just let me make decisions and continue with the tree. It was hard to get used to being watched by someone of his skill set but it was a great way to learn.

Very first job was to pick the front, then to start the cleaning out process by removing old needles and unwanted buds and minor branches. Starting from the top of the tree and working down and around. No more than 2 branches should come from one point. In the short term 3 or 4 might make the tree look better but structurally it is alway brought back to 2.

Then came wiring and branch selection. You start the wiring from the bottom of the tree and work up to the apex. I really enjoy this part.

Here's where I finished up with the tree.
Looking back it's not my finest work and I can see glaring issues that I should have corrected but that was part of this process, to learn and look at design aspects in a different light. Peter also taught me it is ok not to have a perfect tree after a styling like this and that structurally the tree should be strong as the finer development will come.

So after I said I was finished, firstly I would call Peter in to reassess and make adjustments. As he would work his way through the tree we would discuss issues and then look at further refining the tree. It would be completely hands on and probably the best learning experience I have ever had and probably ever will.

Major branch bending and cracking has always concerned me. How far can you actually go before killing the branch you are working on or branches further up the tree? When should you use a jack or re-bar or just hands? What are the right techniques? We went through it all and it all just became part of working on the trees.

You'll see from these pics that the major branches have some great downward bends which is really typical of many pines. The pads are all well structured and the apex has a fair bit of work to be done but it looks great.
After Peter had finished, the next day we asked Mr Tanaka to look at the tree. He sat back, smoked, looked some more. Went to touch the tree then pulled back...then after about 5 minutes he said, "Ok" and walked away. We asked if there was anything and he said no all good.

I was asking what is going to happen to the tree and the apex will be developed for a season or 2 and then sold in one of the bonsai professionals auctions most likely. I also asked what this tree would be worth too.

How much do you think????

Thanks for sharing this post Scott

This really inspiries me to go back to Japan

Great Pine Scott, envious- ahh only a little bit mate,

i'll give you $300 aud for the tree

Hi Scott,

In Victoria, given what I have seen, I am willing to pay $1000.00 for it.

Regards and thank you for the post.

Mr Tanaka said it wouldn't be worth any more than $200 at the most!

I wish we had this sort of quality tree for $200 here.

Hi Scott,

I did watch Mr. Lindsay Farr videos; I saw that pines over there are not as expensive.

(We should form a lobby group for bonsai importation )

Cheers.

They are a lot cheaper. It's a supply demand thing. There is so much supply of high quality materials that it exceeds the demand and drives the price down.

That said, the price jumps up significantly for 'unusual' stock or something a little different.

There are so many growers of really good quality stock that the nursery where I stayed does not field grow any stock anymore.

I would give my right nut for a tree this good for $200!

Awesome adventure you had

Ken

Me too Ken! I said we would be paying over $1000 for a trunk like this without any branch development and much younger stock in Australia.