Here are photos of bonsai I worked on that were accepted into the bonsai shows in Japan during my apprenticeship: the Kokufu-ten, the Sakufu-ten, and the Taikan-ten.
Kokufu show #80 – 2006
Chochubai flowering quince (left), Ezo spruce (right)
Red pine. You may notice several different stylistic approaches in the bonsai on this page. Only about 20% of the branches on this tree were wired.
White pine—One of those stepping-stone trees for me. Mr. Suzuki wanted to be sure I could wire trees out cleanly—to this level of organization and absurdity—before letting me work with less artificiality. I detail the work on this tree in my book, Post-Dated: The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk.
Grafted Itoigawa juniper
White pine
Kokufu show #79 – 2005
‘Shimpaku’ juniper
Black pine – Kokufu prize winner
‘Shimpaku’ juniper
Taikan Ten 2004
White pine
Sakufu Ten 2005
White pine—Prime Minister Award winner
