Review: Kimura Techniques Masterclass 2
The latest online course from Bonsai Empire continues its series with Mr. Masahiko Kimura. The 4.5 hour series of video lectures covers the styling of a huge Japanese Black Pine and the detailing of a Hinoki Cypress for the Kokufu Show.
I was impressed with this course. My reviews of the Kimura courses were all positive and all are worth it, but I liked this one the best.
The Black Pine is a terrific compaction of a massive and tall tree, and a great study of the basics of thick branch bending using wraps and his trademark iron bars. Also trademark is his suit and sandals.
It is fun to hear translator Makiko Kobayashi give a “WoooOOO!” as the crown of the pine is bent forward. Kobayashi again proves her skill at asking the question likely foremost in student’s minds.
Mr. Kimura, like most Japanese professionals, do not in daily work “teach” apprentices the way it is done here for the course audience. He appears to have relaxed into this role.
I was amused to see Team Kimura all twisting their guy wires counter-clockwise. Team Suzuki did the opposite. It doesn’t matter, of course—only that the team agrees. Otherwise when adjusting wires, half the team loosens while the other half tightens, and tensions can rise…
The Hinoki after the prep for the Kokufu. He also talked about what sort of pot it needed.
As I was watching this, I thought, what a lift this would have been 40 years ago, to watch how a tree might be manipulated or gamed out, back when I had no other resource than the Sunset Bonsai Book. People nowadays seeking inspiration and some key techniques are lucky.
Given that the pine was not only strongly styled by also immediately repotted in September—two techniques usually separated by many months, and one of them out of season—I must say, don’t do this at home. Not without a lot of years under your belt.
Apprentices help in all segments, making for a group effort feel. A nice editorial touch was a silent section, where they are all laughing at some joke. Given the seriousness of the work the glimpse of levity made me smile.
Wiring aficionados will find rich information in both Black Pine and Hinoki segments. (Wire annealers take note: all roll sizes are large!)
The course is broken down into lectures.
The only critique I can make is a technical one and maybe more of a user familiarity with Netflix—that the video did not “remember” where I stopped, so it started at the lecture’s beginning. Easily solved by noting where you stopped. I’ve seen this on other platforms, and, to repeat, from a learning standpoint, I think that this is the best of the series.
See the course for yourself at Bonsai Empire.
3 Comments
Hmm, I thought the big black pine I inherited from my father in law was in too small of a pot, but seeing the pot this pine is in, it is practically roomy!
Yes, that’s an odd feature of conifers like pines, that often they do OK in smaller pots. There is a faster wet / dry cycle in them, so they have a dry advantage, which they like. But it does look small, for sure!
Finally!!! I’m 80 and grew up on John Naka’s Bonsai Techniques. Very difficult to interpret. It was translated from japanese to spanish to english. Remember that japanese is written vertically. My first thought was that bonsai was too difficult to understand. then I later found the above info. Thank God I persisted because I love bonsai. Such a challenge!!