A little over five years ago I started this blog – and today marks my 500th post. I’ve come a long way since my first post, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all for joining in the fun along the way. Now over 5,000 photos, 2,000 comments, 3,000 followers and a million post-views later, I’d like to share some photos from the world’s most prestigious bonsai exhibit, the Kokufu-ten.
Those of you who have visited the Kokufu-ten, or National Bonsai Exhibit, will recognize the scene below – lots of people vying for a better view of outstanding bonsai.
View from above – Kokufu-ten #88, February 2014
For those of you who have yet to visit the exhibit, I can say that it’s simply a treat. Hundreds of superb trees are on display in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum each February. For details about the event and the best history I know of in English, see the Phoenix Bonsai Society’s articles on the topic starting with, Kokufu Bonsai Ten, Part I.
Enough talk – it’s time for the trees!
Japanese beech – Kokufu Prize
Chinese juniper
Two Americans exhibited bonsai at this year’s Kokufu – Frank Cucchiara and Doug Paul. This year marked Frank’s first entry in Kokufu – Doug first showed bonsai in Kokufu in 2010. Congratulations to you both!
Chinese juniper and Japanese flowering quince ‘Chojubai’ by Frank Cucchiara
Chinese juniper by Doug Paul
Zelkova
Chinese juniper
Trident maple
Ezo spruce
Japanese white pine – Kokufu Prize
Japanese maple
Japanese white pine
Ezo spruce
Japanese beech
Japanese black pine
Chinese quince
Needle juniper
Japanese black pine – Kokufu Prize
Japanese white pine
Trident maple
Chinese juniper
Japanese maple
Stewartia
Trident maple
Chinese juniper and trident maple – Kokufu Prize
Thanks for helping Bonsai Tonight reach 500 posts – I couldn’t do this without you!
