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FILM
This full-length documentary
chronicles a year in the Japanese CONTINUUM
bonsai world through the
experiences of Keiichi Fujikawa
and his team of apprentices at A Year in the
Kouka-en nursery in Osaka, Japan.
It’s a behind-the-scenes look at
the life of bonsai apprentices that Japanese
follows the Kouka-en crew as they
prepare for Japan’s top bonsai
exhibitions. Bonsai World
Directed by Bjorn Bjorholm
Interview by Joe Grande, Canada
Photos courtesy Bjorn Bjorholm
unique part of membership in BCI, is the exposure we get to bonsai
practices around the world. This magazine has covered bonsai apprecia-
tion on every continent where bonsai artists, growers and collectors are
e
cr
A ating excellent specimens for both local, national and international
exhibits. Regardless of the location or species, we are all connected by the name
bonsai, an art form with historical roots in China, further developed and refined
in Japan and exported throughout the world by Japanese emigrants and Western-
ers who experienced bonsai first-hand in Japan. In the early days of bonsai in the
West, even one month of bonsai study in Japan was enough elevate an individual
to expert status on their return home. Today, modern communications and af-
fordable travel make it possible to learn bonsai in almost any region in the world,
Continuum—A Year in the studying with teachers in many countries and in many languages. However, for a
Japanese Bonsai World new generation of bonsai artists, Japan remains the destination of choice for those
seeking a profession in bonsai.
DVD, Runtime: 50 minutes
Bjorn Bjorholm, an American from Tennessee, is one of these young bonsai
Language: English
professionals who have recently experienced a traditional bonsai apprenticeship
Directed, Filmed and Edited in the land of the rising sun. Apart from his apparent excellent work with bonsai,
by Bjorn Bjorholm what makes Bjorn unique, are his skills in film and music , which he employed
Starring Keiichi Fujikawa with expertise to document his bonsai journey during his studies. I marvel at his
documentary efforts—most people would have their hands full with the primary
Produced by Keiichi Fujikawa
objective of learning bonsai.
Available from www.fujikawabonsai.com Since 2011, he has been filming and producing the online series, The Bonsai Art
Look for the Trailer on Youtube. of Japan for Youtube, receiving positive responses from people all over the world.
In that time, the global audience has skyrocketed to more than 10,000 subscribers
and millions of views online. These videos focus on the many technical aspects of
bonsai culture and design —a free-flow of information for the betterment of the
bonsai community as a whole.
Encouraged by the success of his online series, he began filming the documentary,
Continuum - A Year in the Japanese Bonsai World, in 2013. Bjorn says this particular
film attempts to satisfy the curiosity surrounding a formal apprenticeship in Japan.
He has witnessed a growing interest amongst younger people wanting to potentially
take on bonsai professionally, so Continuum focuses on the not-often-seen aspects
16 | BCI | January/February/March 2015
