Page 20 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q1

to video production (which allowed me to combine
work with bonsai and an alternative artistic outlet).
I began filming, editing, and producing The Bonsai
Art of Japan video series on Youtube in 2011, and it’s
since expanded to include more than 50 videos, 11,000
subscribers, and 2 million views.
How did you become interested in bonsai and what
led you to the traditional path of apprenticeship?
I was first exposed to bonsai at the age of 12 when I
saw the Karate Kid movies, and I received my first tree
for my 13th birthday. As with many people, it quickly
became an all-consuming obsession and the rest is
history as they say. After graduating from university, I
wasn’t interested in jumping into the larger workforce,
and I felt that the opportunity was ripe for undertak-
ing a formal bonsai apprenticeship in Japan. Looking
back on that decision, I have to say it seems a bit crazy
to have made, but I couldn’t be happier that I did.

How does Keiichi Fujikawa evaluate a potential
apprentice?
When I arrived in Japan in 2008, as Fujikawa-san’s
first apprentice, he offered me a three-month trial pe-
riod before accepting me to a full apprenticeship. This
seems to be the normal procedure at most nurseries
around the country, both for foreign and Japanese na-
tional apprentices. Many of our current apprentices at
Kouka-en went through the same type of probation
process; however, most of them first came as short-
term students to the Fujikawa School before becom-
ing apprentices at a later date. The school has proven
to be a great way for Fujikawa-san to get to know the
students on a somewhat friendlier level before dis-
cussing the possibility of apprenticeship. Because the
apprentices work day-in and day-out in close quarters,
Fujikawa-san really looks for individuals with person-
alities that mesh well with his own and with the other
apprentices in the nursery. Strong work ethic and an
open desire to learn are also characteristics that are es-
sential to a successful apprenticeship, so Fujikawa-san
is always searching for individuals with these traits.

What were some of your earliest challenges when
you first started your apprenticeship? Was there a
separate focus on learning the language?
I would say the language barrier was perhaps the most
Top; Naoki Maeoka from Japan him some of these questions which he answered in the difficult obstacle to overcome when I first arrived as an
was the second apprentice to following interview, an interview that I hope will aug- apprentice. Before beginning my apprenticeship, I had
join Kouka-en in 2010. ment your viewing experience of Continuum when studied Japanese language at university; however, my
Middle; David Martinez from you show it to your club. studies were almost exclusively reading and writing
Mexico cleans trees in the
winter season with a small based, so I had little or no experience speaking the
brush. BCI: Not only did you film this documentary, you language. After arriving at Kouka-en nursery, though,
Bottom; Keiichi explains also are the narrator and composed some of the mu- I was able to quickly pick up the necessary phrases
the work that must be sic. Tell me a little about your interest in film, music to get by, and I’ve since developed a decent level of
accomplished with this maple. and music composition. language proficiency. I would also say that adjusting
Bjorn Bjorholm: Before coming to Japan, I had played to the work-life of an apprentice was a very difficult
guitar in a rock band and had recorded and produced process. Bonsai are living objects and require daily
albums for a handful of other groups in the US. Af- care, which means we operate seven days per week.
ter starting my apprenticeship, though, I didn’t really Time off is scarce (in most cases 2 days per month,
have any free time to play, so I shifted my attention sometimes less depending on how busy our schedule

18 | BCI | January/February/March 2015