Page 63 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q4

Taikan-ten is their favorite bonsai show in Japan, and
in their eyes only surpassed by Kokufu-ten. They
had spoken many times at past exhibitions to two of
Fujikawa’s students from the USA, Bjorn Bjorholm
and Owen Reich.
Both were very excited at the prospect of visiting
Kouka-en for the first time during their planned trip
in November 2012. The day of their visit was sunny
with crystal clear blue skies…perfect! They travelled
by train and taxi to the nursery. On arrival, and after
saying their hellos to everyone, they began to look
at the trees. As in many bonsai nurseries in Japan,
numerous clients’ trees were being cared for in a
dedicated area. The number and variety of species
of bonsai for sale was impressive, as was the range of
sizes.
They were particularly impressed by several goyo-
matsu (Japanese white pine or Pinus parviflora), and
two were moved indoors for them to take a closer look
at. One tree in particular, a Kokonoe —a variety of were for the next few days. Oddly enough, Maarten Kokonoe was put on display
Japanese white pine—greatly appealed to them both, was planning to visit Mr. Fujikawa at Kouka-en the at Kouka-en in anticipation of
however these trees were not available for export yet following day. Mark and Ritta said that they had for our second visit in January
2013.
as they hadn’t completed their two years of quarantine visited there just the day before and had seen some
in the nursery; in any case they thought it was not great trees, and explained their plight regarding the
possible to arrange export to the UK. export of bonsai from Japan into the UK. To their
Nonetheless they spent a thoroughly enjoyable day surprise and delight, Maarten said that he may be able
at the nursery and eventually, as daylight was fading to help, and invited them to visit Kouka-en with him
it was time to return to their hotel. During the train the following day, and maybe he could sort something
journey back to the hotel in Kyoto, with the images of out. Was this fate playing its part here?
the trees they had seen at Kouka-en still fresh in their They immediately changed their travel plans for the
memory, they began to think how they could, maybe, following day, and plans were made to meet up with
possibly, arrange to get a tree home from Kouka-en in Maarten in Osaka and to travel together to Kouka-en.
Osaka to the UK. A few long distance phone calls to They all arrived at Kouka-en after a short taxi ride
the UK were made to see if it was possible to import from the local station. Mark and Ritta were mindful
a bonsai to the UK privately. It transpired that it that the prime purpose of Marten’s visit was to buy
certainly wasn’t going to be easy, nor cheap. special trees for his business. So whilst Maarten
Many bonsai hobbyists perhaps don’t appreciate focused on business, Mark and Ritta took the oppor-
that Japanese bonsai nurseries must have a license tunity to have another look around at the bonsai and
to export bonsai, and not all bonsai nurseries in to explain to Keiichi Fujikawa’s team why they had
Japan have this. So, although the process of buying returned just two days after their previous visit! Once
and importing a tree may sound straightforward, it Maarten had completed his business, he spoke with
certainly isn’t. Mr. Fujikawa to explain what Mark and Ritta wanted
to do. The good news was that in principal this was all
A chance encounter with a Dutch friend possible. Great!
However the thoughts of a previously scheduled Green tea, a white pine and Taikan-ten
visit to one of their favorite nurseries the following
day, the famous Taisho-en in Shizuoka owned by They had both agreed that their favorite tree was
Nobuichi Urushibata, were beginning to loom large still the goyomatsu, a Kokonoe, which they had seen
in their thoughts. They had visited there many times two days previously. Maarten confirmed that this was a
before. Many shohin bonsai enthusiasts will know of very good choice too. After further and careful inspec-
Taisho-en, but Urushibata San and his son Taiga keep tion, much discussion, and several cups of green tea,
a wide range of bonsai from mame to large trees. a price was agreed with both Keiichi and Maarten.
On arrival at Taisho-en, they noticed that a bonsai The tree needed to remain in Japan for a further year
friend of theirs from the Netherlands was already at to complete its quarantine period. They agreed that
the nursery, Maarten van der Hoeven, the owner of the tree would be left at Kouka-en for the following
Bonsai Plaza in Delft, Netherlands. Of course Maarten year, 2013, and then it could be exported in 2014 by
speaks Japanese which is an important skill if you want Bonsai Plaza. There would be a modest fee for the care
to do business in Japan. of the tree during this time in Japan.
They chatted with Maarten about what they had It was soon after this discussion and with some
done so far on that trip to Japan, and what their plans translation help from their friend Bjorn Bjorholm

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