Page 64 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q4

that Mr. Fujikawa suggested to Mark and Ritta that
they should consider submitting the tree for exhibit
at Taikan-ten in 2013.
This came as a pleasant and unexpected surprise to
them both, that Mr. Fujikawa considered the tree to be
of high enough quality. The details and costs of doing
this were discussed. Mark and Ritta thought that this
would be a once in a lifetime experience for them, and
they quickly agreed to do this.
In Japan, the exhibitor has to pay a fee to exhibit a
bonsai at a top show, and these fees can often run into
hundreds of dollars. They also felt it would provide a
good excuse (if one were needed!) to visit Japan and
Kouka-en again!
They left Japan later that month after visiting the
32nd Taikan-ten show 2012, with the exciting thought
of seeing their tree in the 33rd Taikan-ten exhibition in
November 2013. A few months passed, and in January
2013, it was time to visit Japan again. The prime
Top; Ritta preparing the purpose of this trip was to visit the famous Gafu-ten
kusamono to accompany the shohin bonsai exhibition in Kyoto (held in the same
Kokonoe at Taikan-ten exhibit. venue as Taikan-ten), and to go to the Meifu-ten show
Middle; Mark meticulously in Nagoya as well. Of course they scheduled in a visit
cleans the pot. to Kouka-en to see their white pine and to see Keiichi
Bottom; The Kokonoe on Fujikawa and his team. On arrival, they were delighted
display at Taikan-ten.
to see that their tree was displayed in the tokonoma in
the reception area. Despite it being early January, it
was a surprisingly sunny and pleasant day.
During the coming months of 2013, Mr. Fujikawa
kept them up to date via Bjorn, and Bjorn sent them a
photo of the tree after repotting.
As an enthusiastic and very competent couple, they
always carefully prepare their trees for show them-
selves, and they both thought it would be something
special for them to have input into the preparation
of their tree for Taikan-ten. They weren’t entirely

62 | BCI | October/November/December 2015