Page 65 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q4

sure how well this request would be received by Mr.
Fujikawa, as customers do not normally participate
in this part of the process. In Japan it is the norm for
professionals to prepare trees for exhibitions, find
suitable pots, arrange transport, and often, to organise
things like display tables and companion items. They
discussed this idea with Bjorn who then discussed
this with Keiichi Fujikawa. This was all OK, and Mark
and Ritta fixed a date for them to visit the Kouka-en
nursery prior to the Taikan-ten exhibition which was
scheduled for the last weekend in November.
A few days before Taikan-ten they spent a whole
day at Kouka-en preparing their tree for the show.
The first discussion with Mr. Fujikawa concerned a
proposed display design. This involved the choice Top; Maarten van der Hoeven
of table, careful consideration of the “direction” of Bonsai Plaza with Mark, Ritta
of the tree, and choosing a companion planting. and Kokonoe at Taikan-ten.
After a little experimentation and some discus- Middle; Exhibit goers are
sion, a final display layout was quickly agreed upon. curious about the gaijin or
The next steps were thoroughly cleaning and lightly foreigners exhibiting at Taikan-
oiling the pot (with camellia oil), carefully applying ten. Exhibit labels informed
viewers of their nationality,
moss to the whole of the soil surface with moss their phonetic names, and a
creating a nice flat “lawn” of moss, and then strate- description of the tree/pot and
gically adding some lichen to the nebari. Of course companion item.
the tree’s foliage received a few final detail “tweaks” to Bottom; Yuri Hayama, Kuoka-en
ensure that the foliage pads looked their best. Owen apprentice, at the Kuoka-en
Reich helped and advised us during the day, but they sales stand at Taikan-ten.
were always under the watchful and avuncular gaze
of Keiichi Fujikawa who politely guided and advised
them. Bjorn occasionally took some video which
subsequently appeared in his “Continuum” DVD.

A proud moment and a warm reaction
Soon it was time for the show, and as Mark and
Ritta were staying in Kyoto only a short subway
journey and a short walk to the venue, the Kyoto
International Exhibition Hall, Miyakomesse. The
venue is close to the famous Heian Jingu Shrine.
At the show entrance they showed their entrance
tickets kindly provided by Keiichi Fujikawa and
they made a beeline for their exhibit, number 128.
They were delighted and proud. It looked great!
Every item on exhibit had an information label written
in Katakana characters. Mark and Ritta’s exhibit
labels informed viewers of their nationality, their
phonetic names, and a description of the tree/pot and
companion item. All the trees are carefully watered
and cared for at the exhibition by professionals.
It surprised Mark and Ritta how many compli-
mentary comments they received from Japanese
hobbyists, particularly as it is so unusual to see an
exhibit owned by gaijin (foreigners). In fact, they were
amongst a very small handful of foreigners who have
ever exhibited at Taikan-ten. It was at a Taikan-ten
exhibition some years ago that Mark and Ritta first
met Mike and Amy Blanton from Tennessee, USA,
who were exhibitors there. Thinking back to that time,
Mark and Ritta were impressed and inspired by Mike
and Amy’s achievement, but sadly Mike is no longer
with us.

October/November/December 2015 | BCI | 63