Notes from Japan Juniper Challenge

摘要

This particular article finds me back in Osaka, Japan, for the summer months of 2010, once again working with Mr. Fujikawa during the busy growing season. Although summer is perhaps the worst time of year to wire bonsai, the constant influx of new material and client requests to Fujikawa Kouka-en nursery continually presses the need no matter the season. The tree featured in this article is a Shimpaku Juniper, Juniperus chinensis (Picture 1), that arrived at the nursery in late May 2010. At first glance, this bonsai appears to be a well-established collected piece from the mountains of Japan. However, upon closer inspection of the roots it becomes apparent that it is, in fact, a recent air layer from a larger collected Shimpaku. The absence of any large roots protuding from the base of the tree as well as a profusion of fine feeder roots just below the soil line leads to this conclusion. This is great news as it will allow for more extreme angle changes during styling and repotting.