Tomohiro Masumi - Shohin Master

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This Japanese Black Pine will need a lot more growing!

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Mr Masumi explains how the primary bends in the trunk are very important.

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Movement can be introduced into the bonsai trunk by two means, wiring or pruning to change direction.

At the upper left, the trunk has been pruned to a branch pointing in a different direction. At the upper right it has been wired into shape. Each method lends a different character to the tree.

When asked which method he likes better, Mr. Masumi expressed a preference for developing the basic character of the bonsai trunk through pruning, but added that it is important to wire the new leader into a desireable direction.

Regardless of how it's done, the goal is a tree with a nice root system, nicely thick -- but tapering -- trunk, and movement, pictured at bottom center.

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To recap, some of the common flaws in bonsai development are the following:

1. Trunk is too thin for the pot, making the tree look young and uninteresting;

2. one-sided, crossing or unattractive root system;

3. Trunk lacks taper and/or movement;

4. Tree is too tall to qualify as shohin, particularly too tall in relation to its width;

5. Pots overly large;

6. Branches too coarse, lacking movement, taper and the appearance of age;

Mr Masumi's presentation was an interesting opportunity to learn more about shohin creation and refinement from an acknowledged master of the art.

Regards,

Matt

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ripsgreentree

Way Cool Matt:
Thanks for bringing this to us. As a member of a young and growing artistic comunity there is never enough good information to be had, which makes material like this valuable.

Thank you!

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Leesa

Wow - thanks for posting this information. Matt. There is not that much information on shohin out there. If there is - I would like to know about it. I have looked at all the links from this forum and done the Google and ....

The Bay Area Shohin Club also had a workship with Mr Masumi. I understand that a number of the members were very surprised to learn of the 8 inch shohin definition. Their newsletter also stated that in Japan, shohin bonsai is primairly "an enterprise for amateurs". The inference was that the professionals and bonsai owners who regularly have professionals work their bonsai do not have shohin bonsai. I think I read this on the TBE site in one of their articles also.

So - the question is - does it matter if your "shohins" are 10 inches in height? Most of us show our trees at our local clubs if at all. I guess it matters to me because it is part of the "rules" or the discipline of the art. And - because most of my trees are still in training and it is not too late to rethink their height!

However, shouldn't the tree be the height that is most appropriate for the styling of that tree? I noted a comment by Walter Poll in an earlier post that he usually looks at whether any tree can be reduced in height as it usually makes a more powerful tree (I am paraphrasing here - but that's what I got out of his statement).

Anyway - great stuff Matt! Thanks!

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Respectfully, Lee Sanner

GaryS

Thanks Matt!

This is the way to learn. Great thread.

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Kazuki

OMG OMG OMG!!!!! i saw him in my trip to japan!!! i went to bonsai nursery in kyoto, japan!! there were shiba dogs all around. and he was working in the back, and they guy that owns the place told me that he went to california a while ago and went around to a couple of bonsai clubs to teach for 2 weeks or so, so i started talking to him!! he even showed me that yellow pamphlet for the california bonsai organization thingy!! hehe i dunno why im getting so excited from this...

Carl_Bergstrom

Probably for the same reason I get so excited about this sort of thing - because bonsai is still a small enough world that we all meet and interact with the same folks - some of whom are the superstars of the art. What a cool thing!

-Old Mister

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