Fuku-Bonsai president David Fukumoto with one of the "trees" in the small bonsai
collection. It is a Chinese Box-Orange (Severinia buxifolia), a relative in the
citrus family. The photo is courtesy of William Edmark, a recent visitor to
the Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center.
It has since been potted
into a smaller pot that is 1" in diameter x 1/2" high. The plant measures about
1" tall above the pot rim. This is part of one of the stories being considered
for the next FBnews.
 - Introducing our smallest 1-quart
OPAE-ULA DESKTOP UTOPIA!
|
- SUMMER ISSUE!
- by David W. Fukumoto, president & founder,
Fuku-Bonsai
ALOHA! IT'S BEEN HECTIC HERE and over six months since the last FBnews
issue! With this issue, we are consolidating the Micro-Lobster Team newsletter with
our larger circulation Fuku-Bonsai FBnews to share all information with
everyone! There are significant news in both TRUE INDOOR BONSAI and
MICRO-LOBSTER specialties!
TRUE INDOOR BONSAI has seen great success in the smaller Living Lovable
product line that previously quickly sold out. Although production has been increased and
plants are now more developed, quantities will be in relatively short supply for the
next year or so. The introductory sale pricing is over, but they are still available at a
new "Mix and Match II" quantity special offer. Much of the content of this issue
is due to Jerry Meislik's week long visit here and the publication of his new book FICUS,
The Exotic Bonsai.
I am sad to report the passing of John Yoshio Naka, America's premier and pioneering
professional on May 19, 2004 and a personal tribute leads this issue. John has been our
role model and he will be deeply missed. With the continuing shift to True Indoor
Bonsai, there's been request for articles of a more advanced nature. So there's an
update on the Fuku-Bonsai Reduction-Building technique that we introduced in 1981 as well
as other articles on pruning.
MICRO-LOBSTER progress has been more spectacular! I thank everyone . . .
the Fuku-Bonsai customers who trusted us enough to purchase our premium $100+ products . .
. those who have grown opae-ula longer than we have who shared their knowledge with
us . . . those who are intimately involved in the preservation of anchialine ponds and
opae-ula . . . researchers who are making remarkable breakthroughs! MAHALO! Fuku-Bonsai is
emerging as the leader of this highly specialty field. The Micro-Lobster Website is
already the most comprehensive resource information in one place and will continue to grow
to someday rival the True Indoor Bonsai website that now has over 700 pages if printed
out.
It's hectic here, but exciting as Fuku-Bonsai continues to improve in both specialties.
Prices have increased for the first time in several years. Due to high Hawaii
costs, it is unlikely that we will ever be able to produce cheap products. We
continue to be committed to being the outstanding premium source of the highest quality
and highest value products!
MAHALO! (Thank you!) ~~~David W. Fukumoto |
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A TRIBUTE TO JOHN YOSHIO NAKA.
John passed away after an extraordinary life of contributions in all phases of
bonsai is an art, craft, hobby and profession. In his lifetime, he was honored by
Fuku-Bonsai and just about every bonsai and cultural organization. |
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INTERNET REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS.
In the past year, we have been plagued with computer problems, crashes, virus
attacks, etc. It's frustrating! I've tried to put down some throughts and
recommendations to explain why we do what we do. We're placing more emphasis on training
and recommend reviewing the portal titled: TRAINING TRUE INDOOR BONSAI. And if
you need help, email early with a lot of information, and small photo files. I'll
try to help. |
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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HAWAII STATE
BONSAI REPOSITORY AT THE FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER. The repository
was established in 1985 to serve as the public guardian of outstanding bonsai to honor
their original owner-trainers. Now when Hawaiian bonsai masters past away, their best
bonsai can come here to live to be enjoyed by visitors. The repository is administered in
the public domain by the non-profit Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation and supported and
underwritten by Fuku-Bonsai Inc. |
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INITIAL TRAINING OF
"MAHALO!" BY JERRY MEISLIK. Jerry is being honored as a guest
trainer of an outstanding potential ficus donated to the repository by MPBF president
emeritus Hiroshi Ikeda. This is a comprehensive story of one tree in the repository with a
follow-up link to a number of possible stylings. Jerry will direct the future
styling of this tree. |
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"MAHALO" IN THE
FUTURE. In this Part II section, Jerry Meislik discusses and sketches
several possible shapes that this tree may take in the future. |
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BOOK REVIEW: "FICUS; THE EXOTIC
BONSAI" BY JERRY MEISLIK. Jerry lives in northern Montana where
he's created an impressive outstanding environment for growing ficus and other bonsai
indoors year-around. His specialty is the Ficus, or Fig family as bonsai and this is
the finest book available on this subject and is highly recommended. |
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THE HAWAII-TAIWAN
BANYAN. In the 1970's there were several hybrids between the Chinese and
Taiwan Banyan. This included one that was a gift by Haruo "Papa"
Kaneshiro. Now 30-years old, it has gone as a gift to Montana as it begins new
styling under it's third owner-trainer. |
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LESSION #3 - PRUNING.
As our customers progress in their training efforts, we are increasingly
asked questions of a more advanced nature and this article was written to assist them. |
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REDUCTION-BUILDING II.
An updated report of the original trees that introduced the Fuku-Bonsai
Reduction-Building training technique in 1981. The trees had been grown from seeds
germinated in 1974. Now 30 years old, it was time to evaluate and recommit to the original
styling concept! |
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"ARCHWAYS TO FANTASY;"
bonsai as "art!" Here's a unique bonsai created with
unique material and guided by a fantasy concept. Bonsai can be shared as a hobby or
approached with the discipline and detail of a craft. But bonsai as art? |
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OLD CHINESE HOMES.
Most learned Japanese bonsai and have difficulty understanding Chinese
penjing. The two cultures are very different! Recently Frank Xu of Nanjing, China
sent some photos of traditional Chinese homes. The differances from Japanese homes may
help to give a better understanding of the cultures. |
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"MAHALO MIX & MATCH SPECIAL
II" Unfortunately, the Internet has created a number of
scams and Fuku-Bonsai is committed to becoming a major source and resource for those
interested in high success easy-care indoor bonsai. Usually a first-time customer will
cautiously and prudently purchase a single smaller item and these are very costly to ship.
As a way of saying "MAHALO" to our repeat customers, the special is for
FIVE PLANTS AT AN AVERAGE OF $20 EACH INCLUDING SHIPPING! Five gift items or the
start of a collection! |
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- MICRO-LOBSTER TEAM STATUS UPDATES
& ADDITIONS TO THE MICRO-LOBSTER WEBSITE
-
We introduced Micro-Lobsters on June 23, 2003 and as we celebrate our first anniversary I
report extraordinary success in all areas! Fuku-Bonsai is committed to making this our
second specialty and see the day when it will be larger than our True Indoor Bonsai
specialty!
-
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MICRO-LOBSTER TEAM REPORT #3.
Just as we researched True Indoor Bonsai and invited our customers to participate,
Micro-Lobster research is progressing rapidly! But there are other more complex factors
involved including preservation and restoration of anchialine ponds, getting clearance to
use rotenone to remove alien predator fish, developing a community concensus and creating
public policy, basic opae-ula research, etc. Initially, the Micro-Lobster Team
included only those who expressed an interest and commitment to participate.
However, it has become increasingly difficult to produce two major newsletters for two
groups and the Micro-Lobster Team newsletter is consolidated into the Fuku-Bonsai's larger
circulation FBnews to share all news with everyone. |
 |
CURRENT PRODUCT PRICE LIST.
With the completion of the year long introductory prices, we are making price
adjustments that reflect the upgrades and improvements since the initial
introductions. We continue to be committed to producing the premium products with
the highest values and success rates! The 1/2-gallon Introductory Mini-Breeder Tank and
the 3/4-gallon Educational Breeder Tank are proving to be superior products. We introduce
the 1-quart Opae-ula Desktop Utopia as an affordable new item. |
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MICRO-LOBSTER BASICS (PORTAL PAGE).
There have been a general updating of all previous pages in this portal section including
extensive information regarding anchialine ponds, reproduction, etc.. |
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THE ANCHIALINE PONDS. The
great majority of these rare eco-systems are found on the Big Island of Hawaii. Opae-ula
are unique creatures that require extremely tiny amounts of oxygen and food and they've
adapted to these unique environments. An understanding of the anchialine ponds are
necessary to appreciate the amazing Hawaiian Micro-Lobsters! |
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MICRO-LOBSTER REPRODUCTION CYCLE. This
is a reproduction summary to better understand the various stages of reproduction that
begins with molting. The left photo shows a 5-day old larvae swimming in a head down
- tail up manner as the swimmeretts develop. It takes 13-15 days for it to begin
swimming horizontally and enter the post-larvae stage. At this point they are about 2.5mm
(about 1/8") long. |
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EGGS, LARVAE, POST-LARVAE DEVELOPMENT.
Reports of reproduction in the Introductory Mini-Breeder Tanks are coming in. This
outstanding report is by David Chung of Honolulu. He has a lot of really good ideas
to create a "nursery" tank so the babies don't get rammed by the adults.
David had 10 eggs hatching with all surviving! |
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THREE TYPES OF OPAE-ULA UNITS.
First there were sealed glass ecosystems in which only light entered. Then
some questionable promoters appeared proclaiming: "THE PERFECT PETS THAT NEVER NEED
TO BE FED! Fuku-Bonsai entered this marketplace determined to offer the finest units and
effectively became the third wave. To differentiate our products, we trademarked:
"THE AMAZING HAWAIIAN MICRO-LOBSTERS!™" This section compares all
three types. |
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THE STORY BEHIND THE NEW "OPAE-ULA
DESKTOP UTOPIA!" We are delighted that we were able to
introduce a smaller entry-level Micro-Lobster product at a more affordable price. The cost
of a 1-quart unit is obviously lower than a 1/2-gallon unit with twice as many
Micro-Lobsters. But we also eliminated the canister light, background panel, and handbook.
We believe these tradeoffs will allow more people to be able to experience the amazing
Hawaiian Micro-Lobsters. This is the story of a year-long effort to improve our technology
to make this smaller unit possible. |
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DEVELOPING AN EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE
& DISCOUNT. The Educational Breeder Tank is our pride and joy and we
believe it represents our best value! It allows a large number of Micro-Lobsters
(30+) that are much more active in swimming laps and filter-feeding. We're not sure
why. With just a 5.5" x 5.5" x 12" tall, it's a great size for any desk to
relieve stress, relax your mind, and refresh your spirit! Students become interested
and learning begins! To support and encourage the use of this unit as a teaching
tool, Fuku-Bonsai is offering a $25 educational discount to teachers, schools, and those
donating the unit to teachers or schools! |