Hawaii was at the historical international bonsai junction as bonsai established here first in the English-speaking West by Japanese immigrants who came for a better life. When the much decorated Hawaii World War II veterans came home, they led Hawaii with a harmonious community spirit that celebrated the cultures of our many nationalities. They brought together the immigrant generation that preserved the customs and values of Japan with our outspoken American generation. In Hawaii the two giants were Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro and Ted Tsukiyama. Ted was the original Hawaii Bonsai Association secretary and later president throughout the years of international bonsai. With a common ethnic background, former enemies joined to promote "Bonsai as a bridge to International Friendship and Peace!" He worked closely to support Japan's Saburo Kato and America's John Naka and played a major role in forming the World Bonsai Friendship Federation and the North American Bonsai Federation. Ted has an archaic sense that prevents him from sharing his philosophy, values, and many achievements. So it was a real joy to discover this article that I strongly believe should be shared with a greater audience. I hope it inspires and shares the spirit and values that will permeate the True Indoor Bonsai community that we are building! __________________________________________________ |
|
|
Reproduced from the Hawaii Bonsai Association Newsletter, Volume XIII Number 1; January 2013 with permission. Photo by Jean Kiyabu on May 11, 2012 when he received the University of Hawaii at Manoa Alumnus Lifetime Achievement Award. |
|
| As the Hawaii Bonsai Association (HBA) reaches the fourth decade of its existence in Hawaii, it may be fitting to reflect upon the factors which have contributed to the longevity and success as the foremost bonsai organization here in Hawaii. The reason, in my view, is that HBA was initiiated and founded upon the ideal and objective of achieving "bonsai no kokoro" (the spirit of bonsai) by its founders and long succession of supportive members over these long years. The HBA was founded in the late 1960's by a small group of bonsai lovers, Dr. Horace Clay, Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro, David Fukumoto, Mike Uyeno, Ernest Olival, and myself, who wanted their bonsai affiliation to be more than just a clannish social hobby group like the old Bonsai Kenkyu Club but one by which they could teach and share the beauty and joys of bonsai with others through education and promotion. We were fortunate that "Papa" Kaneshiro joined in with us as our bonsai "sensei" and mentor because unlike most of the other old timers "Papa" was willing to give, share and teach us young greenhorns everything he knew about bonsai so long as we were hungry and willing to learn and without asking or expecting anything in return. That's how HBA was founded and that's how we got our start in bonsai because "Papa" was "all give and no take" as far as bonsai was concerned, which was the very essence of "the spirit of bonsai." That "Papa" Kaneshiro was truly possessed of "bonsai no kokoro" was immediately recognized by Saburo Kato, the foremost bonsai master of the world, when he visited "Papa's" bonsai garden on the way back to Japan from the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration in 1976. Kato Sensei was impressed with "Papa's" neatly kept bonsai garden with well trained and groomed bonsai attractively place showing signs of daily maintenance and care, and they immediately engaged in "bonsai talk" which was the beginning of their lifelong bonsai friendship. As I drove Kato Sensei away from "Papa's bonsai garden, in customary Japanese custom, I apologized for the plain and simple bonsai that we maintained in Hawaii. I will never forget Kato Sensei's gracious response, which was: "I have many chances to admire the priceless and finest bonsai in the world, but nothing in bonsai gives me greater pleasure than to visit some remote bonsai garden full of the humblest of bonsai which clearly manefest the deep care and love nourished to it by its owner." It was clearly evident that he was referring to "Papa" Kaneshiro and his beloved bonsai. Here we heard the world's greatest master and teacher of bonsai teach us that it is not the formal, technical beauty of bonsai that is important so much as it is the loving nurture and care that we bonsai lovers can laish upon our plants as simple and humble as they might be! Saburo Kato is not only an acclaimed master bonsai artist, teacher and demonstrator but a poet and philosopher who defined the higher and deeper meaning of bonsai, "bonsai no kokoro" and is the acknowledged living embodiment and exponent of the "spirit of bonsai." Kato Sensei identifies three basic elements of "bonsai no kokoro" as (1) the relationship of bonsai to nature, (2) the owner's relation to his bonsai, and (3) the relation of bonsai-ists to each other. (1) The first element is self-evident. It is our love of nature that drew and immersed into bonsai. (2) The second element was graphically illustrated by Kato Sensei's immediate recognition of "Papa" Kaneshiro's loving relationship with his bonsai. The true spirit of bonsai looks not to rigid technical form and perfection but is more concerned about the love, care and dedication that one lavishes upon his little trees. (3) Kato Sensei teaches us that love of bonsai makes us better persons and betters our relationship to our fellow man, that "Those who love bonsai find themselves drawn and bound together in greater mutual understanding, tolerance and friendship so that they may share the beauty and joys of bonsai together united in the brotherhood of bonsai. He summarizes and concludes: |
|
|
|
|
So how can bonsai organizations like HBA
be touched, motivated and energized by this "spirt of bonsai?"
For any group which organizes in common pursuit and advancement of
this great horticultural art, the true "spirit of bonsai" must
prevail and come first, above and before any one individual, if
success is to be achieved. Bonsai must come first, over any
personal preferences, egos, personalities or ambitions which must be
subordinated to the overriding common cause of love, promotion and
advancement of bonsai. From the start, HBA never adopted the "guru system" because "Papa" Kaneshiro refused to assume such a role; instead HBA has been based upon and followed an "ohana system" of bonsai. The ideal bonsai community we seek to emulate is like the paradigm of the familiar "yoseue" group planting, which is comprised of many individual trees of different height, girth, shape and appearance. but designed, grouped, and planted into one harmonious esthetic whole. Each component tree may not be a masterpiece bonsai itself and may differ in size, girth and shape but when masterfully arranged together becomes a beautiful forest scene in miniature. Likewise, while we may all differ in bonsai talent, experience, ability and stature, yet when integrated and bonded together in the common purpose of bonsai, we can become a model bonsai community, stronger and more effective than any single component thereof. So may HBA continue to seek and follow the "yoseue" as our model to strengthen and achieve a bonsai "ohana" with "bonsai no kokoro" in which we enjoy and share our love of bonsai with each other.
|
|
|
*** Additional
information about Ted T. Tsukiyama
*** Additional information about Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro *** Additional information about Saburo Kato and "Bonsai No Kokoro" *** Return to Journal of Tropical & True Indoor Bonsai 3rd March 2013 issue © Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation and Fuku-Bonsai, 2013 |
|
