Japanese Artist Takes The Art Of Bonsai To A New Level With Mini Anti-Gravity Ecosystems

Born in 1940 in Saitama, Japan, the name Masahiko Kimura, not to be confused with the famous Japanese judoka of the same name, has been widely recognized as one of the world’s best bonsai masters. Initially setting about his career as a bonsai artist at 15, the man has earned himself the title “Magical Technician of Kindai Shuppan”, with extraordinary sculpting and styling skills.

Source: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

Things all started when Kimura was taking his apprenticeship under the supervision of bonsai master Motosuke Hamano in Toju-en Bonsai Garden, Saitama, Japan. Kimura settled on his own career of crafting after 11 years working under the administration of master Hamano. From that moment, Kimura has designed numerous masterpieces deemed finest all over the globes, one of which being the Hinoki forest, the latest stunning piece featuring a mini anti-gravity forest.
Bonsai (Japanese term for planting in a container), is a form of practicing art consisting of cultivation skills to create small trees mimicking the scale and shape of full-size trees. The Japanese tradition of producing artificially dwarfed trees, dating back a millennia ago, remains in favor among horticultural technique until now, stretching out to lands and regions outside Japan.

Source: Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

In fact, while bonsai artists have rigorously complied with traditional bonsai making rules, Masahiko Kimura chose to form his own way of styling and designing. Indeed, his unusual bonsai artworks have aroused debates, causing a number of traditionalists seeing him as a non-conforming artist. Even though, Kimura still goes on to break the conventional rules of bonsai making.
Normally, the process of cultivating a single tree or shrub planted on a container is an indispensable part, but Kimura skillfully designed a mini-forest sprouting from a slanted deadwood. In fact, several versions of the Hinoki Forest have been fabricated and successfully purchased. However, the original version created nearly 2 decades ago still situates proudly among his other works in his garden in Omiya, Japan, open to the public upon request.

Source: Bonsai Kyogei

Typically, the art involves cultivating a single tree or shrub planted on a container. Instead of planting just one miniaturized tree, Kimura brilliantly created a mini-forest sprouting from a slanted deadwood. He has produced and sold several versions of the Hinoki Forest. But the original version, which he created more than 20 years ago, still sits proudly in his garden. His garden is located in Omiya, Japan and is open to the public upon request.
Numerous bonsai producers have been captivated by the beauty of the works from the extraordinary bonsai techniques of Masahiko Kimura. Opting to share his distinctive cultivation techniques, Kimura provides a number of exhibitions and workshops within and outside Japanese borders.His works have been featured in various major publications around the globe. Since 1988, he has been garnering prestigious awards and has gained a number of apprentices coming from different countries. His students include Marco Invernizzi, Ryan Neil, Salvatore Liporace, Marc Noelanders, and Ernie Kuo who all later became bonsai masters in their own rights.