Bonsai school Japan

[Neli]

I have been carrently at Taisho en as a student for over a week. It is amazing how much I have learned in such a short time.
I am steadying with one of the best masters in Japan, known for his unusual and daring techniques....yesterday a crew was here from the Japanese bonsai association magazine to film him styling a juniper.
I have been working on different Trees every day, but concentrated on junipers and pines...also did a lots of shopping, but plan to do some more.
It has been great experience. I shall be here for another two weeks, do some more shopping in Saitama and Omyia, and then go home.
In Zambia I am the only one who keeps bonsai, so there was no chance for me to learn from anyone. Reading a lot is not the same...so I made the decision to travel to Japan and learn from the best.
Here are pictures of what I did today and yesterday...yesterday I did only one tree since I had to help the master while the crew was here.
I shall go to tapatalk toots the pictures hopefully.

[Neli]

Some pictures of what I did yesterday and today.
Yesterday I did only one tree since I was helping oyakata with the styling of the juni for the magazine.
Unfortunately is refusing to upload photos...
I shall shortly post on my blog all the pictures, ones I figure out how to do it with the iPad....so far I have managed one post only.

[Shane]

Sounds exciting Neli. Looking forward to your photos and stories. Cheers Shane

[Neli]

Lots of stories Shane...just get so tired running the whole day...here you really need to be fast...
Here are some pictures on my timeline on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/neli.stoyanova ... 676&type=1

[Graeme]

Am very envious of you Neli. Been following your adventure on Facebook. You are doing some pretty exciting stuff, congratulations.

[Neli]

Thanks Graeme. The material and the teachers are so good, you can not fail to do well. Very exiting time for me.

[Boics]

Pics for those that don't do face book!
Please.....

[Neli]

Boiks, I have tried to put pictures. With iPad the only way is with tapatalk plug in. And it is failing to post on this forum. I shall try again, but plenty pictures coming soon.
Check my blog meanwhile, but even there I have managed only one post.

[Neli]

Here is a link to my blog for now. Managed to post one more at 03 hrs...
http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/08 ... ol-24-aug/

[Neli]

Shane try this new FB link....hope it works.

[anttal63]

Thanks Graeme. The material and the teachers are so good, you can not fail to do well. Very exiting time for me.

Congratulations Neli ! and well done to all ! You are living "THE REAL DEAL" !!!

[Neli]

Thanks darling....it is not easy though. At first I was so scared....not to break something, or embarrass my self. Oyakata is very famous bonsai master...so it is hard to please him. But he is so patient and kind. Today he gave me customer tree to style...good he told me after that it was a customer tree. I was going to shiver and not do it well.
But one thing I noticed they also have so many short cuts...many...that you would not do on your tree.
For them it is business. Time is money...

[Jason]

So very jealous of you Neli that is such a great oppurtunity!

What is the language barrier like? Would be a dream to go over there to study one day

[Neli]

Oyakata knows English, and I have Manuel an apprentice from Spain if we get stack. His son Taige, studied with Kimora for 6 years and knows English very well. He does presentations around the world and demonstrations. He is is ply brilliant....but not too big a problem...some time we get stuck for a word and then the Internet is there and I have a translator.
He shows me everything...is such a lovely old man...around 60 I think...always smiling and joking. Today we had lesson on styling white pine and juniper from scratch...first styling...very very good lessons. He just sits with me and asks me: which one is the front....I tell him...then he says but the other one is also OK, but we shall use the one you like.
What style are we going to make this one....I say...semi cascade....he says..".no! Let's make it traditional....means triangle like. Then he asks me whch branch are we going to use for the longer side....for the shorter side...for the apex...for the back...in this case all the branches were coming from almost the same place at the top....he breaks it down to components...and teaches you slowly but methodically. It is a huge eye opener....and most importantly he explains why...after his lessons...things are so much simpler.

[Jason]

snip

That really does sound like a dream come true I am very happy for you!
One day I hope to get over there myself to study, I've always wanted to go over, but now that I'm into bonsai, I REALLY want to go