Mr Fujikawa International School of Bonsai

[billa]

Hi Family :

After a realisation that life is way too short...

I have very recently applied and been accepted for a 3 month full time course in Ikeda City, Osaka - Japan at the Fujikawa Kouka-en nursery/bonsai school. I will be studying under Master Keiichi Fujikawa who completed his apprenticeship under Master Saburo Kato & accomplished International demonstrator & teacher and qualified apprentice Mr Bjorn Bjorholm (owner of Bjorvala Bonsai Studio).

I can’t wait this sounds UNREAL!! Mr. Fujikawa’s work is regularly featured in many of the major bonsai exhibitions in Japan including the Kokufu-ten, Taikan-ten, and Sakufu-ten bonsai shows/festivals. Even the president has named a few of his trees!!!! A lot of his trees are even protected!!

Has anyone ever been to something like this? I would love some hints, tips & advice about not only this but travelling to japan in general!

I start March 2013 spring time in japan

[Bretts]

Congrats Billa that is fatastic, well done. I think Jow has been on a similar trip and I don't think he is the only one on here.
Good luck and keep us informed how it all goes

[kcpoole]

Awesome Billa and hope you enjoy yourself immensely.
Be prepared for some very hard work, long hours and great rewards

Ken

[Jow]

Billa,

congratulations for making the leap and going through with it. Its really not so scarey.

I have done 3 month study stints twice and been back a handful of other times for visits.

Best advice i can give is be humble. If you go into this thing as if you know nothing you will get a lot out of it. Much better to pleasently surprise your teacher with a well done job then tell him you are great.

You will rarely get praised and most seemingly simple tasks you do will be done wrong but you will get the hang of it. Just go with an open mind and remember that Japans culture is quite different from ours so just accept that you are now part of it.

Work hard and absorb as much as you can.

You are lucky that you have a couple of english speaking apprentices above you as well.... this will make things a world easer.

Enjoy yourself, take a heap of pics and be sure to post you work up here!

[anttal63]

WOW!!!
NOw you are about to understand immersion. This is wonderful news for you and for Australian/Victorian Bonsai. Its you young guys, doing it on this scale, now that will be the future of Australian Bonsai. I am sooooooooooooo jealous but stoked for you !!! Ok you will need a pair of steel cap boots, a hard hat, harden the F-#& up and learn as much japanese between now and then as you can !!! All the best Billa !!!

[bodhidharma]

Excellent to hear Billa. You will be able to teach us all how to water properly. Seriously, Jow has great advice, I have learnt that little praise and attention to the smallest detail (watering properly) is a great recipe for humility, and humility is the essential ingredient for growth. I read this saying a long time ago and adhere to it as much as possible.

" Advice is rarely welcome, and the ones who need it the most welcome it the least"
Have a great time and enjoy yourself.

[Sean M]

I've been watching the vids on youtube, and I think that you will also have some fun whilst over there! You might even get to feature in one of them!!

[billa]

wow thank you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so pumped about it!!!! I love hearing from you big boys!!! Thank you!!! I tell you what...during the application process, I had to answer quite a few questions...I learnt then that I should try and control the Aussie larakin in me... why you ask? Whilst they were actually properly considering me...I replied to one of the guys that I was getting a ''Hard-on'' from how excited I was ( i was really excited and stupid happy)...sadly, this didn't go down too well…as I didn't hear from them for almost two weeks after that!!! I read up about Japanese culture straight after and understand how being humble, & shy is a good thing in Japan. it took seriously about 3 emails of me saying how sorry I was, and to please interpret my aussie humour as a normal trait many Australians have and that I’m not really a freak, before I heard back from them. I was really worried I had upset them.

But I finally got a reply saying that the apology is accepted and soon after I paid my registration fees and locked in my position...and guys- I will definitely not get the time off approved from work so I will be looking for a new job but then again I really have not been at work lately

They asked for some photos of my trees - so im sure they can see the amateur level im at. They also asked for a photo of myself...Im glad that didn't scare them either!!! but..I will be sure to be on my most best behavior - i know its long hours and that there will be little encouragement or appreciation - i guess il have to hammer on and just try absorb everything I can. I really dont know what to expect (except jows advice which cared me lol)

Have you guys seen kill bill part two? remember the girl goes to the mountains to learn martial arts with? she gets bashed a lot and eats rice with her broken fingers?? well for some reason that just keeps popping up in my mind!! lol


I swear this whole trip is the only thing that is now keeping me going...I really cant wait and I promise I will take photos and videos to show you guys and to ANTHONY & BODHI - I promise I will bring you back some soiled undies from the vending machines in Tokyo ( apparently such a thing exists???!!)

[billa]

Congrats Billa that is fatastic, well done. I think Jow has been on a similar trip and I don't think he is the only one on here.
Good luck and keep us informed how it all goes

Thank you...I most definitely will

[billa]

Awesome Billa and hope you enjoy yourself immensely.
Be prepared for some very hard work, long hours and great rewards

Ken

Mr Ken!!!

Thank you. It will be very hard work...I will be renting a small apartment near the nursery (arranged via the nursery)..this means not only will the actual course be hard but so will everything else i do! I think from everyone comments I should really try and prepare myself a much as possible...and you guys are helping me in doing that thanks!

[billa]

Billa,

congratulations for making the leap and going through with it. Its really not so scarey.

I have done 3 month study stints twice and been back a handful of other times for visits.

Best advice i can give is be humble. If you go into this thing as if you know nothing you will get a lot out of it. Much better to pleasently surprise your teacher with a well done job then tell him you are great.

You will rarely get praised and most seemingly simple tasks you do will be done wrong but you will get the hang of it. Just go with an open mind and remember that Japans culture is quite different from ours so just accept that you are now part of it.

Work hard and absorb as much as you can.

You are lucky that you have a couple of english speaking apprentices above you as well.... this will make things a world easer.

Enjoy yourself, take a heap of pics and be sure to post you work up here!

Jow - I have the feeling I will be asking you many many questions....great thanks for your response. I will take all of your advice

[billa]

WOW!!!
NOw you are about to understand immersion. This is wonderful news for you and for Australian/Victorian Bonsai. Its you young guys, doing it on this scale, now that will be the future of Australian Bonsai. I am sooooooooooooo jealous but stoked for you !!! Ok you will need a pair of steel cap boots, a hard hat, harden the F-#& up and learn as much japanese between now and then as you can !!! All the best Billa !!!

Anthony!! the best elm supplier in the southern hemisphere!!

Immersion - i think that you hit the nail on the head with that.

I do need to harden up lol....I would probably cry if I got yelled at

Thank you for your very kind words...without support or an audience - the future of Australian Bonsai will be questionable. So when I read your comments and get inspired...I know I will be learning thinking of you guys and try to bring something back home.

Fark!!! - do I feel good right about now!!! Thanks

[billa]

Excellent to hear Billa. You will be able to teach us all how to water properly. Seriously, Jow has great advice, I have learnt that little praise and attention to the smallest detail (watering properly) is a great recipe for humility, and humility is the essential ingredient for growth. I read this saying a long time ago and adhere to it as much as possible.

" Advice is rarely welcome, and the ones who need it the most welcome it the least"
Have a great time and enjoy yourself.

Thank you Bodhidharma! very beautiful words - people could apply to Bonsai and most other aspects of life!

I doubt they will let me touch a watering can...but if they do I will make it my business to remember and explain to you in as much detail as possible!

Really - thank you all for your comments.....I will go with much humility...I think my application to learn bonsai is a testimony to that!!!

[kcpoole]

Awesome Billa and hope you enjoy yourself immensely.
Be prepared for some very hard work, long hours and great rewards

Ken

Mr Ken!!!

Thank you. It will be very hard work...I will be renting a small apartment near the nursery (arranged via the nursery)..this means not only will the actual course be hard but so will everything else i do! I think from everyone comments I should really try and prepare myself a much as possible...and you guys are helping me in doing that thanks!

LOL
A friend here at work is curently n Japan doing a 1 year Japanes language and culture course. he is sharing a "small apartment" with his brother and posted fotos of it for us.

Single room with kitchen benches and sink on 1 side with a shower and loo on one end.
they have to rools up their sleeping mats every day to have room to move around and Sit down to watch TV . It is very tiny so will be intersting to see what you have over there.

Ken

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

WOW - i hope you have a great time and some wonderful experiences.

You should PM Kyushu Danjii as he's lived in Japan for several years i believe and could give you lots of advice about just living in Japan.

I lived there for three months about ten years ago and just fell in LOVE withthe whole place. Be sure to go to a traditional Onsen and eat lots of Okonomiyaki.

Cheers

a very jealous Stew