AusBonsai

Good to be home. What a blast it was traveling through Japan. I have yet to meet a more friendly and courteous people. They went out of their way to help us in anything we asked. We started our travels in Shinagawa and were straight away taken with the street trees which were old Gingkos. It must be stunning in Japan in Autumn. Nearly everyone cultivates their trees, in gardens, on balconies, in paddocks, it is unbelievable how many trained trees there are in Japan. I have a lot to talk about and will spread it out over a few weeks as i need to recount the journey to not omit anything. I took a lot of photos and will post them in order of the trip. One of the main reasons for my visit was that i wanted to buy an old Bonsai pot as it was always a desire to own something of note. I think i succeeded. I spent a morning in this little nursery around the corner from the Bonsai Museum in Omiya and struck a deal on these pots that i loved. It was a little difficult dealing on them as nothing is priced and the master studies them (and probably me to) and arrives at their worth. If you dont like the price, bad luck. As a matter of fact the original pot i chose, he would not sell. It was impossible to get history on them and i had to really study a lot of pots to arrive at the ones you see here. They, except the boat one, are used pots as i didnt want brand new ones. I was on the lookout for something i loved. Maybe the learned Potters out there can help identify the stamping and origins.

very nice Bodhi. You are a lucky bloke and I like the green rectangle

waiting to see the rest of the photos

Hard to argue with Ken there!! That green rectangle is a stunner!!!

Nice to have ya back Bodi.
Yes half a dozen of the green rectangle please

gday bodhi

god! i cant beleive your trip has gone so quickly! i swear it was only last week you left, it must have seemed like you couldnt see enough in the time there!

these pots are beautiful mate! sorry i cant help with the makers, but that glazed one is fantastic, you only get that patina after years and years of aging! the boat and drum are sweet too! im not sure a semi for the boat though? possibly if you mound up one side and have the cascade go out to the lower it would work you gonna put a pine in?? i have so many questions and i am so keen to see your pictures!! i will wait though i look forward to hearing your stories and seeing the pics, I want to one day go over there it is a dream it may happen one day

Jamie

Stunning pots mate. As said previously, the glaze is just amazing!

Glad you enjoyed Japan, though I knew you would. Has it made you re-evaluate your trees?

Omiya is a beautiful place, and I agree with most everything you have said.

Keep the images coming

Jarrod wrote:Stunning pots mate. As said previously, the glaze is just amazing!

Glad you enjoyed Japan, though I knew you would. Has it made you re-evaluate your trees?

Omiya is a beautiful place, and I agree with most everything you have said.

Keep the images coming

Yes, it was interesting to see the standard of trees. I think we are in the right direction but you just cant beat age. I saw trees hundreds of years old and have been trained for that time. the ramification was stunning. Our oldest cultivated tree has only been worked on, say a maximum, of 40-50 years. We have a long way to go.

Hey mate, with a bit of research, I think I know who made your pot.

I think it was made by a fellow by the name of Mr Kouichirou Aiba. His business name is/was called Kouyou.

This is a pic of the pot stamp I think is the same as the one on your pot.

Webos wrote:This is a pic of the pot stamp I think is the same as the one on your pot.

Thanks for the leg work Webos. I will see if i can research further.

A couple of sites that might be helpful in finding your pot stamps..

http://www.tokoname.or.jp/bonsai/catalog/maker-e.htm

http://bonsaipotplaza.com/world/bonsaiasia.html

Hi Bohdi, welcome back to reality. Mr Aiba was one of the great potters from Tokaname [spelling?]. He was responsible for so many of the beautiful hand made pots seen around these days. I had the great fortune to meet him in 1986 when I was in Japan, I have a shohin pot I made under his supervision, which he subsequently glazed and posted to me, such am amazingly kind man. His pottery was a treasure trove of the most incredible pots.
Craigw

Hey Bodhi,
Welcome back and like everyone is saying those pots are fantastic. Worth displaying without the trees. I hope you enjoyed your trip I myself have never really travelled in Japan I was there a number of years ago on my way to Korea for work but thats another story. I wish I had more time when I was there but hey there is a reason to go back. Looking forward to see your pics, keep em coming.

Archie

Hi Bohdi,

I like your choices, The green one is indeed kouyou. I bought one last time i was in japan (albeit with less patina). You can see it HERE. Yours has an interesting stamp that looks like an envelope that i havent seen before. The photo of the stamps is actually up side down too for future reference.

Kouyou pots are now made from a lighter yellow coloured clay (as you can see in one of the pots in my post), and his older pots are made from the dense black clay that your pot and my other pot is made from.

I have since collected a couple more of his works, and am constantly trying to justify some more.... They are beautiful.

Unfortunately i find that once the pot bug bites its hard to resist buying more...... I know i cant wait to get back to Japan to get a few more from makers i do not yet have.

Great pots, and i look forward to seeing the rest of your photos from the remainder of your trip.

Joe

G'day Bodhi, I forgot to ask what you are going to put in your beautiful new pots ?
Craigw