BONSAI - in the sense of the Japanese - may be an ancient art which has been practiced for thousands of years however, all this would quite possibly mean a whole lot less if not for Bonsai Master, John Yoshio Naka.
Sadly, Naka has been dead since May of 2004 - he was born in 1914 in the heart of Colorado, USA.
Naka created something in his lifetime which may well be one of the most recognisable bonsai of his time.
This masterpiece, a series of 11 Foemina junipers, has also become one of his most famous pieces ever, despite him having created many more.
Naka and his masterpiece.
(IMAGE SOURCE: wikipedia)
Naka however, was influenced into studying bonsai thanks to his grandfather's influence over him and, at the age of eight, moved back to his parent's home country where he studied the art of bonsai extensively.
He later returned to the United States in 1935 and come 1950, Naka and four friends founded a bonsai club in Orange County, California, USA.
By this time, Naka was not just an avid bonsai lover but, he had also married Alice, whom he fathered three children with.
According to some reports, Naka published two books (which is not surprising) which would be highly criticised among eastern bonsai practitioners.
However, these books, namely, Bonsai Techniques i, and Bonsai Techniques ii, were comparable to the holy grail of bonsai related information.
Naka had further contributed in various forms to various magazines at the time and come 1987, Nina Ragle had published a series of 287 quotes by Naka - the title of the book -- which amazingly hints at the fact that even bonsai masters may make mistakes -- Even Monkeys Fall Out Of Trees.
Come 1990, his two books were translated into a variety of languages, including French, Spanish and German.
Drawing near to the end of his life, Naka had accomplished many feats, of which included being the Founding Director of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation and co-signer of the Constitute of the Latin-Amrican Bonsai Federation but above all of this, Naka was also an Honorary Advisor to the National Bonsai Foundation.
Of all Naka's quotes, one stands out the most and it is with this mindset which most bonsai enthusiasts continue to 'bonsai': "The bonsai is not you working on the tree; you have to have the tree work on you," - John Y. Naka.
Before the end of his life, Naka's famous composition, 'Goshin' had become his most recognised piece and there is more meaning to this piece which one might imagine.
The series of 11 Foemina junipers - which was coined 'Goshin', Protector of the Spirit, is a series of 11 trees, one for each of his grandchildren - perhaps this was Naka's intention as a result of his grandfather's influence to have him study the ancient art of bonsai?
The 'Goshin', my inspiration.
(IMAGE SOURCE: youtube)
It should be highlighted that the series of trees planted are only for his grandchildren.
'Goshin' can now be viewed at the United States National Arboretum.
A month before Naka died, he donated a now 36 inch tall Montezuma cypress (his first ever bonsai) to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.
Here is the cypress:
(IMAGE SOURCE: pinterest.com)
See the video below on 'Goshin' - Source: Bonsaiempire.com
END OF ARTICLE.
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The Millennium Bonsai - one thousand years of history, and counting
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