The traditional Japanese art of bonsai has been gaining renewed appreciation worldwide in recent years. The domestic bonsai market in Japan has grown to approximately 900 million yen, nearly doubling in size over the past five years. In this flourishing world of bonsai, Shinji Suzuki (62), a bonsai artist from Nagano Prefecture, is known as a “rock star” who has won the Prime Minister’s Award a record five times. What is it about his unique creations and philosophy that captivates people around the world?
The Art of Bonsai: Expressing the Coexistence of Life and Death
Shinji Suzuki’s bonsai trees transcend mere ornamental potted plants to become works of art. His creations are highly valued worldwide primarily because of his expressive power using distinctive techniques known as “jin” and “shari.”
The Mystical World of “Jin” and “Shari”
“Jin” is a technique that involves stripping branches to expose the white wood beneath, creating the appearance of deadwood. In nature, branches break due to strong winds or lightning and then change to white as they are exposed to rain and wind over many years. In bonsai, this natural phenomenon is intentionally created to express the life force of the tree and its struggle with harsh environments.
“Shari,” on the other hand, refers to similar deadwood features on the trunk where bark has peeled away to expose white wood beneath. This phenomenon, often seen in ancient trees, symbolically represents the passage of time and the strength of life in bonsai.
During Suzuki’s workshops, one can observe him giving instructions like “Let’s make this part above into jin.” This is not merely technical guidance but teaching an artistic judgment about where to place life and death on the tree, seeing into the essence of the wood.
A 600-Year-Old Living Story
In Suzuki’s atelier, amazingly, more than 2,000 bonsai trees are displayed. Perhaps most impressive among those specially shown is a bonsai tree approximately 600 years old. The remarkable feature of this work is the perfect coexistence of parts that are “living only in the brown areas” with completely deadened portions that have turned white, all within a single pot.
This bonsai tree could be considered a silent witness to Japanese history. It has condensed the long flow of time from the Warring States period through the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and into the Reiwa era, all within a single pot. Some branches and parts of the trunk have already decayed, while life continues to pulse in other areas—this contrast eloquently tells the universal theme of “life and death.”
Beauty Born from Intentional “Wounds”
Particularly interesting in Suzuki’s technique is that he sometimes actively carves the wood to create jin. He says, “By clearly separating life and death, I bring out the charm of the tree.”
While other bonsai artists use similar techniques, what sets Suzuki apart is his delicate sensibility and deep insight when carving the wood. When he inflicts “wounds” on a tree, mysteriously, the tree’s “life story” is drawn out. This advanced technique and sensitivity are why he has won the Prime Minister’s Award five times and why collectors worldwide are captivated by his work.
Suzuki says, “Because it’s so scarred and has no words, you can imagine various things from its appearance.” This statement reveals a deep insight that imperfections and scars generate stories and stimulate the viewer’s imagination. While Western art tends to pursue perfect beauty, Japanese “wabi-sabi” aesthetics find beauty in imperfection and impermanence. This uniquely Japanese aesthetic sensibility is being communicated to the world through Suzuki’s bonsai.
Technique and Philosophy that Mimics Nature
Suzuki’s bonsai creation involves a philosophical aspect that goes beyond mere horticultural techniques. He works on trees “while looking at the overall balance,” sometimes boldly “cutting into” them. This may seem contradictory on the surface, but it is actually based on a deep understanding of the principles of nature.
In the natural world, trees change shape due to various environmental stresses, modify their growth direction, and continue to live despite losing branches. Suzuki’s technique accelerates these natural processes and expresses them in a condensed form within a single pot. He is not simply “prettifying” the tree but expressing the tree’s inherent life force and its history of struggle against harsh environments.
Bonsai is not merely a hobby or a branch of horticulture; it is an art form that embodies Japanese perspectives on nature, aesthetics, and philosophy of life and death. Shinji Suzuki’s works, as the pinnacle of this art, will continue to touch the hearts of people around the world.
Disciples Gathering from Around the World
Shinji Suzuki’s bonsai art deeply moves people across national boundaries. Notably, all six apprentices currently training under him are foreigners. Why do young people from around the world gather in Nagano, overcoming language barriers and cultural differences?
The Appeal of Bonsai from a Cross-Cultural Perspective
Traditionally, bonsai has been considered a “Japanese traditional culture requiring patience,” making it seem inaccessible to foreigners. However, a recent trend shows that foreigners are actually more actively pursuing the path of bonsai than Japanese people. This is partly due to globalization spreading information worldwide, but more significantly, it is evidence that the universal appeal of Suzuki’s work resonates with people regardless of nationality.
The image of bonsai that foreign apprentices had before coming to Japan was typically stereotypical—”small, perfectly shaped trees.” However, their perception changes dramatically after experiencing Suzuki’s bonsai. His works contain deep expressions that transcend binary oppositions such as “life and death,” “beauty and ugliness,” “strength and fragility,” appealing to universal human sensibilities beyond national or cultural barriers.
Diverse Backgrounds and Motivations of the Disciples
Suzuki’s apprentices have come to Japan not just to learn bonsai techniques but with profound personal motivations.
In the case of Theo, who came from Germany three years ago, the loss of his grandmother was a major turning point. “I was able to face that experience through bonsai,” he says. In Western cultures, death is often hidden and avoided, but in Suzuki’s bonsai, dead parts (death) coexist with living parts (life). By encountering this expression, Theo was able to reconceptualize his relationship with his deceased grandmother in a new form.
Meanwhile, Sara, who came from Spain to train after graduating from art school, was seeking something she couldn’t find in her academic art education. She says, “While learning from Suzuki, I began to reflect on bonsai and myself.” Whereas Western art tends to project the artist’s expression outward, bonsai is introspective, with the creator’s self-examination through dialogue with the tree being crucial. In this aspect, Sara has discovered new possibilities for artistic expression.
The Rigors of Training and Cultural Barriers
Bonsai training is by no means easy. Training under Suzuki continues from early morning until late at night, involving continuous mundane tasks such as seasonal tree management, tool maintenance, and soil preparation. Moreover, the traditional Japanese master-disciple relationship of “learning by watching” rather than through verbal instruction is particularly challenging for foreigners facing language and cultural barriers.
Nevertheless, the apprentices persevere because of the spiritual fulfillment gained through bonsai, beyond mere acquisition of technique. Facing a single bonsai tree and drawing out its essence is also a journey of self-confrontation. Sara’s words, “This is how it is now,” seem to reflect her sense that she is growing alongside the bonsai.
Formation of an International Community
Suzuki’s atelier has become more than just a place for technical transmission; it is now the core of an international bonsai community. Apprentices from Germany, Spain, and other countries around the world will contribute to the international spread of bonsai culture by bringing back the techniques and philosophy they learned in Japan to their home countries.
Such cultural exchange carries significance beyond the mere “export” of Japanese traditional culture. As apprentices with different cultural backgrounds add their own interpretations to bonsai, the culture of bonsai itself evolves and becomes richer. Suzuki himself has mentioned gaining new insights through dialogue with his apprentices.
Bonsai is not just plant care but a medium for self-reflection and contemplation of life and death. This spirituality is why bonsai transcends being a mere “hobby” to be recognized as an art form that crosses national boundaries. As apprentices from Suzuki’s school begin their own activities around the world, this Japanese traditional culture will show even richer development.
Passing Traditional Culture to the Future
Shinji Suzuki is currently advancing plans to build a museum to convey the charm of bonsai to the next generation. This plan encompasses not just displaying works but the important mission of preserving and innovating bonsai culture.
Background and Significance of the Museum Concept
Bonsai has traditionally been viewed as a hobby enjoyed among specific enthusiasts and collectors, making it somewhat distant from the general public. Especially among younger generations, there are strong impressions that it is “difficult,” “time-consuming,” or “a hobby for older people,” making the shortage of successors a serious challenge.
To break through this situation, Suzuki conceived of creating a space to have bonsai widely recognized as an art form, beyond the framework of traditional “bonsai enthusiasts.” He chose the museum format because it sends a message positioning bonsai as an art form.
The planned museum will not only display bonsai but also introduce their history, cultural background, and technical aspects, with features designed to help beginners understand the charm of bonsai. There are also plans to provide workshop spaces where visitors can have hands-on experiences with bonsai.
Fusion of Digital Technology and Bonsai
An interesting aspect of preserving traditional culture is the possibility of fusion with the latest digital technologies. Unusual in the conservative bonsai world, Suzuki actively utilizes social media and digital media. His works and activities are distributed worldwide through platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, which has become a factor in attracting interest from younger generations and foreigners.
The planned museum is also considering introducing cutting-edge technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) to create content that allows visitors to experience the growth process of bonsai in a short time or see seasonal changes all at once—new ways to convey the charm of bonsai that traditional exhibition methods cannot fully express.
Thus, the fusion of traditional culture that has continued for hundreds of years with cutting-edge technology might seem contradictory at first glance, but Suzuki believes it holds an important key to passing bonsai culture on to the future.
Positioning of Japanese Bonsai in the Global Market
In recent years, the overseas market for bonsai has expanded rapidly, with export values from Japan growing to about 900 million yen, doubling in the past five years. Particularly among the wealthy in Europe, America, and Asia, high-quality Japanese bonsai holds value as a status symbol, sometimes trading for millions of yen, occasionally tens of millions.
However, with market expansion, “bonsai-style” products produced overseas have also increased. These often emphasize decorative aspects rather than the philosophy and artistry of true bonsai, giving rise to discussions about “what constitutes real bonsai.”
Suzuki welcomes the commercial success of bonsai while concerning himself with the potential loss of its essential value. The museum concept is also a response to this situation and will serve as a base for conveying the essence of Japan’s unique bonsai culture both domestically and internationally.
Universal Messages Embedded in Bonsai
Suzuki says, “Because it’s so scarred and has no words, you can imagine various things from its appearance.” This statement encapsulates the universal appeal of bonsai.
In modern society, perfection and efficiency are often pursued, with scars and imperfections considered “things to be corrected.” However, bonsai teaches us that scars and deformities are individuality and sources of stories. The traces of life’s struggles over decades or sometimes centuries are etched in decaying trunks and twisted branches, and the sensibility of perceiving this as “beauty” is received as a fresh message in today’s society.
Each viewer finds their own story in the tree’s form and is moved—this experience resonates across differences in nationality and culture. That is why people from around the world are attracted to bonsai, and the number of those who aspire to follow this path continues to increase.
The Future of Bonsai: Coexistence of Tradition and Innovation
Bonsai, originating in Japan, is now entering a new stage of development as a global culture. This is not merely an “export of Japanese culture” but also a process where bonsai itself evolves through international dialogue and exchange.
As foreign apprentices of Suzuki return to their home countries and begin their activities, new bonsai expressions fused with local climates and aesthetics may emerge. Also, with the entry of younger generations and those familiar with digital culture, innovative approaches beyond conventional frameworks are expected.
Shinji Suzuki’s museum concept can be seen as a project at the intersection of tradition and innovation. It combines the aspect of preserving and passing on Japanese traditional culture with the aspect of reinterpreting it in a global and contemporary context.
Bonsai has a harmony that transcends binary oppositions such as “life and death,” “permanence and change,” and “nature and artifice.” Its philosophy may offer important insights even in contemporary society marked by division and confrontation. There are high expectations for the future of bonsai as it is passed on to future generations while preserving tradition and incorporating innovation.