What is BONSAI?

Bonsai is a traditional Japanese art form and a hobby that seeks beauty beyond the appearance of plants in nature by growing plants in pots in the mountains and fields. At its root, it expresses the tenderness of the Japanese heart and meticulous aesthetic sense toward living plants. It is distinct from potted plants, which are planted in pots and enjoyed only for the beauty of their flowers and leaves. We are creating a “small world,” so to speak.

The word “bonsai” appears in a poem from the mid-14th century, but the original form of bonsai in Japan is even older and can be found in a picture scroll from 1309. It was not until the Edo period (1603-1867) that people began to widely enjoy bonsai.

In older times, bonsai was enjoyed by aristocrats, priests, and others of high rank, but during the Edo period (1603-1867), bonsai became a hobby enjoyed by many people regardless of rank. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), people began to appreciate bonsai from an artistic point of view, and the pursuit of beauty began in earnest. Also during this period, large-scale bonsai exhibitions were held and technical books on the art of growing trees were published.

Today, bonsai has become a popular hobby that anyone can enjoy. On the other hand, bonsai, which has been carefully passed down over the years, is recognized as a traditional Japanese culture and art that has been nurtured by the Japanese climate and the Japanese people's love for plants.

In recent years, bonsai has also become known overseas as “BONSAI” in Japanese, and the appeal of bonsai has spread beyond Japan to the rest of the world.

To encourage your bonsai life, our store NAGINOWA offers a variety of bonsai pots in different colors, shapes, and heights, as well as bonsai supplies such as pruning shears, nets for pot bottoms, wire, and tweezers.

We also carry many other high quality Japanese products (Made in Japan).

We look forward to your purchase!