Finding life in the art of bonsaiーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Bonsai, they're full-grown trees but in miniature. Cultivated in pots or shallow trays, they have been meticulously pruned and shaped until they resemble mature trees found in the wild. Wow. We join a world-renowned bonsai master who leads us into the profound aesthetics of this microcosmic reflection of the natural world. A growing number of bonsai enthusiasts from abroad have been making their way to Obuse, a small town in Nagano Prefecture. They're here to visit this studio. They make me feel so peaceful and so happy. Very excited. I'm trying to think of the words. Yes, he's a rock star. Suzuki Shinji is one of the leading figures in the contemporary world of bonsai. He has won the prestigious Prime Minister's Award five times, more than any other bonsai artist. Thank you. Thank you. What draws so many fans from afar is Suzuki's genius for recreating the natural world in microcosm, with the cycle of life and death visible in each tree. In his workshops, Suzuki shows the participants how this is achieved. One of the concepts he draws on is gene. To explain this concept, Suzuki points to one of the 2,000 bonsai in his atelier. The withered parts that have turned white are called gene, like this branch. In the same way, when it's the trunk that turns white, it's known as shoddy. The white parts are all withered. The tree's life is sustained only by the brown parts. This tree has persevered through many hardships to become the way it is now. At a glance, you notice there are different shades of color. Because it has withered parts, as well as signs of life, there is both life and death in this tree. It has lived a heroic life, and now it is the dignified presence that you see here. On some parts of the tree, Suzuki creates this gene intentionally. I'm scraping off a living part of the tree here. If this is overdone, it could lead to the bonsai dying. It's a process that takes great skill and finesse. Through this clear contrast between life and death, I draw out the beauty of this tree. It cannot speak, so people may find themselves wondering about these scars, and even see parallels in their own lives. No matter where they come from, I think people are moved by this, and it draws them into the world of bonsai. This bonsai, which came into Suzuki's life 30 years ago, is just 85 centimeters high, but it's already around 600 years old. Though it will be with him for just a fragment of its lifespan, he tends to it carefully to ensure it will live on. Part of Suzuki's work is to pass on the skills, art, and philosophy of bonsai. Currently, he has six apprentices, all from abroad. 22-year-old Theo Zimmer from Germany has been studying here for the past three years. Working with bonsai has helped him come to terms with the death of his grandmother last year. I was very sad about it. Life wouldn't be this beautiful without death, and I think, for me, it's a good way to see it like this. I didn't know it would be this deep. Sara Camacho was already entranced by bonsai, even before she arrived from Spain to study with Suzuki. For her, it's more than an art. It's a vital part of her life. Probably when you're going to start, you are going to have so many mistakes, and probably you're going to even kill some plants. But I think you must not be scared of that, no? And probably it's the same thing with life in general, no? Sometimes you lost some people who you love or something, but you need to continue and keep growing. Suzuki is currently building a museum that will showcase his bonsai. In this world where so many lives are lost in conflict, it's his hope that bonsai can offer solace and inspiration for generations to come. I want to communicate the supreme fascination of bonsai to the younger generation, to foreigners, to people who have never seen it before. Bonsai live in a confined space, and if you don't water them, they will wither, unable to say anything. Even in wartime, people continue to water their bonsai, and that's why they are still with us until now. It is that inner aspect that I want to show people. I want to create a stage for bonsai in Japan so that everyone can see it. It's hard to fully grasp the world of bonsai in just one short report, but it's clear that there are many around the world who are captivated by this fascinating art. In fact, bonsai exports from Japan rose to more than six million dollars last year, nearly twice as much as five years ago. To be honest, many of us who are involved in producing this piece have also found new appreciation for bonsai and want to find out more.