Age: about 100 yrs Height: 74 cm
Momiji
(Japanese maple)

Red leaves bloom from the tree in April. The color is not as vivid as hues found in the leaves of “deshojo,” another momiji species, but it is a cherished spring color.

The tree features radial “nebari” (surface roots) and dynamic “tachiagari” (the initial rise of the trunk) that help balance the shape of the whole tree. Its “mikihada” trunk surface gives a sense of old age and represents an ideal momiji bonsai work. Given that its leaves grow strongly in summer, the tree was planted in a relatively large vessel. This makes viewers think of a tree growing from Mother Earth.

The momiji captivates bonsai lovers throughout the year with its changing colors — fresh greens in early summer, dark greens in midsummer, the yellow of its fall foliage and its “kanju” (bare form) in winter. These charms are unique to deciduous trees, and denote for Japanese the “wabi-sabi” aesthetic.

translated by Kyodo News