Most of the Goyomatsu trees grown in Kinashi and Kokubunji are Ginyatsufusa. Many people grow it by grafting on Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine) which goes well with. But some people try to grow Nasu Goyo and Zuisho which is considered as ideal tree.

Learn from bonsai lovers

Yamaji Hiroyoshi, 55 years old, of Sanshoen Bonsai Garden in Kokubunji town, speaks fluent English and export bonsai to Europe and the United States.

Yamaji grow Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine) and Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) at his bonsai garden. Yamaji mainly grow Ginyatsufusa and also try to grow Zuisho and Nasu Goyomatsu grown at a Nasu Range of mountains running from Tochigi Prefecture to Fukushima Prefecture. “I learned the sense of bonsai lovers. I don’t know whether it will be good business but I continue to try.”, Yamaji says.

Not only Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) but also pine trees collected from mountains are almost depleted. If people grow bonsai from the seeds, it is able to clone but it is difficult to obtain to get the seeds. So Yamaji gets trees of Nasu Goyo from Kanto Region and tries to graft using it as mother tree.

In the case of Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine), it is better to graft on Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) but it is also difficult to get. Yamaji tries to graft it on biennial Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine). “I expect Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) will go well with Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine) like Ginyatsufusa.”, Yamaji says.

Only Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) can export

There is one more reason why Yamaji focuses on Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine). It is the only pine tree permitted to export to Europe and the United States. Other bonsai trees such as Nishikimatsu (Japanese brocade pine) and Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine) grown by many growers are not permitted.

“I know Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) is popular in foreign countries because of the beautiful and tender look. But I don’t understand the reason of permission only for the export of Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine). I hope Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine) will get the permission soon.” Yamaji says.

He had an interesting story. In North America, it is not the custom to prune regularly like Japan. So the elegant bonsai trees grow bigger and the needles of Goyomatsu (Japanese white pine) are longer as time goes by. Taking daily care of bonsai like for children is unique to Japan.

(By Shigeo Hano)