Kagawa Bonsai Production Promotion Association started to sell the new variety of Nishikimatsu (cork bark Japanese black pine) named “Yumenishiki” in 2000. It is said that it had been 15 years to select it among 50,000 trees.

Small-sized trees have high popularity

The needles of Yumenishiki have good quality and its color is dark green. It is early maturing variety so the trunks split soon and it is easy to grow. It is said that trees having the trunk split soon are easily damaged by the pests but the matter was solved. At first the seedling was expensive because of the time and effort for development. But now it comes down in price.

Tanimoto Yoshikazu in Takamatsu’s Kokubunji town specializes in Nishikimatsu (cork bark Japanese black pine). From his dead father’s age, they have cultivated Nishikimatsu (cork bark Japanese black pine) mainly but he stopped growing large-sized bonsai several years ago because small-sized bonsai gained in popularity. Now he grows small-sized Yumenishiki.

As other varieties, Yumenishiki will grow as tall as man in a natural way. Most of his trees in a pot are 15 centimeters height, and the seedlings in the field are the same in height. He says the height of the tree can be changed by cutting. The words comes from his bitter experiences in 1975 when he tried to make small-sized Nishikimatsu (cork bark Japanese black pine) and failed many times.

Do something nobody does

Tanimoto clearly said about his view of bonsai, “We have to do something nobody does. Trees in everywhere can’t get attention.” It was also his dead father’s lesson.

And he said, “We have to listen to the opinions of bonsai lovers in the bonsai markets and events. Now large-sized bonsai is not popular for many reasons.” He is one of the oldest growers in Kokubunji but flexible in his thinking.

The height of Tanimoto’s Yumenishiki is 13 centimeters in 8 years. It’s convenient size for person living in apartment house to put it on the shoes box and the entrance. He also told us, “There is no transportation fee when we put it between larger trees.” It is his secret technique.

Tanimoto works hard with his flesh idea. We hope his elaborate technique which everyone will come down to his successors.

(By Shigeo Hano)