Thinning out leaves. It refers to the work of cutting old leaves to fix up a bonsai tree. The work reduces the number of leaves to curb the momentum of excessively strong leaf growth and to improve sunlight to and ventilation through exuberant leaves. Leaf thinning is to be done mainly for ”kuromatsu” (Japanese Black Pine) and ”akamatsu” (Japanese Red Pine) trees. It is usually supplementary work to back up ”mekiri” bud trimming to be done during a dormant period. Coupled with ”midoritsumi” (fresh-bud trimming), ”mekiri” (bud trimming) and ”mekaki” (second-bud trimming), the ”hanuki” work is important to shape branches and adjust a bonsai tree.

translated by Kyodo News