Kengai or the cascade style is one of the bonsai forms. The apex of the tree dangles down from the bottom of a pot. It imitates a tree in nature rooted to a precipitous cliff that keeps growing as if clutching the cliff. Kengai demonstrates the tree’s strong vitality and the severity of nature. The tree with its apex hanging down to the rim of the pot or its midway point is called ”hankengai” (half-kengai form) while its slender trunk and long, dangling branches are described as ”itokengai” (string kengai). It is the tree shape with the most variations.

translated by Kyodo News