Featured photo courtesy of The International Bonsai Arboretum

Who is Masahiko Kimura?

You probably have seen Masahiko Kimura’s name mentioned in many bonsai magazines, blogs, and forums online.

Well, that’s because Kimura is recognized by many bonsai enthusiasts as one of the best bonsai artists of all time, especially in the field of contemporary bonsai.

The bonsai community also calls him the “Magical technician of Kindai Shuppan” for his mastery in creating bonsai trees that break traditional bonsai art.

Although Kimura works with various species, he specializes in shimpaku junipers with deadwood. Most of his award-winning and widely-recognized bonsai masterpieces are also mostly of this species.

Early Life & Bonsai Journey

Bonsai master Masahiko Kimura was born on March 31, 1940, in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Kimura became an apprentice of bonsai master Motosuke Hamano, by his mother’s wish, at age 15. He spent around 11 years learning about traditional bonsai art in Toju-en Bonsai Garden.

After he finished his apprenticeship, he started creating his own bonsai masterpieces.

At first, his works became controversial for being different from the traditional bonsai trees. However, they became widely accepted and popular not long after due to their exceptional style and starkness.

Unlike others, Kimura is more interested in raw materials with little to no “bonsai potential,” as it challenges his creative mind.

Many call him a bonsai genius as he can quickly distinguish any raw materials’ hidden, good features. More than that, he can style them very uniquely without any historic model. 

Bonsai master Masahiko then began offering demonstrations and workshops around the globe. His first workshop abroad was at the 1987 Golden State Federation Bonsai Convention in Anaheim, California.

Apart from his unique style and mastery of his craft, doing demonstrations in different parts of the world has helped him gain a lot of apprentices.

He has taught some of the bonsai masters dominating globally today, including Taiga Urushibata, Hiroaki Suzuki, and Masayuki Fujikawa.

Some of his apprentices that also became famous in the bonsai community include Ernie Kuo, Ryan Neil, Kawabe Takeo, Marco Invernizzi, Marc Noelanders, Andrei Darusenkov, and Salvatore Liporace.

More than anything, Kimura believes that a good bonsai artist is one that has great sensibility, natural inner talent, creative power, and inspiration.

Masahiko Kimura’s distinctive bonsai awards

Bonsai master Masahiko started receiving prestigious awards in 1988.

Some of his most prestigious are the following:

• Minister of Education Award in 1999
• Prime Minister’s Award (1988, 1995, 2000, 2001)

Masahiko Kimura’s published bonsai books

If you want to know more about Masahiko and his bonsai artistry, check out these books:

• The Bonsai Art of Kimura
• The Magician: Bonsai Art of Kimura 2

Read also: Top 25 Bonsai Books Everyone Should Read

Masahiko Kimura’s Most-Prized Bonsai Masterpieces

Half of Masahiko Kimura’s bonsai trees are known worldwide through magazine and blog publications.

Here are some of the most iconic ones:

Hinoki Ishizuki Bonsai

Perhaps Masahiko Kimura’s most famous bonsai is this angled hinoki cypress rock planting. It has been featured in many local and international bonsai magazines, blogs, and forums. 

Kimura has made several similar-concept bonsai trees like this and sold them in the market. However, the original one, which he created 20+ years ago, remains a prized possession in his bonsai garden in Japan.

This sculptural masterpiece consists of several hinoki cypresses and itoigawa shimpaku junipers. They’re planted and balanced in two interlocking slates.

These trees are approximately 40+ years old and grown from cuttings.

The Dance of the Rising Dragon Bonsai

Another popular Kimura masterpiece is this shimpaku juniper bonsai named “Toryu-no-Mai (The Dance of the Rising Dragon).”

Due to its exceptional and gigantic twisted trunks, it easily became one of the most talked about bonsai trees around the globe.

According to bonsai master Masahiko Kimura, he styled this tree about 35 years ago. 

The crazy thing about this bonsai is that Kimura has never repotted it since the first time he planted it in its current bonsai pot. Despite that, the tree continues to grow well and vigorously.

Low-Foliage Juniper Bonsai

Masahiko has many bonsai trees made of shimpaku juniper, but this particular piece is one of his favorites.

There are a lot of interesting features in this juniper bonsai, including large twisted trunks, deadwood, and low foliage that sits almost on the top layer of the soil.

Kimura said it took him 20 years to grow and style this tree from raw material to its current state. It was planted with the foliage growing on the lower trunk, and it just gradually grew as the years passed.

Rare Yamadori Juniper Bonsai

Another Kimura’s personal favorite is this rare yamadori juniper bonsai.

It was collected from a mountain region in Japan with only its top narrow part alive. 

Its trunk was also originally round and had no shari at all, so Kimura had to carve it several times to create the shape and shari it has today. 

He also said that he had to rotate it many times to find its current angle and position.

Masahiro Kimura Bonsai Garden

Masahiko opened a bonsai garden in the Omiya Bonsai Village in Saitama, Japan, to showcase his award-winning trees to the public. It’s close to other popular bonsai gardens in Japan owned by other bonsai masters.

It displays a lot of pine trees, mostly junipers, and a few deciduous trees.

Kimura’s garden is open to the public, but you’d have to book an appointment with them first before you can visit.

Conclusion

Bonsai master Masahiko Kimura has undoubtedly contributed to pioneering the bonsai art and style we know today.

From styling heavily twisted trunks to growing trees in rocks…

Kimura’s masterpieces have indeed changed and challenged the landscape of bonsai growing around the globe.

Want to know other well-respected and most influential bonsai masters of all time? Then, check out this article.