One of the best aspects of the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is being able to enjoy various masterpiece bonsai in an open garden. 2025 is the 100th anniversary of the Omiya Bonsai Village. To mark this very special occasion, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum has renovated our Bonsai Garden in order to create a space that is comfortable both for our bonsai and our guests. As such, the museum was closed from November 5, 2024, to March 20, 2025.
In this issue, we want to showcase our new and improved Bonsai Garden.


The Spirit of "Kantei no Matsu"

When creating the new pond, a Zen Buddhist word was kept in mind. This word in Japanese is “Kantei no Matsu”, meaning the pine at the bottom of the valley. This was suggested to us by Tomio Yamada (Master of Seiko-en Bonsai Garden), the Bonsai Advisor at the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. The full Zen phrase in Japanese reads “Kaze fukedomo dousezu tenpen no tsuki, Yuki osedomo kudakegatashi kantei no matsu”. Altogether it can be translated to, "just like how the moon shining on the earth remains still as a strong wind blows, the pine growing at the heart of the valley remains still against heavy snow". It reflects a strong spirit that does not break against adversity.

The image of a pine bonsai that represents the natural vista of a strong tree growing with lush leaves despite the harsh heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter has been brought to life in this pond, using the heart of kantei no matsu.

As we wanted to recreate the image of a spring at the bottom of a valley, we used the artificial hill with the azumaya on top already present in the garden as part of the design. From there water flows down through multiple layers. The pond is surrounded by natural stones. At its center is a cape which is meant to give the image of a floating island at the bottom of a valley. The bonsai displayed at the tip of this cape can be seen reflected in the pond's water, fully showing off its lush form. With the gentle sound of flowing water in the background, the rocks, the water, and the bonsai come together to create a vibrant landscape has been created through the new pond in the garden.

When creating the new Bonsai Garden pond, our biggest task was to address the issues of growing bonsai in the harsh summer heat that has become worse every year. We also wanted to improve the viewing space for visitors.

To tackle these issues, we installed a mist cooling system around the pond. During summer, we place a cheesecloth (a net) around the edges of the garden to protect bonsai from direct sunlight. However, we do not place cheesecloth over the bonsai near the pond as it would affect the garden's beauty, so using the mist cooling system will be a great way to cool down the bonsai and the surrounding areas. Another benefit of this system is that the mist will not only cool down the bonsai but will also disperse on the ground near the bonsai, letting visitors enjoy a more cooled-down experience.

When creating the island in the center of the pond, we also installed a pathway to it so we could access it to move and water the bonsai on the island. We have created a pond that is functional for caring for the bonsai without ruining the beauty of the scenery. Please come to the museum to check out our new pond.

Us Museum Supporters remained active during the closure of the museum. We continued our activities of organizing materials and assisting with the teaching of the International Bonsai Academy. We also took part in training to enhance their exhibition guides in anticipation of the museum reopening.

The training included group work where we discussed the best parts of various bonsai. We also created a simple scenario of a guide within a set time frame. We also used the time we had during the museum closure to create original badges. We plan to wear these badges during future volunteer activities, so if you see one of us wearing a badge when you visit, don’t feel afraid to say hi.

We are also preparing for the 100th anniversary of the Omiya Bonsai Village. While organizing books, we are deepening our knowledge by listing articles related to the Bonsai Village from bonsai magazines published after World War II. Some supporters are also creating commemorative goods for the 100th anniversary. e other 100th anniversary. We can't reveal too much right now, so please be patient until we can give more information!