The Secret of Hospitality @ BONSAI LABO 凜: Discovering the Charm of 'Living Art' Bonsai

If you want to buy bonsai in Osaka, go to 'BONSAI LABO 凜'

The 'BONSAI LABO 凜' I visited this time is located in an area locals affectionately call 'MATCHAMACHI'. It's about a one-minute walk from Matsuyamachi Station on the Osaka Metro.

Osaka Free and Easy Travel Guide

If you want to buy bonsai in Osaka, go to 'BONSAI LABO 凜'

Opening the door, I was greeted by the LABO's manager, Mr. Miyazono, his wife, and the shop's cat, Rex. This space is used not only as a workshop but also to sell bonsai pots, plant stands, and to host study sessions.

The essential plant stand for beautiful bonsai displays

What is BONSAI? Knowledge you want to know about bonsai

First, they showed me a small pine tree. The quintessential pine bonsai – black pine.

The quintessential pine bonsai – black pine

The pines Mr. Miyazono held were both black pines, but one was about 20 years old, while the other was 40 to 50 years old. It's amazing that such a small pine has been alive for nearly half a century!

Black pines of different ages

Mr. Miyazono: 'It's difficult to cultivate small bonsai. You need to grow them in just the right pot, and when the roots fill the pot, transplant them into a slightly larger one.'

Looking closely, I saw wire wrapped around the branches. Doesn't it break?

Mr. Miyazono: 'This is called training. We wrap wire to shape the tree into an ideal form. Pine trees contain resin, so they are flexible and won't break when bent. Additionally, we do other care each year, such as 'candle cutting' to adjust leaf length and 'removing old needles' to get rid of unwanted leaves.'

But what is the key to determining the age of a bonsai, which greatly affects its value?

The easiest way is to look at the bark. Young pine bark is smooth, but as it ages, the bark becomes layered and cracked, giving it a unique sense of thickness. According to Mr. Miyazono, the older the tree, the more dignified and grand the shape of its branches and the charm of its leaves.

Bark with layered, thick texture

Japanese spirituality and the spirit of hospitality

Next, they showed me the rooftop. There were bonsai ranging from a few thousand yen that even beginners can easily grow to valuable ones with elegant charm, large and small, all lined up. It was impressive!

The rooftop of BONSAI LABO 凜

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, they had overseas customers, and Mr. Miyazono's Instagram account has many foreign followers. What attracts overseas customers to bonsai?

Mr. Miyazono: 'First, I would say it's the Japanese spirituality. Bonsai is displayed with someone in mind. For example, you might see bonsai placed in the alcove of a historic temple or in a luxury hotel. I believe it contains a spirit of care and hospitality toward visiting guests.'

Mr. Miyazono, manager of BONSAI LABO 凜

I felt I understood a little about the fusion of natural landscapes and space that unfolds from the pot, and the joy of bonsai. I asked Mr. Miyazono about the charm of bonsai as he sees it.

Mr. Miyazono: 'Ultimately, it's about expressing a sense of nature. Even though you can't see the artificial work, you can cultivate a bonsai with a beautiful shape. Spending time and effort to create natural beauty – I think people can feel the joy in that.' Some excellent bonsai are over 100 years old and are considered masterpieces, impossible to achieve in a single generation. It would be wonderful to see more fans or enthusiasts and increase the number of fine trees.

A career change from photographer, and the trigger was an old man at a tea shop!?

All the bonsai here are cultivated as merchandise, but there is one that is never for sale. That is the ivy. The story of this 80-year-old ivy is...

The ivy that became the catalyst for starting bonsai

Before running BONSAI LABO 凜, Mr. Miyazono was a photographer. In his student days, he was passionate about developing photos in the darkroom and the feeling of creating them one by one. Later, when he entered the workforce, the camera world rapidly digitized, and as he was feeling uncertain about his work, he encountered bonsai.

Mr. Miyazono: 'I was captivated by a bonsai displayed at a nearby tea shop. The shop owner, an older man, gave me tickets to a bonsai exhibition, and that was the start of everything. I still remember the impact I felt then.'

Starting as an apprentice, Mr. Miyazono kept in touch with the shop owner even after becoming independent. About five to six years ago, the shop owner gave him this ivy plant. It is said that when the owner, now in his eighties, was a child, his father bought it for him, and it was only the size of a pinky finger.

Mr. Miyazono: 'Besides being very beautifully shaped, this bonsai contains many thoughts and feelings. I am merely its temporary caretaker. I will never sell it.'

Every bonsai has its own story, and when it passes from one person to another, the 'thoughts' it holds are passed on, which is important. The idea that buying is not the end but the beginning left a strong impression on me.

Let's begin! Life with bonsai

After talking a lot, I started to get interested. So, let's quickly find a bonsai to live with me! There are not only trees but also many 'grasses' called 'shitakusa' (underplantings). Bonsai usually consist of a tree and underplantings to create a scene, and adding underplantings helps to show the scale of the tree.

A display of small bonsai and kokedama (moss balls)

What I wanted was a type that lets me feel the changing seasons, blooming and bearing fruit. First, I took a fancy to the maple. Like ordinary trees, you can enjoy the autumn leaves, but it is said to be difficult to achieve a beautiful red.

Mr. Miyazono: 'For the maple to turn red, it needs plenty of sunlight in summer. But dryness is a big enemy, so you need to water it frequently to avoid drying out.'

When I think of watering, I first think of a watering can, but there is also a method of immersing the entire pot in a container of water. At home, you can use a bucket. The amount of water needed is more than I imagined. To cultivate good bonsai, besides watering, you need to fertilize, weed, and listen to the 'voice of the plant' to understand what it needs now. These adorable mini bonsai with round, fluffy moss are Pyrrosia hastata (spearleaf pyrrosia) and Woodwardia macrochlaena (large-sac fern). During growth, you need to regularly remove weeds and old leaves. A small world blooming in your hands.

Pyrrosia hastata and Woodwardia macrochlaena

I agonized over my choice for a long time... In the end, I decided on a wild grape! I liked the lush moss on its roots and its slender, spreading branches. I'm excited to think about how lush and fruitful it will become.

Holding a wild grape bonsai

Mr. Miyazono also taught me how to display it, saying, 'Bonsai should be placed in a space for entertaining guests.' The tree and underplantings, a plant stand, and a scroll – this is said to be the basic combination. The scroll depicted a misty moonlit night. I visited in early April, so it was a very timely 'scene.'

Bonsai displayed in a tokonoma alcove

Bonsai is about cultivating a living thing. Not only can you appreciate the artistic elements it derives, but also the deep mystery of a shape that cannot be completed in a single generation, and the spirit of hospitality – these self-contained interests make you feel an endless charm. Thinking of someone through bonsai and feeling a bond – having such moments might be a luxury.

If you want to start a life with bonsai, why not visit 'BONSAI LABO 凜' in Matsuyamachi?

Mr. Miyazono's Instagram also showcases the charm of bonsai, so feel free to follow!

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