Having some time to reflect on bonsai this summer and the Nanpukai Show is the apex of this this summer time. This is the first time that I used the Gold Line to travel to Little Tokyo and I would totally do it again. It was cheaper than paying for parking in that location and was stress free while on the trains.
Its amazing things you find when you are forced to walk from train station to the bonsai area. On the way there, Big Joe found this really cool ficus melting into the melt frame around it. You could almost airlayer it and make one really awesome nebari!
We arrived to the JACCC early and had a chance to look around the vendors area outside while we patience wait for the doors to open. The doors were open around 10am and we found some San Diego Bonsai Club members beating us entering the JACCC Nanpukai presentation.
A quick photo with Gary and Big Joe looking at one of Al Nelson's famous Live Oaks. Nanpukai has a nontraditional feel as they do not present their trees on stands or with accent plants. With the white almost plain backgrounds the trees truly stand out.
Chinese Elm - John Naka
Juniper - Frank Goyo
Chinese Quince - Ted Matson
Shimpaku Juniper - Bob Hilvers
Juniper - Richard Ota
Shohin Display - Larry Ragle
Shohin Up Close - Larry Rangle
Japanese Black Pine - Jaime Chavarria
Japanese Black Pine - Leila Kusumi
Japanese Black Pine Up Close Bark - Leila Kusumi
Trident Maple - Mel Ikeda
California Juniper - Tak Shimazu
Pomegranate - Ted Matson
Pomengranate Fruit Up Close - Ted Matson
Japanese Maple - Dennis Makishima
Juniper - Robert King
Australian Tea Tree - Dennis Makishima
Australian Tea Tree Up Close Lichen - Dennis Makishima
Juniper - Jim Barrett
Chinese Elm - Jim Barrett
Liquid Amber Orientals - Tak Shimazu
Liquid Amber Orientals Up Close - Tak Shimazu
Blue Atlas Cedar - Dennis Makashima
Juniper - Wally Kunimoto
Bougainvillea - Shig Miya
Willow Leaf Ficus - Kikuyo and George Yamaguchi
California Juniper - Harry Hirao
Hinoki Cypress - Lindsay Shiba
Panoramic Picture of the Display
Calligraphy Painting
Well that it for the Nanpukai Show here is a bonus photo of Big Joe hamming it up with the princesses of the Nisei Week!