WORLD PEACE THROUGH BONSAI!
The History of the
World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF)
As the essence of the beauty and the purity of nature, bonsai has the power to unite people. Former enemies cast aside animosities and become friends. Japanese prime ministers, American presidents and other world leaders give each other gifts of bonsai. Bonsai has truly become a bridge to international friendship and peace!
NIPPON BONSAI ASSOCIATION
& OSAKA ORIGINS
After World War II, as the Kato family bonsai nursery struggled to survive, the American occupational forces requested bonsai classes. The Americans also purchased New Year plants of "Sho-Chiku-Bai" (Pine-Bamboo-Flowering Apricot representing the "Three Friends of Winter") when most Japanese could not purchase such luxuries. Saburo Kato has generously credited the interest, encouragement and assistance of the Americans in rebuilding bonsai as a beloved part of Japanese life.
At the Expo '70 Osaka World Fair, the Nippon Bonsai Association hosted an outstanding bonsai exhibit that introduced the world to the beauty of bonsai. Bonsai was only a small part of the world fair but because the exhibition was open for many months, more international visitors were exposed to bonsai than ever before.
International interest in bonsai surged! Many new bonsai lovers enthusiastically pursued the study of bonsai and its related art forms. Those already training bonsai in relative isolation became catalysts to form clubs! Expo '70 brought Saburo Kato and the Japanese bonsai community together with Hawaii's Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro, California's John Naka, Germany's Paul Lesniewicz, India's Nikunj Parehk, and many others who became a unique generation of international bonsai leaders.
Saburo Kato and the Japanese bonsai community were impressed with the universal interest and appreciation for the beauty of bonsai. Even those who had known Japan as an enemy during World War II found equanimity after viewing and learning of bonsai. As Japan became a nation dedicated to world peace, it became apparent that bonsai could be a bridge to international friendships and peace. The world fair had been a significant financial success, and the Expo '70 Osaka Commemorative Association very generously supported the efforts of the Nippon Bonsai Association.
A few years later in 1976, the Japanese presented the United States with a Bicentennial gift of bonsai, which led to the creation of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington, D.C.
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Nippon Bonsai Association - Japan
The World Bonsai Converence in Osaka 1980
In the spring of 1980, the Nippon Bonsai Association organized the International
Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition at the Expo '70 Osaka Memorial Park with
the cooperation and participation of bonsai organizations throughout the
world. These exhibitions were held annually thereafter through 1989. Bonsai
tour groups and individuals who visited these exhibitions became a part
of the international bonsai movement. With the help of Expo '70 funds,
bonsai leaders representing 11 countries participated in a World Bonsai
Conference in 1980, and they resolved to establish a world bonsai organization
"to unite the people of the world in a spirit of peace."
At the 1980 International Bonsai Congress in Hawaii (IBC '80 Hawaii), cosponsored by Bonsai Clubs International and the Hawaii Bonsai Association, the Nippon Bonsai Association participated internationally outside of Japan for the first time. Saburo Kato created his beautiful "Peace Forest" and gave his now famous "Bonsai No Kokoro (The Spirit and Philosophy of Bonsai)" address. In the following years, the Nippon Bonsai Association provided lecturer-demonstrators who taught bonsai throughout the world.
Members of the WBFF Steering Committee at the residence of the NBA Honorary Member Hidekazu Ueda (second from the right).
WORLD BONSAI FRIENDSHIP FEDERATION STEERING COMMITTEE
As part of the 1987 International Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition at the Expo '70 Osaka Memorial Park, a steering committee for the establishment of a world bonsai organization met for two days. The committee included John Naka (California Bonsai Society), Ted Tsukiyama (Hawaii Bonsai Association), Peter Brown (European Bonsai Association), and Paul Lesniewicz (German Bonsai Club). Representing the Nippon Bonsai Association were its chairman Saburo Kato and directors Shinji Ogasawara, Tsunekazu Nakajima, Eijiro Hiruma, Itsuzo Okamura, Hideo Kato, Susumu Nakamura and Hiroshi Takeyama. Consensus was reached in the following areas.
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The name would be World Bonsai Friendship Federation with its initial office in Tokyo, Japan. WBFF's purpose would be to promote and actively exchange bonsai ideas, technology, and information with the goal of advancing international friendship and goodwill.
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There would be a World Bonsai Convention every four years. The First World Bonsai Convention would be held in Omiya, Japan, in April 1989 when WBFF would be formally established. WBFF's official language would be English, and a magazine would be published.
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WBFF would be a nonprofit organization made up of nine member regions with elected director-representatives forming the WBFF Board. Saburo Kato was designated the interim executive director of the steering committee to promote and lead the establishment of regional organizations within each member region and to publicize the objectives and planned activities of WBFF.
1989: FIRST WORLD BONSAI CONVENTION AND WBFF INAUGURATION
Over 1,200 bonsai enthusiasts from 32 countries participated in the First World Bonsai Convention, which was held on April 6-9, 1989, in Omiya City. It was sponsored by the Nippon Bonsai Association with the financial support of the Japanese Government and hosted by the Saitama Prefecture and Omiya City.
WBFF Inaugural Meeting in Omiya, April 1989
The inaugural WBFF meeting was held on the first day and chaired by WBFF
legal consultant Ted Tsukiyama who was also the president of Hawaii Bonsai
Association. Representatives of seven member regions participated: Peter
Brown (Europe), Frank Hocking (Australia/New Zealand), Saburo Kato (Japan),
Lee Chul-ho (Asia-Pacific), John Naka (North America), Nikunj Parekh (India)
and Su Xue Hen (China). Sigmund Dreilinger, the president of Bonsai Clubs
International, and Paul Lesniewicz, the president of German Bonsai Club,
were named consultants and also participated along with other observers.
The By-Laws and Charter prepared by the Steering Committee were unanimously
adopted and signed. Saburo Kato (Nippon Bonsai Association chairman) was
elected WBFF chairman and John Naka (North America Bonsai Federation president
was elected WBFF vice-chairman.
The demonstration at the first World Bonsai Convention '89 in Omiya City, Japan.
The formal establishment of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation was
announced at the opening ceremony on April 9, 1989 to thunderous applause
in appreciation of the international effort led by the Japanese bonsai
community. Participants from throughout South America also met to establish
the Latin American Bonsai Federation. The convention that followed is
still remembered as a dream-like vision of the top experts freely sharing
their knowledge and skills. Visits through Omiya Bonsai Village and gardens
were bonuses. Many ended their trip with a visit to the last International
Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition at Expo '70 Osaka Memorial Park, where
the international bonsai movement had begun 20 years before.
1990 WBFF MEETING
In 1990, the WBFF board met as part of IBC '90 Hawaii, USA, and elected Takeo Fukuda, a former prime minister of Japan and president of the Nippon Bonsai Association, to serve as the WBFF president. It reaffirmed the plan to hold a World Bonsai Convention every four years and established that it would be hosted alternately between East and West.
PUBLICATION OF BONSAI OF THE WORLD I
The WBFF board at its meeting in 1990 authorized a publication entitled Bonsai Of The World I to include: the WBFF By-Laws and Charter, scenes from the First World Bonsai Convention in 1989, articles detailing the history and status of the various member regions, and an extensive number of color photographs. The book was edited by Ted Tsukiyama and Kazuya Morita and published by WBFF in 1993. Unfortunately, relatively few have ever seen this booklet. It is reproduced in its entirety in this WBFF website and can be found at the BOTW I link.
Demonstraion by the Japanese delegates
1993: SECOND WORLD BONSAI CONVENTION
The Second World Bonsai Convention was held in Orlando, Florida, from May 28-31, 1993, in conjunction with IBC '93 Florida, USA. This Convention was sponsored by the Bonsai Societies of Florida, Bonsai Clubs International and WBFF. There were over 1,000 participants from countries around the world.
The 4th Korea Bonsai Convention, 1990. 555 Bonsai were put on display
1997: THIRD WORLD BONSAI CONVENTION
The Third World Bonsai Convention was held in Seoul, Korea, on October 24-26, 1997, under the sponsorship of the Korean Bonsai Association. Over 400 participants from 20 countries enjoyed demonstrations and workshops by bonsai masters of Korea, Italy, Switzerland, and Japan and a large exhibit of 220 Korean bonsai.
2001: FOURTH WORLD BONSAI CONVENTION
The Fourth World Bonsai Convention was held in Munich, Germany, on June 1-4, 2001, hosted by the European Bonsai Association. It is still international bonsai news, and there will be greater coverage of this event in the coming months. The initial report by Dr. Thomas Elias is found at the WBFF 2001 MUNICH link.
PUBLICATION OF BONSAI OF THE WORLD II
In 2001, WBFF published Bonsai Of The World II, edited again by Ted Tsukiyama and David Fukomoto and dedicated to the memory of three bonsai giants who had passed away: WBFF president Takeo Fukuda; Africa Bonsai Association president and WBFF Africa Region director Peter Visagie; and Lee Chul-Ho, president of the Korean Bonsai association, director of the WBFF Asia-Pacific Region and primary organizer of the Third World Bonsai Convention. Unfortunately, relatively few have ever seen this publication either. It is reproduced in its entirety in this WBFF website and found at the BOTW II link.
Mr. Kato, WBFF Founder, working to prepare the demonstration trees at the 4th WBFF Convention in Munich, Germany in 2001.
A MAJOR NEW WBFF DIRECTION!
At the meeting of the WBFF board meeting at Munich, Saburo Kato introduced a motion that the president of the WBFF member region to host the next World Bonsai Convention become the next WBFF chairman, with the chairmanship to rotate every four years. The motion was approved. Saburo Kato has pledged continued full support and by board action, he will have the lifetime position of WBFF Honorary Chairman Emeritus.
At the Munich meeting, Washington, D.C., was selected as the site of the Fifth World Bonsai Convention to be held in 2005. North American Bonsai Federation president John Naka had earlier expressed the desire to step down as the NABF president. To establish the succession, as his last official duty, John Naka conducted an election of new NABF officers. In 2002, he announced that the following individuals were duly elected as NABF officers: President Felix Laughlin; Vice-president Marybel Balendonck; Vice-president Roger Case; Vice-president Chase Rosade; Secretary Ted Tsukiyama; and Treasurer Harold Harvey. John Naka pledged his continuing support and accepted the title of NABF President Emeritus.
As president of NABF, which will host the Fifth World Bonsai Convention in 2005, Felix Laughlin is now the new WBFF chairman. To establish greater communications with all who are interested in World Bonsai Friendship Federation activities, this new WBFF website was established with the support and technical assistance of Andy Rutledge as webmaster.
INTRODUCING THE CURRENT WBFF LEADERS
MR. SABURO KATO, WBFF Chairman Emeritus, former Chairman WBFF, former Chairman of the Nippon Bonsai Association.
MR. FELIX LAUGHLIN, WBFF Chairman, WBFF Director of North American Region, President of the North American Bonsai Federation, President of the National Bonsai Foundation.
MR. DAIZO IWASAKI, WBFF Vice-Chairman, Owner of Takasago-an Bonsai Garden.
MR. LINDSAY BEBB, WBFF Secretary, WBFF Director of Australia-New Zealand Region, President of the Australia/ New Zealand Bonsai Federation.
MS. SOLITA DE TAFUR ROSADE, WBFF Treasurer, WBFF Director of Latin American Region, President of the Latin American Bonsai Federation, former President of Bonsai Clubs International.
MR. CHARLES POOLE, WBFF Director of Africa Region, President of the Africa Bonsai Association.
MR. Y.W. JUNARDY, WBFF Director of Asia-Pacific Region, President of the Asia-Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation.
MR. YUN-HUA HU, WBFF Director of China Region, Director of the Shanghai Landscaping Administration Bureau.
MR. PIUS NOTTER, WBFF Director of Europe Region, President of the European Bonsai Association.
MR. NIKUNJ PAREKH, WBFF Director India Region, President of the Bonsai Friendship Federation of India, Vice-President of the Indo-Japanese Association.
MR. HIROSHI TAKEYAMA, WBFF Director of Japan Region, Chairman of the Nippon Bonsai Association
WBFF CONSULTANTS & HONORARY MEMBERS:
MR. TED TSUKIYAMA, WBFF Legal Consultant, WBFF Editor, former President of the Hawaii Bonsai Association, Member of Editorial Board of Bonsai Clubs International , Member of the Board of Directors of the National Bonsai Foundation.
DR. THOMAS S. ELIAS, WBFF International Consultant, Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C., Member of Editorial Board of Bonsai Clubs International.
MR. ARISHIGE MATSUURA, WBFF International Consultant, President of the Nippon Suiseki Association.
MR. I.C. SU, WBFF International Consultant, President of the Asia Pacific Bonsai & Suiseki Association, First Vice-President and Chair of the Ambassador Program of Bonsai Clubs International.
MR. REIJI TAKAGI, WBFF International Consultant, Chairman of the Takagi Traditional Horticulture Promotion Foundation.
HONORABLE FELIPE GONZALEZ MARQUEZ, Honorary Member, former Prime Minister of Spain.
HONORABLE ISMAIL SALEH, Honorary Member, former Indonesia Minister of Justice, Patron of the Indonesian Bonsai Association.
CONCLUSION
A number of Japanese cultural organizations such as Ikebana International, which promotes Japanese flower arranging, have headquarters in Japan and is dominated by the Japanese masters. In contrast, WBFF recognizes and promotes all international forms of artistic pot plants. In taking the giant step of moving the chairmanship and headquarters every four years, the World Bonsai Friendship Federal has evolved into a truly international organization. The Bonsai Torch of Peace has been passed and we invite everyone who loves the beauty and spirit of bonsai to join us!
As of April 15, 2002