NABF Newsletter #1

Feature #8

A Tribute to John Naka
from his North American Friends

On August 16, 2002, John Naka celebrated his 88th birthday, and we wish him many more. He is among the greatest bonsai teachers of all time, beloved by enumerable enthusiasts worldwide. In some countries, people believe that John Naka invented bonsai. Always joking and with humility, John has contributed so much! My heart smiles as the images reel forth.

John was already legendary when I was first introduced to bonsai 30 years ago. After taking one of John’s workshops at the 1979 BCI Convention in New York City, I recall how strongly I wished to become a regular student of his in California. I could just feel how powerfully he was connected to deep knowledge -- well beyond the artistic and horticultural aspects of growing bonsai. I was never able to move to California to study under John, but I cherish everything I have learned with him.

John with Felix Laughlin

A few years ago, John and Alice visited Betty Gayle and me at our home in Virginia. He always amazes me at how much beauty he can find in things overlooked by others. It was springtime and most Virginians were trying to eradicate all of those pesky dandelions growing everywhere. Walking through our yard, John suddenly stopped, stooped down and declared that he had just found a wonderful dandelion -- among the thousands growing there. As he spoke lovingly of its many good characteristics, it became clear that he wanted to take the dandelion back to California. I carefully dug it up and handed it to John in a little plastic pot.

Being awake to the world, John’s appreciation of nature -- as in the case of the dandelion -- is boundless. Leaving preconception aside, he has always helped others to see the beauty of nature in all its forms. Each of us has gratefully received the benefit of his teaching, and gladly accepted the duty to share what we have learned with others.

John also knows, of course, how to accentuate the beauty of nature. I recently visited John and Alice at their home in Whittier, and was admiring all of the exquisite bonsai in John’s garden. John reached out and lifted before my eyes a wonderful shohin bonsai pot, in which was growing an exposed-root style Taraxacum officinale, collected he said in a backyard in Virginia.

The smile in my heart is but one reminder of my debt of gratitude to this gentle master, who taught all of us the true meaning of "bonsai no kororo" (the spirit of bonsai).

Felix Laughlin (Middleburg, Virginnia)

John with Vaughn Banting

To John
The things I've never said to you.

John, do you remember that demonstration you gave in Atlanta in 1973? Up there on that stage, assisted by Ben Oki and Frank Goya you introduced to all present a new performing art, “The bonsai demonstration”. Never had I been exposed to such drama, energy and surprise captured in the transition from matrix to work of art. I was later to realize that the warmth I felt coming from that stage had nothing to do with the intensive lighting required in those days for video recording. You always made me feel special even when you gently let me know I was designing a piece of material from its back. My exposure to your warm humorous, teaching style led me to divide my bonsai efforts into two periods, pre and post exposure to John Naka.

I recall a particularly profound epiphany I experienced with you if one evening in 1978 in my bonsai garden. We were sitting chatting in the approaching twilight when suddenly you became aware of a katydid’s trill. You suggested that we try to hunt down where the sound was coming from in hopes of seeing it. And sure enough we found it. Upon seeing it my first feeling was one of disappointment. I was expecting to find one of those brilliant light green ones but instead it turned out to be just a dull brown color. However the first words out of your mouth were "isn't it beautiful". And from that moment on, I realized I was in the company of a man whose depth of awareness and appreciation of true natural beauty were beyond my casual comprehension and you made me determined to look deeper at everything from that moment on. I love you John as we all do.

Vaughn Banting (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Crime, traffic, smog, and no change of season -- the cost of living in Los Angeles. But the reward, which is immeasurable, is our proximity to John Naka. The first time I met John was at a CBS show demonstration. In one hour, his teaching ability, as well as his sense of humor, storytelling skills, and natural rapport with his audience had us all mesmerized. Throughout the country and even the world, people looked forward to a once-a-year visit from John.

But in southern California, we had the opportunity to see him once or twice a month! Being a student of John's and a member of California Bonsai Society has been such a great honor. But one of my most special memories of John isn't in class or at the club. In the past few years, I've had the privilege of accompanying John on his annual journey to the Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Watching people watch John work on bonsai trees in the collection was worth the trip.

People who knew nothing about bonsai were swept away by the beauty of the trees. Then they saw the bronze bust of John and read his biography. When they realized this national treasure was standing on the bench, trimming trees and working up a sweat, they were awe struck. And after 15 years of knowing John, I still feel the same way.

Cheryl Manning (Los Angeles, California)

Dear Bonsai Master John Naka: You did just what you intended ! In Bonsai Techniques Vol. I you wrote: "I hope this will assist you into a beautiful world of miniatures." For so many, you were our introduction to a Master. We watched, listened and learned ! In so very many ways our lives were changed and for the better. Our understanding of the plant world, seasons, balance, design. Your lessons were all there and taught with kindness and reason. You are the American Ambassador of Bonsai !!!

Jean C. Smith (Ft. Walton Beach, Florida)

John, your achievements are countless as an artist and a teacher. Your legacy to the world of bonsai has been your skill and passion in bridging the gap between the Japanese philosophy and the western world. Your example has dramatically improved our lives, simply by including us in your world.

Larry and Nina Ragle (Laguna Beach, California)

At Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention, November 2001. From Left: John Naka and Ernie Kuo. Photo courtesy of Ernie Kuo.

John,
You made common plants into bonsai of exquisite beauty.
You made a most mundane lesson exhilarating.
You have achieved the zenith in the living art of bonsai.
You continue to create senryu, haiku and paintings that sing.

Ernie Kuo (Buena Park, California)

When I first met John, at my first major bonsai convention, I was impressed by his sense of humour, on and off the stage, and by his easy manner in addressing people. I felt very comfortable as a mere novice, asking the Master questions that others may have identified as "dumb". A year later, at the Pasadena convention when I approached him, he greeted me by my name. I was both impressed and flattered. Yet, I remember thinking, "Were my questions last year THAT dumb?" But no, this was typical of John's good memory and consideration toward people.

I like to recall his early visits to Toronto while I was President of the Toronto Bonsai Society. John regaled us all with his stories, and broadened our artistic horizons with his demonstrations and workshops. At one time, while waiting to catch his flight home, John presented me with a copy of his new book, for which I thanked him profusely. Then, I told him that I already had a copy in my library. His eyes twinkled, and he smiled as he said, "Then, you should have another copy, - for your bathroom".

John's first demo tree in Toronto 1973 was a tall, collected, Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis). The day after the demo, John was refining this demo tree, - working on Betsy Armstrong's kitchen table, before our regular TBS Monday night meeting. I was 'helping' John, while working next to him, on my own, smaller, collected cedar, which had much driftwood. As we finished our work, John announced, "I will call this tree 'Northern Dragon' ", - and turning to me, he said, "We will call your tree, ' Little Dragon' ". I was most flattered, and on his return home, John made and sent to me, the appropriate little Japanese name sign, to stick in the soil beside my tree.

Like tens of thousands of others, I will always be proud to say that I am a bonsai student of John Yoshio Naka. And, I'm still telling his stories....... "just cut off anything that doesn't look like bonsai!"

Best regards,
Norman Haddrick (Toronto, Canada)

Bob Kato and John Naka

I was looking through some old photos and found this one taken in March of 1980 of John Naka finishing up a demo for a bonsai club. Those were great times as John was available for club demonstrations and workshops. John is amongst the most beloved figures in the bonsai world! My first formal lessons in bonsai basics in 1974 were with Bob Kato, shown assisting in the photo above and who passed away in 1986. He developed the Golden State Bonsai Federation logo concept.

Mike Page ( South San Francisco, California)

John, when I met you in Colorado 50 years ago, I had no idea how our lives would parallel -- fishing, bonsai, and suiseki. Now that you are retiring from the NABF, maybe we can go fishing again. Congratulations on a fantastic job.

Harry Hirao (Huntington Beach, California)

Nanpu Kai members [not all members present] in 1984 taken in Harry Hirao’s back yard. Standing from Left -- Sam Nakano, Shig Miya, Ted Iwaki, Bill Hatashita,Tsukasa Mukai, Katsuya Kamei, Sam Uyeno, Kaz Yoneda, Kazu Shimono, Gene Natao, Ben Oki, Front from Left -- Larry Ragle, John Naka, Marybel Balendonck, Harry Hirao, Frank Goya. Photo by Jim Kutzle- Harry Hirao's son in-law. Photo courtesy of Nina Ragle.

WHO guided me to follow the traditional way of bonsai art?
WHO makes me proud to be a bonsai artist?
WHO advised me to respect and to follow good ethics of the art?
WHO provided me with the most important bonsai textbook?
WHO always welcomes me with open arms whenever I need advice,
support or just friendship? JOHN Y. NAKA IS "WHO!"

Roy Nagatoshi (Sylmar, California)

My Bonsai with John Naka

This morning as I paused among the trees...
With watchful eyes and listening ears...
MY HEART STOOD STILL!

With grateful heart, I thanked the coffee pot...
while warming up...
For what I heard inside the trees.

WIND I FELT AND FALLING SNOWFLAKES
ON EVERY BRANCH... AS THEY BEGAN TO BEND.
Sometimes leaning to the ground
and up again... so high.

Right before my eyes...
I watched the tree-top bend so... hard...
pulling trunk and branches all down
in front of tree.

A teardrop from within the tree...
touched one inside of me.
NEW GROWTH FOR BOTH OF US...
TO STYLE A TREE.

The mountain top had passed away...
A new horizon etched it now...
with snow forever there.

TALL IT STOOD... WITH JIN HIGH ABOVE THE EARTH
in bright blue sky.
The coffee pot had stopped the wind...

AND BONSAI WHISPERED PEACE.

by Ginny Wrenn (written 3/9/1988) (Richmond, VA)

John Naka and Ginny Wrenn

Bob Dreschler with John Naka.
Photo courtesy U.S. National Arboretum .

As the first curator of the bonsai collection at the U.S. National Arboretum (now the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum), I was understandably a bit nervous when the 53 Japanese bonsai arrived as a Bicentennial gift to the American people in 1975. John Naka came to the Arboretum to give me a few pointers and noticed that there was quite a lot of jin (sculptured deadwood) on the Japanese bonsai. John said these needed treatment to preserve them, and recommended that I use an Ortho lime sulfur solution.

Never having used lime sulfur, I dutifully painted it on the deadwood but, once I saw the deadwood turning bright yellow, I began to panic. For a few days I was terribly worried that I had ruined these masterpiece bonsai. I should have had faith in the Master, however, for all of the jin became nice and white -- just like ancient deadwood should.

Thank you, John, for this first lesson, which I shall never forget. Thank you also for all of the assistance you gave me while I was the curator.

Best regards,
Bob Dreschler (Cheltenham, Maryland)

John always came to Florida during the winter; one of his first visits was in March 1972. It was a chilly night at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, where, in an unheated building, the Bonsai Club of Miami had arranged for a Miami Herald photographer to take slides of John's demonstration. Flood lights and all the other rigging were set up for the big show.

I was nervous since I had been selected to find a suitable tree for John to work on. In the middle of the floor in it's pot, was a jaboticaba, well over six feet tall, a good 12 inches taller than John! John worked and posed for the photographer for over three hours - he did a wonderful show. After all the clapping and accolades were quieted down, John said, "I'd like to tell you something. I learned a new Japanese cuss word tonight - JABOTICABA!"

It was quite an evening. As we were leaving for the night, John turned to me and said, "Mayna, I think you has better put that tree in a larger pot." Unknown to him, in Florida where bonsai was in its fledgling state, we had it in the largest pot available!

The tree lived with me for many years and developed nicely. I gave it to Jim Smith in Vero Beach several years ago and he refined it and exhibited it at BSF 2001 in Orlando. It looked great! It just goes to show you that, although the tree was selected by a novice, it was styled by a master and that gave it the groundwork to become a masterpiece.

Mayna Hutchinson (Miami, Florida)

At California Bonsai Society 45th Convention at the Burbank Airport Hilton March 2002. From Left: John Naka and Mel Ikeda. Photo courtesy of Mel Ikeda.

I feel Naka sensei to be the most influential person in bonsai. Not only is he a master of the art, he is a gifted teacher. He opened the teaching of bonsai to all people in the city, then brought it to the other states and all the countries of the world. He has the ability to communicate not only his knowledge of the techniques of bonsai, but also the spirit of bonsai. He has taught us to honor the traditional styling that has stood the test of time. His methods respect the basic designs, knowing that in Japan, trees of traditional style over 300 years old are still admired today as being masterpiece trees and national treasures.

Naka sensei, when teaching the art, can bring nature into the room. You can visualize what nature has created. Through John, nature can be transferred to the tree. The living art takes time to develop, but he is able to see what the tree will be years ahead from the first time that you work on it.

In the Japanese culture, when we translate the different art forms like poems or haiku to English, they lose a lot in the translation. But in bonsai, our sensei does not miss a beat. One of the most important things he has taught his students is the concept of “shibui”. It is something that is beautiful, in the most simple,subtle and natural way. Applied to bonsai, it includes the tree, the pot, the colors, the soil, and the harmony of placement of the tree in the pot -- the tree is the main focus, complemented by the other elements.

I also want to honor Alice Naka -- she named my bonsai business “Bonsai No Kokoro” -- “The Spirit of Bonsai.” Kokoro, I believe to be in every one of John’s students. He taught us well. Thank you, John. P.S. Have you ever heard John giggle?

Mel Ikeda (Costa Mesa, California)

Alan Walker with John in March of 1976

Dear John: On 16 August 2002 you were 88 years old! It’s been a lot of miles from that date in 1914 in Ft. Lupton, Colorado. I did not meet you until many years later, 1975 when you first visited New Orleans to teach bonsai. By then you had long since become the most revered name in bonsai outside of Japan, perhaps in the entire world!

You are THE bonsai teacher for me and for thousands of others around the world. You have done it all in the bonsai world. You are ichiban bonsai teacher, author, and humanitarian. And just like the spirit of bonsai, you have a beginning (which we are celebrating) but no end, because your legacy continues to develop. You have inspired us, and for that and much more, we thank you. Happy 88th Birthday, John!!!

Cordially yours,
Alan Walker, BCI President

John Naka has done demonstrations and conducted workshops all over the world. I know of no one person who has shared his love and knowledge of bonsai with more people.

I feel fortunate to have been able to study with John for three or four days each year for thirteen years. He, more than any one teacher, has influenced my bonsai knowledge and design skills.

He has another important talent. He makes everyone he meets feel like they are one of his very best friends.

I can't think of anyone I know who is loved and respected by so many people.

Jack E. Billet (Wilmington, DE)

My earliest recollection of my teacher, John Naka. was how diplomatic and kind he was of my earliest bonsai blunders. His enthusiasm and patience always made me want to inspire and continue despite adversities. He is tireless in his touring and teaching and always maintains his sense of humor and adventure. Above all John enjoys all aspects of life, big and little.

Lynn Porter (Bryn Mawr, PA)

I first met John Naka when he was the headliner at the 1970 ABS convention in Dallas. He worked on a Juniper and as he cut and wired he regaled us with his quips and adages. They were so new to me that I wrote them down. My favorites were: A ship with two captains ends up in the mountains and, I chicken, you chicken, no bonsai.

Later that spring Ernesta Ballard invited him to make his first visit to the East and he gave a lecture and did workshops at Keith Valley Nursery. The workshop trees were Blauwi junipers and we all produced bonsai under the Watchful eye of Mr. Naka. Since that time I have been an admirer of The Master, taking workshops when possible and participating in “Camp Bonsai” for Thirteen years. Camp Bonsai was held at the Rosade Bonsai Studio for our study group. We spent three to five days from dawn to dusk working on trees and learning from the Great John Yoshio Naka

Doris W. Froning (Wilmington, DE)

I should have known better than to ask “What John?” during a conversation with Jean Smith when, in 1986, I attended my first BCI convention in Washington DC. Her answer was: “There is only one John when you talk about bonsai!” I had been in bonsai for two years and one of my main reasons to be in D.C. at that time was to see, learn, and meet the one person I had been hearing about since my first day in bonsai. I was very privileged to have had John’s visit to my home in Cali, Colombia in 1987 and in 1992. As a sensei John is unique, his teachings, his sayings and jokes will always be in my mind. As a friend John is a treasure, my entire family has admired and loved him and Angela María, my daughter, keeps the picture of her late father taken next to John in a special place in her home. I have only words of gratitude and admiration for this great Bonsai Master.

Solita Rosade (New Hope, PA)

John with Chase Rosade.
Photo courtesy of Solita Rosade.

John Naka, friend, mentor and one hell of a Bonsai Master. What can one say who has John as a friend for more then a quarter of century? Over the years there have been dinners, drinks, lots of laughs, workshops, lectures and the learning experience of studying with John. In the mid 80’s we were both on the same program, John asked if I would assist him in his demonstration, I said yes if he would assist me in mine. He looked at me and said he had never been asked to be an assistant but he would be happy to be mine.

For those who attended the multi day Camp Bonsai held at the Studio beginning in the mid 70’s know the pleasure of working with a True Bonsai Master for four or five days from dawn till late into the night. Alice, we had a wonderful time with John, thank you for sharing him with the world.

Chase Rosade (New Hope, PA)

In 1970 I participated in John’s workshop in Pennsylvania at Dorothy Young’s nursery. There I began to learn of the sensitivity and deep respect John Naka has for encouraging students to express themselves through their bonsai. He is always teaching that people should use their own native material for bonsai and to do your best with the material you have.

Throughout the past 30 plus years I have admired John Naka for his artistry and enthusiasm for making bonsai a truly popular international art from. Thank you John, for a valuable lesson.

William N. Valavanis (Rochester, NY)

The Phoenix Bonsai Society would like to pay tribute to a humble, humorous, great and talented artist with a wonderful wife.

What can you say about John Naka? You can write a book! He has often told us: look at what's not there, fill in the spaces, and keep it simple. So many of the little phrases he uses to teach us about Bonsai often have a much larger relevance, and teach us something about living as well.

One time, we thought we would stump him by bringing in a tree for a demonstration that had little apparent potential, and a blatant, glaring flaw. But John can find beauty everywhere. So just when we thought we had him, he said, "if you have something undesirable in a tree, don't try to hide it but make it your focal point." And from that "hopeless" mess, he created a fine Bonsai.

It is hard to imagine anyone who has worked with John who does not feel himself richer for the experience. By his example, his patience, his wisdom, his zest for living and love for Bonsai, he challenges each of us to be not only a better Bonsai artisan, but a better human being as well.

Thank you John, we love you.
Elsie Andrade & Penny Schneck for the Phoenix Bonsai Society

Paul Matsusaki was a Phoenix landscaper who informally taught bonsai at his nursery. Reading a newspaper article about a rising California teacher around 1960, Paul wrote to John Naka and invited him to conduct a workshop in Arizona. John obliged, and after the Phoenix Bonsai Society was established here in 1962, the sensei returned regularly to the area. Our club members often were invited to visit John's personal collection at his home while we attended the California Bonsai Society's annual conventions. When the Phoenix Bonsai Society established its Internet web site in 1999, we began compiling a comprehensive biography honoring our long-time teacher, John Yoshio Naka.

Cordially,
Robert J. Baran
Phoenix Bonsai Society

Dear John, I salute you and applaud you for your many years of hard work to advance the art of bonsai. You have succeeded far beyond anything anyone could have imagined and in the shortest number of years, which is nothing less than miraculous. I attribute your success to your early start with youthful exuberance and your butch haircut, artistic talents, intelligence, strength, ambition, and vision -- and your courage to open up the membership of the California Bonsai Society to those outside the Japanese community.

It was fortunate that you were 24 years younger than my father, Frank Nagata, and the other founders who were of Dad’s generation. You, John, emerged the leader, and we are still hanging onto your coattails as you remain the leader/instructor to this day.

You led the California Bonsai Society in emphasizing quality trees and exhibitions, scheduled regular trips to collect old native trees from local desert areas. The club published annual show books, "Bonsai in California,"and maintained communication with top bonsai masters of the Nippon Bonsai Association. The National Bonsai Foundation named its North American Collection for you -- the John Naka Pavilion where your Goshin-I is a permanent display.

There were the constant travel years all over the United States and overseas to spread the teachings of bonsai. You published your two-volume textbooks which are very popular sellers and valuable educational tools in the western world. No one could challenge our "Ambassador of Bonsai." John, you did it all! No one person has done so much for so many over so many, many years. May you and Alice have many more good years.

With much respect and affection,
Kay Komai, your friend in bonsai (Temple City, California)

A few of us from Hawaii first met you at that wonderful 1974 Pasadena convention and we've been honored with your special friendship ever since. You exemplify everything that the Spirit of Bonsai should be and we commend and honor you for a lifetime of achievement and leadership. I send our warmest aloha on behalf of your friends at Fuku-Bonsai, Hawaii Bonsai Association, Big Island Bonsai Association, and the Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation.

David W. Fukumoto (Kurtistown, Hawaii)

John Naka with Jack Sustic and Goshin at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

What can one say about John Naka that hasn't already been said? I try to think of a clever phrase or witty quote that hasn't been used and I think of none. Over the last several years I've had the honor and privilege to get to know John personally. I've had the opportunity to go to John's home and study bonsai. I have been fortunate to be involved with all three Goshins and it was during one of my visits that we created Goshin III. I really should say I worked for John creating Goshin III.

Can you picture in your mind the strict master critical of every move you make and the fearful student attempting to get it right? That's not John Naka. John could have been the strict master, and I would have been grateful for the experience. But that's not John Naka. I was definitely the student and he the master, but in his way he made me feel comfortable and confident. Confident on my abilities both in technique and in design. We worked on Goshin III for four days, talking about trunk placement , branch placement and naturalness.

When I think about John and the times we've spent together, of course I think of the bonsai lessons but equally I think about John the person: the joy he feels in watching a hummingbird nesting in his workshop, and the kindness he shows toward other people. Do you know he still takes Art classes? Imagine that -- the master as a student. Might be a lesson there! I have found one thing that all the true masters have in common. The true masters not only teach you about bonsai but they also teach you about life. John is not only a great bonsai master (as if that wasn't enough), he is a great person.

Jack Sustic
Supervisory Curator of Bonsai,
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum,
U.S. National Arboretum

Dear John: Every so often, someone rises above all others in their chosen field. The pebble of knowledge you threw into that lake of ignorance 50 some years ago is still making ever widening circles and those it touches are, in turn creating ripples. They will never stop. CONGRATULATIONS JOHN!

Jim Barrett (Arcadia, California)

John Naka was visiting my home and after viewing my bonsai collection I pointed out a tree that had been bothering me. It had a root that looped over another root and it broke the rules. As the ultimate bonsai master and teacher, he pleasantly stressed to me that the root was the "beauty part" of the tree and not to cut it off. For the next few weeks I kept re-analyzing this troublesome root and one day John’s wisdom dawned on me. The tree was quite ordinary, and the only part of it that had any originality and freedom was that kooky root. Without the root the tree would have been more perfect but much less of a bonsai!

Jerry Meislik (Whitefish, Montana)

The birthday group photo taken in Summer of 1996. Standing from Left -- Alice Naka, Marybel Balendonck, Alyce Hirao, Nina Ragle; Front from Left -- John Naka and Harry Hirao. Photo courtesy of Nina Ragle.

I remember well the first time I witnessed a bonsai demonstration by John Naka. It was at the Santa Anita Bonsai Society meeting in the very early 70's. He turned his demo material, a California Juniper, around several times and said he wasn't sure where the front was, but he had located the back, so he would take it from there. Of course, the final result was superb. In his humorous and whimsical way, he has opened the wondrous and beautiful world of bonsai to so many of us throughout the world. I count myself most fortunate to have had him as my sensei and to have him and his wife, Alice, as my dear friends. Theirs has been a wonderful partnership in which Alice has been his ghostwriter and Muse and without whom he could not have accomplished the great things that he has. My salute to two very, very special people.

Marybel Balendonck (Fullerton, California)

At the opening of the John Naka North American Bonsai Pavilion at the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C., October 1990. Photo courtesy of Ben Oki.

Mr. Naka, I'm honored to be your right hand man.

Thank you.
Ben Oki (Culver City, California)

Note: Ben was once asked, "Would you have gotten into bonsai if there were no John Naka?" He immediately replied, "No. No John Naka, No Bonsai!"

What a great sensei! How can I express my admiration for John? He has been my sensei for nineteen years. I was so lucky when he chose to teach classes at my house. I've learned so much from John, for his knowledge and styling in bonsai are remarkable. His character is unbelievable. There are times he is very witty and other times he is very serious. And, once in a while, John will go on the warpath, for he is so passionate about bonsai and expects as much from his students as he does from himself. Now that he's a young man of 88 years, he has retired from teaching bonsai and has traded his scissors for a paintbrush. I sure miss his classes, because there is only one John Naka, a great bonsai master as well as a treasured friend.

Leila Kusumi (Gardena, California)

I met John in the late seventies when I was a bonsai beginner. I bought his first book Bonsai Techniques I which he signed for me at a workshop I attended in Toronto. During the workshop, when going around the participants, John did his usual drawing of the proposed design of my material. He looked at me and said, "Don’t try to make your trees look like bonsai, make your bonsai look like trees". This quote has stayed with me all these years, and has been a constant in my designs. John Naka is the most influential mentor in my bonsai life, and a role model for anyone.

David J. Rowe (Vancouver, Canada)

To John Naka: In so many ways you've influenced the lives of all of us in the world of Bonsai. I am no exception. At a California convention many years ago, you said "You don't talk to your trees, you listen to them," advice that I will follow for the rest of my life. Thank you so much!

Dennis Makishima (El Cerrito, California)
President, Golden State Bonsai Federation

At the Morikami Museum Bonsai Exhibit in 1978 John Naka created an Australian Pine forest with over a dozen good sized trees. It was to be placed on a long flat slab, about five feet long. The rock was placed on a borrowed hospital gurney and John was reclining on top of the rock, spirited and smiling, as it was wheeled into the exhibit area.

According to Dr. Chuck Eschenburg, leader of the event:"It was a cocktail celebration. Members took on names of drinks that fit their name. First on stage were the helpers: Helen 'Whisky' Souder; 'Bloody' Mary Madison (there were more, but those are the only ones I can remember). The main feature was “NAKA ON THE ROCK(s)." As you can see, we had lots of fun at those early Florida Bonsai meetings.

Dick Miller (Atlantis, Florida)

Over the years I learned a lot about bonsai and about attitude from John Naka --- fundamental insights simply expressed in unforgettable ways.

“Too much is too much. Not enough is not enough. Just right is just right."

"Where one person will find a race horse someone else may find a dragon. They are both nice. But, don't try to make a dragon and a race horse at the same time."

But, what was probably John's most important lesson for me came in the early 70's when he first visited Michigan. John was asking about our weather and we were explaining that in early April the temperature could be more than 70 degrees above or 20 degrees below zero - sometimes in the same week. Then I lightheartedly suggested that growing bonsai had to be easier in California. John hesitated a bit as he studied his audience then responded, "You people have lots of excuse."

Jack Wikle (Tecumseh, MI)

Way back in 1968 when I was trying to revitalize the St Louis Bonsai Society. The president of our club Evan Dodd and myself were trying to find a suitable logo for the club and I was trying to find a logo for a small pot & tool business (a club necessity) for myself. Evan & I found an advertising piece about John Naka in the BCI magazine. Evan decided we would use the cascade for the club and I would use another one with a thick trunk for my business. In about 1970 or thereabouts, I had come up with an apron for my business that had the tree in white on dark green background and was collecting autographs of well-known bonsai artists at the conventions. While I was collecting yet another at a convention, I noticed John Naka glancing at me. Oh, Oh I'm in trouble now!

I thought what the heck can he do to me about stealing his image for my logo. I walked over to John and asked him if he would autograph my apron. He glanced at some of the names and exclaimed "MY TREE". I explained how and why. He grinned and said "NO STEAL". He started to sign name at bottom of the apron. I quickly asked "John, Please sign under your tree” and he did!

Ed Meehan (Wood River, IL)

Years ago, on one of John’s visits to Madison, WI, we were in my bonsai area looking at my collection (such as it was). I had a tree that was not doing well. We talked about it and John asked “If I talked to my trees?” My answer was “Of Course I do! But this tree won’t talk to me! So I am at a loss as to what its problem is.” We went on about our visit and shortly after I was in the house tending to another matter when I felt this tap on my shoulder. It was John. When I turned around he told me “I know why your tree won’t talk to you.” “Why?” I asked. His response was “Because it doesn’t know English only Japanese. I just had a long talk with it!!!”

Jack Douthitt (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Back: Janet Lanman and John Naka. Front: Gayle and Vaughn Banting. Photo courtesy of Vaughn Banting.

Love, laughter and excitement about beauty all represent John Naka to me. It gives me joy to be his friend.

Janet Lanman (Chevy Chase, MD)

John Naka is a gentle giant with a heart to match his quick smile. In partnership with Saburo Kato, he's guided thousands of us to enjoy the world of bonsai and the peacefulness of nature. The Big Island of Hawaii sends him it's warmest aloha for an outstanding life-long job well done!

Hiroshi Ikeda (Hilo, Hawaii)

Over the years we have meet many good bonsai artists. But always, always we remember his enthusiast, his humor, his knowledge and his willingness to help. And his most important quality, humility. We have the opportunity to have him here in 1996, and there is no doubt that my inspiration as what I want to be as a bonsai teacher is to be close to what he is. " I WANT TO BE LIKE ...... Naka SAN" --

Best Regards,
Pedro J. Morales (Puerto Rico)

Pedro Morales and John Naka in 1996 in Puerto Rico. Photo courtesy of Pedro Morales.

Dear John Naka,

Every time I visit your home to pick up the Naka training books, you've always had time to show me your bonsai collection. To share the stories how each tree was collected and developed is so precious and unforgettable. I look forward to future visits.

John Kitagawa (Sunnyvale, California)

Looking back over an involvement with bonsai which now spans more than three decades, I am reminded that although there are many talented bonsai artists in the world, there are very few who can combine that talent with the ability to teach and motivate others. John Yoshio Naka is such a person.

When I and my fellow Minnesotans were learning bonsai in the early 1970's, John was a frequent and very welcome visitor to our community. Situated as we were... far from the "epicenter" of bonsai on the west coast,.. we were hungry... indeed, desperate for any information we could obtain on the art. John Naka was one of a small handful of teachers who left the warm sunshine of the west coast and journeyed into the frozen northland to spread the gospel of bonsai. Not only did John Naka bring a little enlightenment with him... he caused the bonsai sun to shine in Minnesota with all the brilliance of a California summer.

Anyone who has studied bonsai seriously can explain how to cut a branch or bend a wire. Although John Naka certainly has this ability, it is not the stuff that great teachers are made of. John Naka taught bonsai with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. It is true that he gave us the mechanical knowledge we needed to do the job, but more importantly, John Naka gave us a generous helping of his love for the art. His intensity, his excitement and his dedication were infectious. He made us fall in love with something that now... more than thirty years later... has become such an important part of our existence that it would be hard to imagine life without it.

During the course of a lifetime, the number of truly extraordinary people one is privileged to meet can be counted on the fingers of one hand. If I had been asked to list the names of those who would change my life, I would have listed names such as Churchill, Roosevelt, or Kennedy. I would never have thought a small, reserved, Japanese gentleman from southern California would make the list.

He has been dubbed the "Father of American Bonsai" and has had honor upon honor bestowed on him. But John Naka is a modest man... and although he says "thank you very kindly" when bonsai enthusiasts around the world sing his praises... deep down inside, I think he believes he is just a fairly likeable guy, who knows a little about bonsai and got lucky. That's OK! We probably wouldn't like him as much if his ego were as big as our own. What John Yoshio Naka does not fully realize is that his true gift to me and thousands like me was the very thing the Scriptures describe as the greatest gift of all... love! All John has ever asked in return is that we combine his love of bonsai with our own and continue to share it with others.

Randy Clark (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Minnesota Kikoroshi Study Group (1970s),from left: Don Ganglehoff; Vern Weeks; Randy Clark; Virginia Bradley; John Naka; Mike Hansen; Nancy Harris and Rollie Hofmeister. The baseball cap John is wearing, which was a gift from the group, has TWO brims and was inscribed with the words "I Am Their Leader.... Which Way Did They Go?"

Several of us were having lunch with John at a restaurant near the 1987 BCI Convention hotel in Minneapolis. John was telling stories and commented, with a twinkle in his eyes, on how much he missed tomato ice cream. Skepticism was expressed as to its existence, but John stuck to his story.

As John was finishing lunch, the waitress brought him a dessert. And, sure enough, it was a bowl of tomato ice cream. For once, John was speechless, but finally got out: "What is this!" The waitress's deadpan reply: "Your tomato ice cream, sir." Needless to say, the table was in stitches.

I had slipped away from the table and persuaded the waitress to chop up some tomato and mix it into a scoop of vanilla ice cream. She thought it was a great idea and played it straight all the way. Seeing John's reaction was a moment I shall always treasure.

The real treasure is, of course, John Naka himself. The wonderful and talented man who made bonsai what it is today.

Terry Ward (Austin, Texas)

John and Jorge Lucero after a demonstration in Valencia, Venezuela (1976). Photo by Beatriz de Cassingena, courtesy of Jorge Lucero.

John is a bonsai master in every sense of the word. He sets up a goal and goes about attaining it in a strict and disciplined way. As a superb teacher and lecturer, he displays a rare sense of showmanship.

Yet John is modest and his ways are simple. He puts others at ease. You are never overwhelmed by his presence, and his warmth is all embracing. His laugh is contagious. He is recognized for his wit, often capped by jokes directed at his own expense.

John has written, produced and published two of the most important books on and about bonsai in the English language. They have now been translated into several other languages.

Jorge Lucero (Conyers, GA)

It all started at the BCI IBC Hotel in Honolulu at IBC '90. Marybel Balendonck was soliciting contributions for the new John Y. Naka North American Pavilion at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. She mentioned that she needed some help packing and shipping about 14 treasured southern California bonsai from Los Angeles to Washington D. C. for the American Collection. As a bonsai collecting guide in Colorado, I have had occasion to ship many collected trees by air to various collectors around the United States. So I offered to come to LA and arrange the packing and shipping. John didn't know me, but because I was an associate of Harold Sasaki, the owner of Colorado Bonsai whom John knew and trusted, John agreed. Marybel, who was representing the National Bonsai Foundation and paying the airfreight, concurred.

So, about a month later, my son, David, who owned a bonsai business in Mar Vista, and I met at John's home in Whittier. John's friends, bonsai masters Frank Goya and Shig Mia, also came over to help. It was an amazing scene to watch as John's best students, one by one, showed up with little red wagons and other carts delivering their best trees in honor of their beloved master. How does one say good-bye to a tree that you've nurtured and cultured and loved beyond all others? The formal yet personal expressions ofgratitude and appreciation exchanged between these bonsaimasters and the master of masters was something we'll never forget.

Marybel was there and she diagrammed the layout of the pallets to fit in two 5' by 10' LD11 airborne containers, and the location of each bonsai on the pallets. We had laid out, with chalk on John's driveway, two five-by-ten spaces and we cut the pallets to fit. Then we placed seven bonsai in each space. There were a lot of very old and beautiful trees crowded carefully together!

One problem was Harry Hirao's famous cascade which had to be on a raised platform a foot above the others. We were nervous about the whole process because we didn't want any contact between these unique and precious trees. John looked into the crowd of branches and remarked: "There's no room for monkeys to play around in there!" Alice, John's wife, provided refreshments and watched from a safe distance.

We then dismantled everything and loaded pallets, trees, blocks, and rope into a rented truck and headed for the United cargo terminal. The LD11's were waiting for us. The United people had never seen a cargo like this before, and they usually don't let customers load containers, but in this case they made an exception. It turned out to be much harder to tie trees to pallets when they are in containers than when they were on Mr. Naka's driveway!

John and Marybel were very patient, though a bit nervous about the whole process. As we closed the containers, there were more than a few prayers said for their safe passage to Dulles airport. We had the containers buttoned up just in time to make the last flight which arrived in time for an early pick up by Robert "Bonsai Bob" Drechsler, curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. Marybel was very relieved to hear from Bob that not a single leaf or needle was damaged.

What a thrill and honor to be a part of this unique event, working with John and handling these national treasures that will be on display long after we are gone. Harold, Dave and I all wish Naka-san happy 88th birthday! We are honored to know you. "Have a good ride."

Dick Meleney (Littleton, Colorado)