NABF Newsletter #1

Feature #9

A Tribute to John Naka
From His International Friends

John Naka with Pius Notter and a collected Switzerland pine

I met John Y. Naka twenty years ago. A few years later he was in Switzerland as my guest and I realized that John is a very special person. His humor, his warm personality and his great experience with bonsai impresses me every time I meet him. Besides nature, John Naka is the only teacher for me. He opened my eyes to a wonderful and successful way with bonsai: “A life dedicated to trees!"

Pius Notter (Switzerland) WBFF European Region Director

John and "his" Pelindaba area (South Africa) rock. Alice wouldn't allow John to take it home and it's still there today. Photo by Derry Ralph.

"He is an ambassador of goodwill, and the Art of Bonsai, as it is recognized in the western world today is the result of one Master only – JOHN NAKA. John has done more for Bonsai than any other person, and is responsible for placing Bonsai in South Africa on the International map. His humility, sense of humor and very vast Bonsai knowledge and talent is an inspiration to all enthusiasts. It is an honor and very great personal privilege to have had the good fortune to have been a friend of John and Alice for at least 25 years".

Sincerely, Derry Ralph (Parkhurst, South Africa)

While I never had any master teach me 'officially', I must make sure that John Naka with his books and his demonstrations in Europe had a tremendous influence on my work. I have read the books probably more than thirty times, knowing every sentence and every picture by now. All this wealth of knowledge is subconsciously on my mind when I work on trees. The most precious piece of philosophy that I have from John is to "not make your tree look like a bonsai but rather make your bonsai look like a tree". This has become the centerpiece of my present bonsai philosophy. Thank you John, also on behalf of thousands of Germans and tens of thousands of Europeans.

Walter Pall (Germany)

I have never met John myself, but his dedication to Bonsai art had, no question, given me a lot of knowledge and inspiration and I hope to meet him one day.

However, all from Indonesia would like to wish him all the best ...Happy Birthday !!! Here, in our Bonsai society, we never say 88 year old, but 88 years young !...and for Chinese, "8" is the most lucky number especially double-8 - "Fa-fa" = flourishing luck! People are willing to pay at any price to have this number for their car plate.

Best personal regards,
Robert Steven (Indonesia)

John addressing the Bombay audience, with Mr. Pohekar, founder of the Indo-Japanese Association, on left, and Mr. Yoshida, Consul General of Japan, on right.

JOHN NAKA has served the bonsai world with total devotion and an ever smiling face. His drawings/ sketches of how the future bonsai design will develop is proving him to be a visionary artist.

He has never discouraged anyone, even when the material was scanty or inappropriate. We recall very well his visit to Bombay, India in 1980,when we were just starting in bonsai. His visionary sketches are still in my possession.

John's wit, his relaxed and nice way of teaching, and his way of working meticulously and joyously all are worth emulating.

We in India wish him and Alice Good Health.
Nikunj and Jyoti Parekh (Bombay,India)
WBFF India Region Director

Audience (including Nikunj Parekh in front row center) charmed by John Naka's presentation in Bombay, India in 1981.

I guess it was in 1998 while attending the 40th anniversary of the Golden Coast Bonsai Association at Pasadena, California. Mr. Naka was working on a demonstration tree. Addressing the audience in soft voice he said: "You see, the most important thing in bonsai is to follow the rules, once you have learned this, then you can break the rules."

The message behind this: study, study, work, work, then you will be able to create your own.

Thank you, Mr. Naka.
Aquiles Marcano (Venezuela)

When the master teaches bonsai, nature itself is present so that using fewer words, all is clearer and easier.
Thank you John.

Cristina Cangaro, Argentina

Dear Mr. John Naka:

Informed by Mr. Laughlin, WBFF Chairman, I hope I can express our honor to you on your 88th birthday.

On behalf more than 200,000 Penjing (Bonsai) hobbyists from China, I would like to congratulate you on your 88th birthday.

We all thank you for your contribution to the peace expanding in the world by means of Penjing. This, as you know so well, has been the goal of the WBFF.

We all hope you live well with health and we hope we can meet you at the next Penjing Convention.

Best wishes,
Your sincerely
Hu, Yunhua
WBFF China Region Director

John visited Australia on two occasions around 25 years ago, and was one of the first international bonsai Teachers we experienced in this part of the world. At that time, his infectious personality and humour, combined with his easy way of communicating his bonsai knowledge and experience, made a lasting impression on everyone. His book "Bonsai Techniques I" and its successor, contributed enormously in those early days to common understanding and practice of the art, and remains today one of the simplest communicators of bonsai art and practice, not withstanding all the bonsai books published since.

A visit to any Nanpu-kai exhibition is living testimony to John's long history as a very successful bonsai Teacher.

His Australian and New Zealand friends join with you in paying tribute to a great Bonsai Master.

Lindsay Bebb (Australia)
WBFF Australia/New Zealand Region Director

Dear Mr. John Naka,

Mr. Laughlin, WBFF Chairman informed us of your 88th birthday.

I recall meeting you for the first time in Orlando, at the Second World Bonsai Convention in 1993. During the event you conducted a very impressive Bonsai demonstration.

Most of our Indonesian friends (members of the Indonesian Bonsai Society), especially myself, have taken advantage in learning from your book "Bonsai Techniques."

Congratulations and we wish you all the best on your 88th birthday. May your days ahead be a journey of a happy and healthy life.

Thank you for your contribution in the development of bonsai.

Warm regards,
H. Ismail Saleh, SH (Indonesia) WBFF Asia-Pacific Region Director

Alice and John Naka next to Ismail Saleh and Saburo Kato during the 2nd WBFF Convention in 1993 in Orlando, Florida. Photo courtesy of Ismail Saleh.