Mini Bonsai - An attempt at a definition

[Yamabudoudanshi]

When it comes to bonsai sizes, I think most of you have a pretty accute understanding of the traditional categories - Dai, Chuu, Kifu, Shohin, Mame, etc.

However, I've noticed that whenever I've used the term "Mini Bonsai" on this forum, I think most people have assumed I'm talking about mame or shohin, but that's not the case. Perhaps this category has just not caught on in the west yet. It's probably due to their relative newness.

Mini bonsai is however a category of its own and is thriving in Japan. What sets them apart from mame is the strict hight limit and the proportions that go with it. Most of the trees I'm developing fit/will fit in this category, although I also have some that have crept into shohin territory. The are even nursuries like Yajimaen in Kawaguchi that specialize in this size.

While mame bonsai only have to fit in the palm of the hand and can technically be any hight, mini bonsai generall have to fit in the palm of the hand, AND be under 10 cm (3.9 inches) from the rim of the pot. - I guess you could say, all mini are mame, but not all mame are mini?

Mini bonsai generally also tend to be stockier thicker trees than mame trees. The idea is that they should look like big trees shrunk down and not sticks in pots. I like to think of them as half size shohin.

Here's a video about it.

And one about Yajimaen

Anyway, I hope that for some that have encountered the term but didn't really know how it was defined that this might be helpful.

Additionally, if you have any trees that fall into this palm of the hand / under 10cm category, please post pictures.

Cheers!

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Thanks for the info.

I watch a lot of Youtube channels including Yajimaen, Bonsai Q and those types of channels and the word mini bonsai is used for many small types of bonsai in those videos.
All I can say is I love mini bonsai and I don't care if you call it Mame, Shohin or what ever.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I love this!!
These are perfect little specimens.
I would love to have the stands and scrolls too!

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

I love this!!
These are perfect little specimens.
I would love to have the stands and scrolls too!

The stands are pretty commonplace, but that video is the first time I've seen a miniturized tokonoma.

I thought using the shrunk down tokonoma was a pretty genious way to trick the eye. Especially for photos.

 

[leatherback]

The idea is that they should look like big trees shrunk down and not sticks in pots.

Hm.. Isn't that the case for all mame bonsai, in fact, for all bonsai?

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

Hm.. Isn't that the case for all mame bonsai, in fact, for all bonsai?

I guess so, but it depends who you ask I guess.

I find that in general, the mame bonsai crowd here doesn't mind young looking trees (sticks in pots), and much prefer to focus on the pot and overall composition. I find that very rarely does anything called mame have any real taper or scale to it.

People who focus on mini on the other hand tend to focus on a more traditional look. - Agressive taper (when possible) and generally fat powerful trunks with fine branching. What many refer to as the 'sumo' look.

I guess it's just the Japanese tendency to want to put everything in a nice little box that birthed the distinction.

On the other hand, I find some definitions as they relate to bonsai actually become more narrow outside of Japan. For example, nobody will argue with you if you call you tree a bunjin here, as long as it's somewhat tall relative to it's thickness. Many people on this forum however are very quick to tell people their trees aren't really bunjin, and are more of a slant or informal upright. I've even seen people say things like "only the top 1/3 of the tree should have branches". - Absolutely not the case here.

I suppose the same thing happens in food culture, or really any culture. Categories and definitions skew one way or another to suit the culture. Interesting to think about.

 

[leatherback]

For example, nobody will argue with you if you call you tree a bunjin here, as long as it's somewhat tall relative to it's thickness.

And.. the obsession with extreme bends in the trunk is a western perspective I am finding.

 

[SeanS]

This is also a great channel that focuses on Yajimaen mostly: https://www.youtube.com/c/盆栽タネ

Here's one of my minis in development, not sure if it qualifies

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I guess so, but it depends who you ask I guess.

I find that in general, the mame bonsai crowd here doesn't mind young looking trees (sticks in pots), and much prefer to focus on the pot and overall composition. I find that very rarely does anything called mame have any real taper or scale to it.

People who focus on mini on the other hand tend to focus on a more traditional look. - Agressive taper (when possible) and generally fat powerful trunks with fine branching. What many refer to as the 'sumo' look.

I guess it's just the Japanese tendency to want to put everything in a nice little box that birthed the distinction.

On the other hand, I find some definitions as they relate to bonsai actually become more narrow outside of Japan. For example, nobody will argue with you if you call you tree a bunjin here, as long as it's somewhat tall relative to it's thickness. Many people on this forum however are very quick to tell people their trees aren't really bunjin, and are more of a slant or informal upright. I've even seen people say things like "only the top 1/3 of the tree should have branches". - Absolutely not the case here.

I suppose the same thing happens in food culture, or really any culture. Categories and definitions skew one way or another to suit the culture. Interesting to think about.

Well I think there is about 3 insults here to the members of this forum. Not everyone here thinks the same or has the same experience level. Many trees are still in the development stage. You can’t really say the group does this or that because it is filled with so many different experiences.
A few of mine that could be in this category.
Still works in progress.

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

Well I think there is about 3 insults here to the members of this forum.

By "here", I don't mean on this forum. I mean here, in Japan. I thought that was clear with the context, but maybe not.

I have no intention to insult anyone. I've got love for bonsai in all its forms. I'm mearly discussing the ways people tend to categorize their own trees in Japan. These are of course generalizations based on my own experience.

Nice trees by the way. I know nothing about tropicals, but I'm guessing they're some kind of ficus? The second one has an amazing base. The semi-cascade is also interesting.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

By "here", I don't mean on this forum. I mean here, in Japan. I thought that was clear with the context, but maybe not.

I have no intention to insult anyone. I've got love for bonsai in all its forms. I'm mearly discussing the ways people tend to categorize their own trees in Japan. These are of course generalizations based on my own experience.

Nice trees by the way. I know nothing about tropicals, but I'm guessing they're some kind of ficus? The second one has an amazing base. The semi-cascade is also interesting.

Oh- sorry for my misinterpretation.
I have no idea what it’s like in Japan. The semi cascade was better before I got a hold of it. Lol
It was created by Suthin- a work of art for sure.