Off to Japan

Wilson said:
Awesome dude! A whole new world to discover, bike and camera obligatory! Best of luck with all of it.
Click to expand...
Haha, I do plan on bringing my bike with me. It is in line with the deshi lifestyle. Free and easy to explore areas on my days off. Not gonna have money for spendy fun trips when I'm there lol.
 
bleumeon said:
Realistically I will not be going back home often. Maybe I might be able to visit once a year but I don't know how that works out. Fortunately I have family in Taiwan which is right next to Japan who plan on visiting me. Interestingly the old generation in Taiwan can speak Japanese as Taiwan used to be occupied by Japan during the WWII era, so my grandparents have no problem traveling around the country. It is some relief to know I won't be completely alone there and on occasion to be able to see old faces.
Click to expand...
That is good to hear you have family planning on visiting...sounds more ideal. Maybe more can do likewise...travel...holiday...and visit you along the way. Much easier per say...than you leaving your apprenticeship .
 
bleumeon said:
People who know me personally know what I've been up too but I wanted to share the news with the bnut family as I've benefited a lot from this forum.

I have been accept as an apprentice at Fujikawa Kouka-en nursery. I am insanely tired and I don't think I've worked as hard for something in my life before and I'll tell you that I ain't no slacker. Unfortunately there is no break to be had and in 10 hours I return to UCR for a final and difficult quarter. I move to Osaka in August. You can read about my story on my site:
https://bontsai.com/2018/04/01/japan-here-i-come/

Life has gotten real and also immensely busy. I will write when I have time but maybe not as active as before. Please subscribe to my blog to see periodic updates when they happen.
View attachment 184719
Click to expand...

Sounds great congratulations.
Gonna finish the 3d fungi experiments before you go?
 
wireme said:
Sounds great congratulations.
Gonna finish the 3d fungi experiments before you go?
Click to expand...
Haha that is cool you still remember that. Unfortunately I no longer work in that lab and I'm not sure if my grad mentor continued the project. I last left off trying to create my fungi friendly scaffold paste but there were problems creating something that could be extruded while retaining it's shape.
 
bleumeon said:
Realistically I will not be going back home often. Maybe I might be able to visit once a year but I don't know how that works out. Fortunately I have family in Taiwan which is right next to Japan who plan on visiting me. Interestingly the old generation in Taiwan can speak Japanese as Taiwan used to be occupied by Japan during the WWII era, so my grandparents have no problem traveling around the country. It is some relief to know I won't be completely alone there and on occasion to be able to see old faces.
Click to expand...
If I return to Osaka, I'll visit you.
 
Good luck
It will be hard work but you will be the man when you get back. Just in case you need to a tree sitter, I have room for a few. We are not far from each other. It will only cost you a bonsai lesson when you get back in 5 years. I look forward to your updates.
 
thomas22 said:
Good luck
It will be hard work but you will be the man when you get back. Just in case you need to a tree sitter, I have room for a few. We are not far from each other. It will only cost you a bonsai lesson when you get back in 5 years. I look forward to your updates.
Click to expand...
You know I may have to take you up on that offer. I have been trying to sell all my lower quality trees and disperse the rest of my collection over several people as not to overly burden one person.
 
No problem, I have mostly junipers, ficus, and bougies so those would be my first choice trees to care for. Just let me know.
 
0soyoung said:
I'll just echo what everybody else ^^ has said so well :cool:.

Make some videos!
Click to expand...
I am on every social media platform right now (can't really use Twitter or snapchat for bonsai) and youtube would be the last one. I really want to make videos and have tor--maybe I shouldn't say that ;) I have acquired all the nice adobe editing software and time permitting will try to make some. I think I have a very good feel for the story telling and building process and I'm confident I can make good videos. Talking to a camera by self is something I will need to practice before I publish anything though haha.
 
Julian, congrats on your impending apprenticeship. I live in OC and if you need someone to tend to your trees, let me know. Good luck
 
@sorce is the man for sure. Really appreciate the gesture.

It is still very surreal that I will be moving to Japan. Everything has been fast paced and very rushed. I think I have very realistic expectations of what the apprentice life entails but knowing is not the same as doing. It will be a challenge for sure, especially learning a new language and culture. I am 100% committed though and intend to follow through completely.

The next step is make the most of my time and to make sure I learn while I'm there. I want to pursue bonsai professionally but I need to be good at what I do. Apprenticing in japan sounds cool and all but if I have nothing to show for it, it just means I'm a quack who helped lift heavy trees and clean.

Everything I've been doing so far has been completely self taught with no instructors. I'd like to think I've developed and started a few nice trees in the 4 years I've been in bonsai but they were only to my standard. So I've been pretty lax on having perfect wiring or executing other techniques as long as they got the job done. I'll have to check my attitude and mentality going into Japan so that I can have a good relation with my Oyakata and also execute quality work to his standard. But at least all the first impressions were good and my interactions with him over 4 days were not bad. I most definitely did not follow all the social rules with the correct etiquette but they were forgiving as it was my first time in Japan. Could be off to a worse start o_O
 
You’ll have tough shoes to fill since that’s where Bjorn was! He set a high standard.

My best advice, from talking with the half dozen or so former apprentices I know, is to forget that you know anything about bonsai, and plan to start completely over. And pay attention to every bit of detail possible. You will be low man on the totem pole when you arrive. Everyone will be your “senior”! And order you about. Don’t question what they want, just do. Be the first one up in the morning working: cleaning, weeding, etc before breakfast, and be the last one working at night. You will have to earn their respect. Once you do, however, you will be like family! Even then, know your place!

This will be much more difficult mentally and psychologically than it will be physically, and it will be a tough challenge physically!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

appancotti
Save 20% off rare orchids from Japan
Replies
9
Views
4K
Sansokuu
Sansokuu
Cajunrider
Shaving off to eliminate reverse taper on JBP?
Replies
4
Views
178
River's Edge
River's Edge
BenBSeattle
Want to show off your Bonsai before and after on my next video?
Replies
0
Views
99
BenBSeattle
BenBSeattle
N
Fukien Tea leaves falling off
Replies
3
Views
110
Jrmcmich
Jrmcmich
Bonsai Nut
Show off your spring maple foliage! (Photos required)
5 6 7
Replies
121
Views
4K
Trout Bum
Trout Bum
Back
Top Bottom