Customer Reviews

Bonsai Techniques I

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Accept first off if you buy this book, there are very few pretty pictures. This is not a coffee table book. There are however many detailed diagrams and tons of information that any serious bonsai artist should have. Naka de-mystifies the art of bonsai and gives clear cut diagrams that are easy to understand and (even more important) easy to apply to your own trees.

If you want a picture book of bonsai this is not for you, if you grow bonsai you should buy this book. In fact if you only buy one book on bonsai, buy this one.

This book is effectively in print -- the latest printing was 2002 -- and you can still get new copies from bonsaimonk.com or bonsai-bci.com/books.htm, among others. I'm sure eventually amazon will get some copies with the next printing -- they've been coming out every two to three years. Until then, don't pay $50 for this book used. And yes, as another reviewer said, he does sign almost every copy -- so don't pay extra for the collectibles!

And yes, it is a terrific piece of work -- like being walked through a hands-on class by a tutor who demonstrates all the possible mistakes along the way by showing, not telling. Very pleasing to the eye as well, for a micro-publisher's book.--Shayana Kadidal

As a medical doctor, i am a total neophyte to the world of bonsai. Just about 2 months ago, i have the strong feeling that i would like to enter the beauty and mystery of it. I started to attend basic bonsai classes; visited bonsai gardens and nurseries of the philippine bonsai masters -learn different techniques from them and finally i was able to read Bonsai TechniqueI. Practically, the questions on my mind were answered by this all-knowing book of John Naka = perfect for me, the neophyte. I was so amazed and overwhelmed with all the details that goes with it, and now i feel that i should have started bonsai much earlier. But then, i felt too, that it's not yet late for me to have my own bonsai collections, philippine set-up at that. This book will definitely be my guide and teacher! Although, Philippine trees are different from other countries and taking note that we only have 2 seasons (wet & dry), this book offers no problem to me. First,it gradually guided me to the mystery and beauty of any tree on a pot. Second, it suddenly woke up my interest to the complexity of the nature of bonsai. Every beginner should have this book. There's no doubt about it! There is so much to offer by this book - page by page- there is no stopping as to every detail one has to know! If only there is a chance for Mr. John Naka to visit the Philippines, we would be, in all honesty, be very greatful and proud if he does! To go here and bring all his books for us to buy would be very, very inspiring. With all the studies he did about trees from different countries, he should at least give a chance to analyze our native trees as to their being a potential bonsai. One thing to remember: once a bonsai faces you with all its serenity and mystery, his book could perfectly guide you to the right way of viewing it as well as understanding it. It achieves triumph within yourself and the inner peace you gain is tremendous once you make a bonsai, of course guided by John Naka's book entitled Bonsai Technique I.

Bonsai, the art of dwarfing trees, was at one time a specialized hobby for only a few. In recent years it has become popular and you can find these miniature trees in florist shops as well as in Home Depot. Regretably, these small trees have a short lifespan when taken home by the owner. In most cases, the owner hasn't a clue as how to take care of the tree for a lifetime enjoyment.

Ignorance is not bliss for bonsai. John Yoshio Naka removes all ignorance by providing the first time bonsai owner with a one step guide on techniques of caring, shaping, dwarfing and feeding these trees. Using pictures and simple diagrams you are shown the step by step techniques on how to dwarf a tree. Notes are also provided on the monthly care of the tree. Advice is also given to make adjustments in the care of your bonsai depending on your geographical region. This text is perfect for amateurs and those who are thinking abouting starting a bonsai collection. Its simplicity is highly user friendly. If you follow the instructions as given, you will achieve a lifetime enjoyment of bonsai.

One of the two best books on bonsai that I have ever owned. No bonsai artist should be without it. Mr. Naka does a great job of explaining the different basic techques that can be used in creating great bonsai. A job well done.

In case you were wondering, the author, John Naka, was considered one of the top 5 bonsai artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries (John died recently in 2004). The display pavillion of the National Bonsai Collection in the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. is named after him, and he is considered the "founding father" of American Bonsai. For many Americans, John humanized the art of Bonsai, and opened a window to what is for many people a new art form and a new culture.

As other reviewers have stated, this is not a book for people who are looking for glossy photos of finished bonsai (there are plenty of those elsewhere). Instead, this book is written for practitioners of the art of bonsai - it could be considered a compilation of John's working notes from his lifetime of experience and the numerous workshops and classes he gave. Much of the text feels like you are listening to a bonsai master talk to a class instead of reading a text book, and many (if not all) of the hand-drawn illustrations are by John personally. The text is very clear and easy to understand, and the complexities of bonsai are slowly revealed through the quantity of the content provided instead of the complexity.

Pros: Easy to understand. Great illustrations that illustrate step-by-step techniques. Depth of content.
Cons: Low print quality (low quality black & white photos) - this is a workbook and NOT a coffee table book but it leaves you wishing that there was another version out there with color photos and highly quality paper.

I would highly recommend this book, and its companion (Bonsai Techniques II) for any bonsai enthusiast. If you are lucky, you can get one of the few that John personally signed.

This is truely the best bonsai book that I have seen. It is Great for any true Bon-Sai enthusiast. In Comparison to the other books on the market this is by far the best one that I have seen so far. This book was written by a true master of bonsai who greatly understands the sciences and art of bonsai.

In comparison to other books this book was written as a guide to the members who participated in his workshop, but eventually became published due to the pamhlets (the original book)becoming to big and expensive to print, while the other books on the market are more for generating revenue by exciting some one who knows nothing about bonsai and believes that they can learn all from such a book. Sensai Naka covers all of the basics from the soil of the Bonsai all the way up to the apex, as well as all of the different styles and demonstrates what it should look like and its different laws.

Firstly, only four stars because of the price, not the content.
To date I have collected, and read, quite a few bonsai books but none go into the details quite like Naka. Even looking for techniques on the web does not provide answers that are found in this book. If you are wondering what all the fuss is about and why people call this the 'bible', just one example of the content should help to understand why.
In the chapter entitled 'How to cut roots and branches', at the top of page 43, he explains "How to shorten a branch by cutting" then provides three points;
1. Do not cut straight off. Healing process is much slower.
2. Cut off diagonally with cut mark facing upwards. Scar will heal faster
3. Do not cut with cut mark facing downward. This is completely wrong.
Next to the text is a small box containing line drawn diagrams showing the three cuts so you see exactly what he means by straight off, upward and downward, it could not be simpler. (see customer product piccy above)
Not one of my other books (26 of 'em) offers this little piece of advice (not even Koreshoff).
Advice on pruning may explain what are the best tools or where to cut along the branch to make the new shoot grow one direction or another or what time of season to cut, but exactly how to cut?, this is not touched upon anywhere else.
This book consistently offers priceless little snippets just like this.
Its not cheap, and that's the problem when considering buying this book. But there is always a birthday or some event that you can rely on to get the dosh. If you want to have the best techniques at your disposal to cultivate your trees this is a good way to help you develop them, I'm now after Techniques II hoping that will be as clear.
I need both, then I can tell my freinds that I tend to my trees with my Naka's out
Ken
Sheffield, England

Of all the books that I have read and collected in the 25 + years that I have been growing and studying Bonsai, this is by far one of the very best! Master Naka not only had a great love and passion for his art, but thru a long lifetime of intensive study and practice he acquired a vast amount of knowledge on, not only the horticultural aspect of growing bonsai, but also the philosophy behind the art. He was also a very gifted teacher with a great love of sharing what he had learned with his students, which is very evident in all his books. Some of the things he talks about in this book may seem a bit out dated since it was first published in 1972, but the vast majority of what is discussed has past the test of time and is still as true and relevant to the art today as it was then. John Naka was a true master and you could never ask for a better resource for knowledge of this unique and fascinating art form than to study his works. BUY THE BOOK!!!

The book condition was exactly as described by the seller. You can purchase from this seller with confidence.