The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai [Hardcover]

Masakuni Kawasumi II and Masakuni Kawasu III (Author), Kay Yokota (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2006

In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they've developed over years of careful work and observation.

The Kawasumis provide detailed, easy-to-follow information about growing bonsai from seedlings or beginner plants; expert advice on shaping, pruning, training, grafting and repotting trees; and new techniques for using tools. And, although the Kawasumi family is worldrenowned for their bonsai tool design, their instructions allow gardeners to improvise with other readily-accessible bonsai, gardening or even simple workshop tools. Step-by-step photographs accompany the text, many in full-color.

Masakuni Kawasumi III, the first qualified tree doctor for bonsai in Japan, contributes his unique insights to make this an invaluable resource for beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Incorporating advice from his son, a tree doctor, the author teaches how to produce splendid specimens." -The Washington Post

About the Author

MASAKUNI KAWASUMI II worked in the family bonsai business for decades, designing his own tools and cultivating bonsai on a professional level. He took over the business in 1950. Masakuni II is credited with popularizing bonsai around the world. For his work in tool making, he was awarded a Yellow Ribbon Medal by the Japanese Government in 1993. In 1996, he established the Masakuni Museum of Cutting Tools and Industrial Tools near Tokyo.

When his father died in 2002, MASAKUNI KAWASUMI III took over the business, which he runs today while continuing his research in the cultivation and care of bonsai.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (February 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770029438
• ISBN-13: 978-4770029430
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-organized, helpful start, August 29, 2007

By 

M. Marsula "musc475" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai (Hardcover)

In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books.

Before I purchased this book, I checked out several books from my local library. Some books seem to show many pictures of finished bonsai without really getting into details and I feel as if I still don't have the knowledge to even start on a bonsai. This book is a bit more helpful with step-by-step pictures from repotting to pruning, diagrams of undesirable branches, and methods of propagation.

There is a lot of information in this book that I read in this book that other books brush by, but I found helpful to me. Without a doubt, it is important to read different books because each author has their own views on certain issues.

Other books that you might want to look into are "Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)" by Harry Tomlinson and "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb Gustafson.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Advanced, July 14, 2008

By 

T. Nunley "Tiki" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai (Hardcover)

I do not recommend this book to the beginner who is just getting into Bonsai care-taking. This is more of a comprehensive book explaining how to create, shape, and nurture Bonsai trees. This book is very well written for and advanced level Bonsai owner. It goes into detail about how to start Bonsai trees, wire them, how to pick out the right environment, etc.
So if you're beginning, I think you should pass this book by at first. If, however, you have been into Bonsai trees for a while, this is the book to go with.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Summary of Advanced Level Bonsai, January 3, 2007

By 

R. K. Marsh "4weirdbooks" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai (Hardcover)

This is a fine work on Advanced Techniques for the Bonsai enthusiast, in particular giving full particulars on specialty tools and pruning shears in Bonsai Culture. It is kind of surprising the great tips one can get, from just the one paragraph tips that the authors son added after his father death. Very concise and precise is a great summary for this book.