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The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai
 
 
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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)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Book Description

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.

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The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai + Bonsai (101 Essential Tips) + Indoor Bonsai for Beginners: Selection - Care - Training
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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: 10.5 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: #38,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Advanced July 14, 2008
Format: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.
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30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
You get what you paid for.
Here's the positive: Whatever limited information is discussed in this book, at least it is discussed well. Read more
Published 10 months ago by bonsai artist
Not a bad book, but there are better ones for the money.
I love bonsai with all my heart. I try to collect all the published works I can find on bonsai. This book has some great teachings but are not quite beginner oriented. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jaybles
Author wanted to explain everything in 100 pages
Well is not a bad book, it has a lot of info about bonsai trees. However, is written in a way.... let's say is a page turner, the only thing is that there will not be more... Read more
Published 13 months ago by ferrety76
Thorough
I bought this book at the same time as Bonsai (101 Essential Tips) by Harry Tomlinson and am very impressed. It gives lots of detail on how to do different techniques. Read more
Published 19 months ago by D. J. Waugh
care and love for bonsai
I raise Japanese Maples, many in containers, but not really bonsai. I found it such a loving presentation and writing about bonsai that a had to read the whole book. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ann Grundler
Serhat
Actually it was my first book about Bonsai. As I have some background with plant propagation I was very interested in the methods the book advises with very nice pictures and step... Read more
Published on December 4, 2009 by Serhat Yildiz
Bonsai Secrets
The book was everything and more. Because of the book I bought Bonsai tools and am looking forward to starting my own plants.
Published on February 13, 2009 by C. Nick Carter
bonzai plant care
This is a great little book for the beginner because it explains everything simply but thoroughly.
Published on September 19, 2007 by Marcia T. Sevier
Bonsai made simple
The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai An understandable, complete book on Bonsai .
Published on May 22, 2007 by S. Lake
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
The following chapters explore the actual art of cultivating bonsai. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bonsai sword, trunk splitter, concave branch cutter, bud trimming, deciduous bonsai, bonsai tools, new bonsai, knob cutter, branch cutters, bonsai cultivation, water retentivity, potted bonsai, good bonsai, miniature bonsai, trident maple, root cutter, trimming shears, wire pliers, group planting, growing cuttings, planting soil
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
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Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson
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