NOTE: I DON'T KNOW WHY THE TOP HALF OF THIS POST APPEARS IN THESE IRRITATING CAPS. IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT WAY ON MY ORIGINAL... This Japanese hemlock belongs to Doug Paul, an American who lives in Pennsylvania and who happens to be the owner of the famous Kennett Collection. The following is quoted from a post by Bill Valavanis... this "Japanese hemlock, Tsuga diversifolia, bonsai was recently accepted to display in this year's Kokufu Bonsai ten Exhibition. The attached photo shows how it is displayed at Kokufu Bonsai Exhibiton in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park." I found Bill's quote on the Internet Bonsai Club. It's only part of what Bill had to say about this tree and there are several interesting responses from other club members. The discussion took place way back in 2010, but because the tree is still beautiful and the topic is ground breaking, you might want to read the whole discussion yourself, rather than depend on my piecemeal reporting
Continuing with our Kokufu theme… This time it’s an “American Bonsai Display at at Kokufu Ten Exhibition” (Bill Valavanis again). But is it really an American bonsai?
The quote in the caption above is only part of what Bill Valavanis had to say about this tree and the two quotes below are only part of the responses from other club members. The discussion took place way back in 2010, but because the tree is still beautiful and the topic is ground breaking, you might want to read the whole discussion yourself at the Internet Bonsai Club, rather than depend on my piecemeal reporting. You might also want to visit Robert Baran’s highly informative post titled Kokufu Bonsai Ten, Part 1 on his Magical Miniature Landscapes website.
Continued below…
7.95 FOR 500 GRAM ROLLS OF BONSAI WIRE
IS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP
comes in 11 different diameters – from 1.0mm to 6.0mm
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This root-over-rock style Trident maple was displayed by Matt Ouwinga, Chicago, IL, USA at the 2013 Kokufu Ten. I borrowed the photo from a Robert Baran's highly informative post titled Kokufu Bonsai Ten, Part 1 on his Magical Miniature Landscapes website.
The following quote is from Russell Coker. It’s part of the Internet Bonsai Club discussion mentioned above
“An American’s bonsai? What could it be? And how the heck did they get it to Japan, much less into Kokufu-ten?
Oh, I see. (audible sigh of disappointment) It isn’t an American tree, or even a bonsai by an American artist. Someone with deep pockets full of mega $$$$$$$$ bought himself an AMAZING bonsai that’s being displayed at Kokufu-ten. In the next few years I predict that it will be the grand prize winning bonsai at the “U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition” where its provenance will simply state it as being from “collected material”.
Nice purchase. Mr. Paul obviously has beautiful and expensive taste!”
Tony Tickle’s response to Russel is below
This Sargent juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Sargentii') was displayed by Doug Paul, Pennsylvania, USA at the 2013 Kokufu Ten. Like the photo just above, I borrowed this one from Robert Baran's Kokufu Bonsai Ten, Part 1 on his Magical Miniature Landscapes website.
Continued from above…
Tony Tickle’s response to Russell Coker’s comments
Russell Coker wrote:Nice purchase. Mr. Paul obviously has beautiful and expensive taste!
“Russell, I understand your cynicism… OK so it’s not an ‘American’ bonsai 
but owned by an American… who you rightly state “has beautiful and expensive taste” and we are fortunate that he does.
Without patrons in bonsai very few truly amazing trees would surface. The tree that won the Noelanders XI was NOT owned by the artist… but by his Patron/Student.
I also understand your cynicism… concerning “I predict that it will be the grand prize winning bonsai at the “U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition” great and why not…. Bonsai is for the artists ?… many think so but that is not the whole story… bonsai is about trees lest we forget 
”
While you’re at it, you might want to Visit Tony’s website. It’s a good one
