BONSAI BARDO

Biography of Boon Manakitivipart

 

Although it was a only small juniper that started Boon on his journey, that tree would soon have a huge impact on his life and his future. He became fascinated with bonsai. Before long, he joined the Bonsai Society of San Francisco, the club through which he took his first beginner class in the spring of 1989. Anxious to learn as much as possible about bonsai, Boon studied with as many teachers as he could find in California.

 

Boon’s bonsai skills advanced when he hosted bonsai master Akio Kondo, who was Kihachiro Kamiya’s first apprentice. Later, Boon worked and studied at Kihachi-En (a famous bonsai nursery in Japan) and was an apprentice to Kihachiro Kamiya, a great bonsai master with multiple national awards.

In April 2000, Boon won the Grand Prize in the Kindai Bonsai Styling Contest in Japan. He was the only non-Japanese entrant in the contest. He has since won numerous other awards and recognition for his work, both nationally and internationally.

Boon returned repeatedly to Japan for prolonged periods of bonsai study until master Kamiya’s passing in January, 2004. Boon founded and became the Sensei (primary teacher) of BAY ISLAND BONSAI, and started his business, Bonsai Boon, in 1998.

 

Boon’s Sensei Kihachiro Kamiya

 

Master Kihachiro Kamiya was one of the leading bonsai professionals in Japan. He apprenticed under Toshinori Suzuki at Daijyu-en after Yasuo Mitsuya and Masumitsu Kubota. After 5 years of training, he opened his own Kihachi-en in 1976.

 

He won two Prime Minister Awards at Sakufu-ten (professional entry only, bonsai exhibit) for Informal Upright, Japanese Five-Needle Pine in 1994; and for a Clump of Japanese Five-Needle Pine ("Zuisho") in 2002. In 1998, Mr. Kamiya made Sakufu-ten history by being the first to receive all five of the different top awards. They were:

1985 Ministry of Education Award (Best of Conifer Bonsai)

1990 Nippon Bonsai Sakufu-ten Committee Award (Best of Shohin Bonsai)

1994 Prime Minister Award (Best of Show)

1995 Minister of Environment Agency Award (Best of Chuhin Bonsai)

1998 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award (Best of Broad-leaf/ Deciduous Bonsai)

Through the years, Kamiya submitted a countless number of trees that were exhibited in Kokufu-ten. And over time, ten of his trees received the highest award Kokufu prize. (The Kokufu prize is highly coveted, as it is published under the owner's name.)

Mr. Kamiya passed away in January 2004, but his legacy lives on in the four students he instructed who are now professional bonsai artists. They are: Akio Kondo, Kanagawa Japan; Daisaku Nomoto, Miyasaki Japan; Shingo Matsuda, Nagasaki Japan; and Boon Manakitivipart, California, USA.

 

Boon’s Awards, Special Recognition & Achievements

 

2010—Second U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition (Rochester, NY). Certré Award, “The Finest Bonsai and Container Combination,” for Kingsville Boxwood entitled, “Pandora”

 

2010—Bonsai Professional Certificate. Boon was awarded the “Professional Certificate” by the Nippon Bonsai Association (Professional Branch) in recognition of his five-year study of bonsai in Japan. (photo)

 

2008—First U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition (Rochester, NY). One of Boon’s students won the First Prize and another student won Best of Conifer.

 

2004—St Louis-BCI Convention. One of Boon’s students won the Best of Show and another student won Third Place. 

 

2002—Dream Garden in Dallas. (Judged by Masahiko Kimura) Boon’s student took the First Prize. Boon won the Third Prize, with a $30 tree! 

 

2000—Kinbon Japanese Five-Needle Pine Styling Contest. Boon wins First Place.

 

1999-2004—JAL, and World Bonsai Contest. Many of Boon's bonsai and his students’ bonsai have been winners over the years. After that many awards, Boon started concentrating on other areas of bonsai display and stepped back from submitting entries. However, his students still kept winning. 

 

1995—Ben Oki International Design Award, “Canberra Australia.” It was after this international amateur prize that Boon decided on a professional bonsai career.

 

 

Read more about Boon on his website.