Bonsai by Kunio Kobayashi

Kunio Kobayashi is without a doubt one of the most accomplished and respected bonsai artists in the world. So much so that the term Bonsai Master undoubtedly applies. You might even say that he is a Master among Bonsai Masters. 
Now, as good luck would have it, Mr. Kobayashi has come out with two astonishing new (new in the West at least) Bonsai books (the other is Bonsai Master Class). These books, individually, or better taken together, might be as close as most of us will ever get to studying directly with a Japanese master. Each examines and teaches bonsai from a different angel.
This one with half English and half Japanese text, looks at bonsai from what you might think of as an especially Japanese but also deeply human angel. It opens with several pages covering bonsai history and moves on to a few words about appreciation that reveals something about the Japanese way of looking and feeling about art and beauty that conveys profound attention to detail, respect and deep feeling. After that there's a extensive journey through over one hundred bonsai varieties each with two full pages, including a full page photo of each species. This alone is worth the price of book. And that's not all! If you're interested in Japanese bonsai terms, they're there waiting for you in an excellent glossary.

Original Japanese copyright 2016. Softcover, 6" x 8 1/4" 269 full color pages with clear, easy to follow illustrations and photos.