Although the study of Bonsai culture in California dates before 1950, the earliest know club in the state wasn’t established until the early 1950’s in the San Francisco Bay Area. There was no organized bonsai activity in Monterey until the 1960's when George Kadani called together five friends – T. Takigawa, Tajuro Watanabe, Frank Kadani, Shigeru (Tom) Oba and Ray Murakoshi – to form a Monterey Bonsai Study Group.

During the early years, the six bonsai enthusiasts met in each other’s homes where the main topics on the agenda were studying each other’s trees and socializing. No doubt there was a free flow of “bonsai stories”. Later, as the group expanded, Tuesday meetings were moved to the Japanese American Citizens League Hall or the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple. Cooperation and support have existed between the Club and the Temple ever since.

Mr. Kadani and Mr. Oba were the original instructors. Under their guidance, the founders developed their skills. Gradually others joined. In 1965, membership rules were relaxed to admit Japanese speaking, Colonel Kenneth Burns, an Army officer who had spent time both in Japan and Korea. Eventually women were admitted. In the mid-1970’s, participation was extended to interested bonsai students of Caucasian descent of both sexes. Current membership runs at nearly 60 persons from all walks of life and from many homelands.

Monthly meetings are held at the Hilltop School on Jesse Street in Monterey on the first Tuesday of each month and always include an informal workshop and an equally informal business meeting. This is a true hobby club, where the love of the Art of Bonsai is predominant.

The Club’s activities have expanded as the membership and public interest have grown. In addition to the annual June exhibition, the Club has taken on the biannual bonsai display and demonstration during the Buddhist Temple sponsored July Obon Festival.

Every January the membership lays aside its working tools and dresses up to celebrate Shinnen Kai (New Year Celebration). All look forward to the festive banquet, gift exchange and door prizes. This is also a time during the celebration for sharing in the Japanese culture with traditional songs and dance performed by members and guests.

Other functions have included recreational trips to bonsai nurseries, attendance at the Exhibitions of other clubs, special workshops with renowned bonsai masters and visits to the homes of our members to see their beautiful gardens and trees.

In 1982, under Mr. Kinoshita’s presidency, members voted to join the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF), which had been established in 1978. This non-profit, educational organization is dedicated to the appreciation of the Art of Bonsai. Membership is drawn from more than 70 Clubs thorough out the state of California. Its library has supplied us with bonsai tapes and slides. One of its commendable activities is promotion of bonsai interest among California youth through education and workshops.

1986 was a big year, as the Monterey Club joined the Watsonville and Salinas Clubs to bring bonsai to the Monterey Hyatt House in the form of the Ninth Annual Convention of the GSBF. The Convention was a smashing success both programmatically and financially. Japanese bonsai celebrity, Yasuo Matsuya, was the headliner. He conducted a post-convention workshop at the JACL Hall, a rare opportunity for fortunate participants and observers. The Hall was packed.

Colonel Nakanishi co-chaired this 1986 event with Gloria Clenentson of the GSBF Board of Trustees. Mr. Kinoshita was in charge of all workshops. Mr. Deki and Captain Land also were on the Federation Committee.

It is with pride and gratitude that the Monterey Bonsai Club lists its group of worthy advisers and sensei. We are fortunate to have such fine sensei (instructors) as Katsumi Kinoshita, Toshio (Lefty) Nakanishi and Frank Tokubo who help us learn the art and science of bonsai. Helen Murakoshi and Sam Obara are our senior advisors who are our links to the traditions of the past as our Club moves forward in the continuing evolution of bonsai. No organization functions well without the work and cooperation of its members. Long ago, Mr. Oba and Mr. Obara made the table backdrops that still are in use for our Exhibition displays.

Our presidents are elected and then choose their own governing boards. Our Vice President specializes in pulling together all of the details of the Exhibition including sleeping in the Temple the night before the Exhibition to guard the trees. Our Treasurer and Membership Director, watches over our finances and keeping us solvent for several years. Our Secretary, keeps the Club in communication with our members and other organizations. Our Librarian is the keeper of bonsai knowledge not only with our book and magazine collection. Our Food Committee keeps us well fed and happy by coordinating refreshments for our Exhibition. Our Publicity chair informs the community about our annual Exhibition.

Our Club doesn’t operate with strict rules and regulations. We maintain the tradition of everyone pitching in to help set-up our monthly workshop meetings, then disassembling and cleaning up at the close of the evening.

The first Sunday in June is the traditional Show Time. All join in preparations for the display. During previous months, each person has worked on his display trees and has cultivated door prizes for our guests. On pre-show Saturday, everyone is busy. Tables and partitions are set up and draped, trees are carried in, identification tags are lined up and accent plants added -- all work to create a beautiful Tenjikai (Exhibition). Our sensei, Kinoshita-san, long ago sought out a tree for the demonstration, studied it to make his styling decisions and then chose the proper container to compliment his design.

When the day arrives, members put on their brown happi coats or aprons, decorated with the Club logo, and step forth to greet old bonsai friends and associates as well as interested newcomers. For many this Exhibition is the first introduction to the world of bonsai and it may be the beginning of long love affair with the “Little Trees in a Tray.”

The objective of Bonsai is to capture the grandeur and beauty of nature on a small scale. The result may be a single tree, sometimes less than six inches high. At other times you may envision a much taller tree planted in an artistic tray or in one of the many different styles – a rock planting, rocks and trees forming a scene, or a number of small trees giving the impression of a forest. Deciduous or evergreen trees, fruit trees, flowering trees or whatever is your fancy may be used to produce a beautiful work of art. The artist’s imagination is the only limitation.

A look into history takes us to Japan about 800 years ago, where noblemen and aristocrats practiced the artistry of dwarfing trees that was introduced to them from China. Until today, the creation has changed very little, but the knowledge has spread out geographically as people and the art form have moved around the world. Bonsai is now found in virtually every country on earth.

There has been an increasing interest in bonsai by the general public in our State, resulting in a subsequent increase of members in California clubs from every nationality and profession. This emphasizes the important role of our Club instructors to pass along the Japanese culture as it relates to the Art of Bonsai with its philosophy, traditions and meaning as well as its structural rules.

In addition to maintaining an awareness of innovative ideas of the ever-changing Art of Bonsai, the Monterey Bonsai Club is striving to preserve the traditional philosophies upon which our six Japanese founders began the Club in 1963.