CIRCLE OF SENSEI AWARDS Presented
at GSBF Convention 2003
The Circle of
Sensei Award was established in 2001 by the GSBF to honor those who have
influenced the Bonsai world by being teachers of the bonsai art and by their
dedications and commitments to bonsai in California. The award consists of a
certificate and a round medallion with the outline of the state of California
and the GSBF logo at its center.
This year’s awards
were presented to Katsumi Kinoshita, Masashi Moriguchi, Ben Oki,
and Yoneo “Johnny” Uchida, on Saturday, November 1 at the banquet dinner
by the GSBF president assisted by a prominent student for each award winner. In
joining the Circle of Sensei, they are being recognized as one of the great
teachers of bonsai in California.
Katsumi Kinoshita
Kinoshita-san is the
sensei of three bonsai clubs: Monterey Bonsai Club, Salinas Bonsai Club and
Akatsuki Bonsai Club of Fresno. He not only teaches at his clubs but also
educates at the many bonsai exhibitions through bonsai demonstrations. He also
donates his time to teach bonsai at the Japanese summer culture series in
Salinas. His teaching is characterized by long hours of dedication to the
enrichment of the art of bonsai. It takes commitment to travel from Monterey to
Fresno for monthly meetings for more than 10 years. He was born in Wakayama,
Japan and came to the United States in 1955. He operates the Kinoshita Bonsai
Shop in Pacific Grove. He first learned bonsai from Mr. Oba of Berkeley and
later from Mr. Murakoshi of Monterey. Kinoshita-san is well known for rock
plantings and varieties of native trees such as Monterey pine and oaks.
Kinoshita-san has spent 40 years teaching and demonstrating bonsai and is much
beloved by his many students throughout the State.
Masashi Moriguchi
Mas currently teaches
at two satsuki clubs, and at the Marina Bonsai Club with his friends Shig Miya,
Frank Goya, Ben Oki, and Tsuruo Takata. Born in Japan, Mas came to the U.S.
after World War II with his wife Miyoko and three daughters. While working as a
gardener, Mas studied bonsai with John Naka. In addition to his donations to
the GSBF collections, Mas donated a bonsai forest to the National Arboretum.
Ben Oki
Ben has been growing
and teaching bonsai since 1958, specializing in California Juniper. He studied
bonsai under John Naka and has assisted him with demonstrations and meetings.
He believes that he is what he is because of John Naka. Ben is a curator of the
GSBF Collections at the Huntington. He takes a key role at conventions by
conducting workshops and demonstrations. His achievements are not limited to
California. The Ben Oki International Design Award and the Ben Oki National
Design Award were established by Bonsai Clubs International and the American
Bonsai Society, respectively, to honor his achievements world wide. He was
honored by the Agricultural Society of Japan in 2001with the Ryokuhaku-Juyukosho
(Green and White achievement award). He was born in Sacramento, California. At
age six, he moved to Japan where he learned Japanese landscape and stone
techniques. In 1950, Ben returned to the United States and has managed his
entrepreneurship in landscape gardening ever since. Ben is an active member of
California Bonsai Society, Satsuki Society, Nanpu Kai, and the Southern
California Chapter of the Japanese Satsuki Society. He is also an honorary
member of many bonsai organizations in the United States and the world.
Yoneo “Johnny” Uchida
Johnny was born in
Kagoshima, Japan and came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor
Contract, and worked in various fruit farms in California. He started in bonsai
while working at the Domoto Nursery in Hayward. He helped found the Yamato
Bonsai Club with his friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa. In 1971, He started
his Grove Way Nursery, specializing in bonsai. In 1976, He became Yamato Bonsai
Club’s sensei and has continued to serve in this capacity today. He is also the
sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyukai in Sacramento. He earned his teaching credential
for the State of California in 1976 and for the past 27 years, has conducted
evening classes at adult schools. His Life Credential is one of the few
vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the state. He was
honored by the Agricultural Society of Japan in 2001with the Ryokuhaku-Juyukosho
(Green and White achievement award). He continues to conduct many workshops and
demonstrations at the conventions and club shows in California and national
events.
Kinoshita-san is the
sensei of three bonsai clubs: Monterey Bonsai Club, Salinas Bonsai Club and
Akatsuki Bonsai Club of Fresno. He not only teaches at his clubs but also
educates at the many bonsai exhibitions through bonsai demonstrations. He also
donates his time to teach bonsai at the Japanese summer culture series in
Salinas. His teaching is characterized by long hours of dedication to the
enrichment of the art of bonsai. It takes commitment to travel from Monterey to
Fresno for monthly meetings for more than 10 years. He was born in Wakayama,
Japan and came to the United States in 1955. He operates the Kinoshita Bonsai
Shop in Pacific Grove. He first learned bonsai from Mr. Oba of Berkeley and
later from Mr. Murakoshi of Monterey. Kinoshita-san is well known for rock
plantings and varieties of native trees such as Monterey pine and oaks.
Kinoshita-san has spent 40 years teaching and demonstrating bonsai and is much
beloved by his many students throughout the State.
Mas currently teaches
at two satsuki clubs, and at the Marina Bonsai Club with his friends Shig Miya,
Frank Goya, Ben Oki, and Tsuruo Takata. Born in Japan, Mas came to the U.S.
after World War II with his wife Miyoko and three daughters. While working as a
gardener, Mas studied bonsai with John Naka. In addition to his donations to
the GSBF collections, Mas donated a bonsai forest to the National Arboretum.
Ben has been growing
and teaching bonsai since 1958, specializing in California Juniper. He studied
bonsai under John Naka and has assisted him with demonstrations and meetings.
He believes that he is what he is because of John Naka. Ben is a curator of the
GSBF Collections at the Huntington. He takes a key role at conventions by
conducting workshops and demonstrations. His achievements are not limited to
California. The Ben Oki International Design Award and the Ben Oki National
Design Award were established by Bonsai Clubs International and the American
Bonsai Society, respectively, to honor his achievements world wide. He was
honored by the Agricultural Society of Japan in 2001with the Ryokuhaku-Juyukosho
(Green and White achievement award). He was born in Sacramento, California. At
age six, he moved to Japan where he learned Japanese landscape and stone
techniques. In 1950, Ben returned to the United States and has managed his
entrepreneurship in landscape gardening ever since. Ben is an active member of
California Bonsai Society, Satsuki Society, Nanpu Kai, and the Southern
California Chapter of the Japanese Satsuki Society. He is also an honorary
member of many bonsai organizations in the United States and the world.
Johnny was born in
Kagoshima, Japan and came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor
Contract, and worked in various fruit farms in California. He started in bonsai
while working at the Domoto Nursery in Hayward. He helped found the Yamato
Bonsai Club with his friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa. In 1971, He started
his Grove Way Nursery, specializing in bonsai. In 1976, He became Yamato Bonsai
Club’s sensei and has continued to serve in this capacity today. He is also the
sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyukai in Sacramento. He earned his teaching credential
for the State of California in 1976 and for the past 27 years, has conducted
evening classes at adult schools. His Life Credential is one of the few
vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the state. He was
honored by the Agricultural Society of Japan in 2001with the Ryokuhaku-Juyukosho
(Green and White achievement award). He continues to conduct many workshops and
demonstrations at the conventions and club shows in California and national
events.