The Legendary John Naka
John Yoshio Naka was born on August 16, 1914 in Denver, Colorado. He and his family returned to their native Japan when he was eight years old. Having his grandfather as his constant companion, he observed as his elderly shaped and trimmed the trees.
When he was nineteen years old, John took up landscape design. He learned the fundamentals in the relationship of nature – trees, space and stone. After completing his education, he pursued further studies by attending a prestigious art school in Japan.
Because of the building war in Japan in 1935, his father feared that John might be deployed. John was sent back to Colorado to live with Sadao, his bruther. He settled down by marrying Alice Toshito Mizunaga in 1936. They had three sons: Eugene, Robert and Richard.
The family moved to Los Angeles in 1946. Here, John worked as a landscaper and concentrated on Japanese gardens. Striking a friendship with Sam Doi, John Naka was encouraged to read books about Bonsai techniques.
His first work was the Montezuma Cypress. It was a 36 inch tall five gallon plant that was grown in Southern California. Years later, this plant continued to grow at the exact height. Tree also produced small cones two times.
At this point, John Naka was noticed as a bonsai artist. Together with for other friend, Fumiko Nagata, Ai Okumura, Joseph Yamashiro and Morihei Furuya, Naka started the Southern California Bonsai Club.
From local teacher, Naka went on to become a national teacher in the Art Of Bonsai. He attended symposiums where he was the gust speaker in the 1970s. Some of his works were published in newspaper articles and on the “Bonsai Journal.” Here, he illustrated step-by-step the transformation of a juniper that is grown in a nursery to the center of a bonsai garden.
Then Naka conquered the global scene by visiting various countries and also educating bonsai enthusiasts on his art. His collections of Bonsai Art have been viewed countless times. They have been published in countless books as well.
John Naka once said that he regarded his works as his grandchildren. That is why his interest and passion on bonsai can be seen by all.
The National Bonsai Foundation is a non-profit corporation which elected Naka as one of the honorary advisers to the foundation. Through the years, Naka has also become legendary in the sense that he has buildings named after him. As a matter of fact, a workshop room is named after him who they regarded as the “Father of Popular Bonsai.”
About the Author
Visit the Tree Facts website to learn about the red oak tree and the bradford pear tree.
Bonsai Exhibit @ Nisei Festival 2008
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