Join us for a weekend of Great Bonsai,
Fabulous Food and Southern Hospitality!

Roy Nagatoshi
Sylmar, California

Roy Nagatoshi was born in the U.S.but spent his early years in Japan through junior high school, returning to the United States in 1957.His first encounter with bonsai was in l959, working side by side with his father, Shigeru, learning the techniques of making bonsai. Roy watched his father work with many different kinds of trees, pruning, wiring, shaping and potting. Roy was homesick and the bonsai reminded him of the trees in the mountains, hills and shore lines in Japan. He thoroughly fell in love with bonsai. His education in bonsai also included attending classes under John Naka. In 1965, with the encouragement of Mr.Lura, his father’s bonsai master, Roy’s parents opened Fuji Bonsai Nursery in Sylmar, California where he and his father conduct bonsai classes. Roy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly University in Pomona, California. Since 1976, Roy has toured conducting workshops and lecture/demonstrations in numerous states in the continental U.S. san started the training in 1965 as Toshinori Suzuki’s first apprentice. In 1972, Mitsuya-san opened his own bonsai nursery called Tokai-en in Toyohashi-city. He was headliner at the Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention ’86, ’89,and ’02; Mid-Atlantic Convention ’97 and ’02.

Kathy Shaner
San Jose, California

Kathy started her career in 1983 and has become internationally recognized for her excellence in the art of Bonsai.Kathy was granted an apprenticeship in Toyohashi, Japan where she worked for Yasuo Mitsuya, winner of the Minister of Education and Kokufu awards.Kathy was the first woman and first non-Japanese citizen to be certified by the Nippon Bonsai Kyodo Kumaii.She is the resident Bonsai Master at El Dorado Bonsai School.She also maintains and designs private collections throughout the United States and is the curator of the Golden State Bonsai Collection.Kathy has been making bi-annual trips to Brussel’s Bonsai for the last six years.

Yasuo Mitsuya
Toyohashi, Japan

Mitsuya-san was trained at the Daijyu-en, Okazaki-city, Aichi- prefecture, under Toshinori Suzuki, the son of Saichi Suzuki. Saichi Suzuki is known as the “Father of Zuisho ” (Zuisho is one of the variety of Japanese White Pine). Mitsuya- san started the training in 1965 as Toshinori Suzuki ’s first apprentice.In 1972, Mitsuya-san opened his own bonsai nursery called Tokai-en in Toyohashi-city. He was headliner at the Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention ’86, ’89, and ’02; Mid-Atlantic Convention ’97 and ’02.

Michael Hagedorn
Nagano, Japan

Michael Hagedorn completed a Masters in Fine Arts in Ceramics in 1994 at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.Following his studies he started a business making bonsai pots, Crataegus Bonsai Containers.He studied bonsai with Boon Manakitivipart for three years, and since December 2003 has lived in Obuse, Japan where he is completing an apprenticeship under bonsai master Shinji Suzuki. Further information about Michael and stories about apprenticeship life may be found on the website: www.crataegus.com.

John Powell
Weatherford,Texas

John Powell is a Japanese style garden builder & pruning specialist from Weatherford, Texas. John is a 1983 graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in Forestry. He currently is the co-owner of Weatherford Gardens Nursery and Landscaping.After a first visit to Japan in 1993, Mr.Powell launched an intensive study of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. In,1997 he attended the first Japanese Garden Seminar conducted by the Kyoto University of Art & Design, followed by internships with Suzuki Zoen in Niigata, and most recently at the Adachi Museum of Art in Shimane, Prefecture.Mr.Powell is also a staff writer for the Journal of Japanese Gardening.

Kenji Miata
San Diego, California

Kenji Miyata is a bonsai master from Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan who was the first student of noted bonsai master, Yasuo Mitsuya, owner of Tokai-en Nursery in Toyohashi, Aichi.Kenji Miyata has been certified as Bonsai Koshi (Bonsai Master) by Nippon Bonsai Kyokai (Japan Bonsai Association). Kenji made his U.S.debut at San Jose, Californian November 1998. He has been a headliner at numerous U.S.venues.From 2003-2005, Kenji was the guest resident artist at New England Bonsai Gardens in Bellingham, MA. Kenji Miyata is a gifted young man with many years of creative expression ahead of him. Besides being highly trained and skilled at every level, Kenji has the insightful,innate sense of flair that is constantly being nurtured and refined by his dedication and devotion to his craft. Under Kenji’s guidance and artistic genius, merely promising material and nice bonsai are routinely transformed into masterful creations.Kenji’s commanding talent continues to enthrall an ever-growing host of appreciative fans.