The rumors are true. Bjorn is moving back to Japan

[Adamski77]

Does anyone else watch these videos and realize that the neighbor keeps bonsai trees?

I don't live in Japan... but lived in Korea and China for last 12 years... it's extremely common if you walk around neighborhood to see them. It's just part of the culture... like we used to have fruit trees in the gardens around the houses when I was a kid back in Poland (my father still does!). And more often than not they are outside of the gate, somewhere in the corner of the garden... so easy to take... and nobody does.

 

[Maiden69]

lived in Korea

Did too, and as you I also saw many bonsai trees in my travels through the peninsula from Donducheon to Busan.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The one time I was in Japan I was walking around in Tokyo in the early morning hours trying to shake off my jet lag. I walked down to one of the major Tokyo train stations, just to watch morning commuters as they came and went. Right across the street from the train station was a small modest house on an alley that had a number of medium-sized bonsai sitting on shelves facing the sun. Hundreds of people walked to and fro right in front of the bonsai - and no one touched them. It is sad to think that when I lived in Chicago, had I put a few bonsai on a shelf next to a sidewalk, I would automatically assume they'd be gone in a matter of hours

 

[WavyGaby]

The one time I was in Japan I was walking around in Tokyo in the early morning hours trying to shake off my jet lag. I walked down to one of the major Tokyo train stations, just to watch morning commuters as they came and went. Right across the street from the train station was a small modest house on an alley that had a number of medium-sized bonsai sitting on shelves facing the sun. Hundreds of people walked to and fro right in front of the bonsai - and no one touched them. It is sad to think that when I lived in Chicago, had I put a few bonsai on a shelf next to a sidewalk, I would automatically assume they'd be gone in a matter of hours

That's really cool. I'm envious of a safe environment like that.
I have a friend going to Toyko soon and was gonna have them grab me a bonsai pot. Are nurseries and pots easy to find in Toyko?

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

That's really cool. I'm envious of a safe environment like that.
I have a friend going to Toyko soon and was gonna have them grab me a bonsai pot. Are nurseries and pots easy to find in Toyko?

Not really that many nurseries IN tokyo. Far more in Saitama as you may know. If you're after small pots, Kinokaze has a pretty amazing selection. They're only open on fridays/saturdays I beleive. https://www.kino-kaze.com/blank-7
They specialize in mini/mame trees and pots and are in the musashino neighborhood.

 

[Sansokuu]

Who wants Bjorn to give walking tours on how to buy cheap land and start a business in Japan? (Me ! Wonder if we can have a satellite pottery business… )

 

[SouthernMaple]

You need to be Asian to be able to know if there is discrimination against Asians. On top of that, even in areas where there is known xenophobia or racism against Asian people, there are always (local/assimilated) Asians who say they have never experienced it, for whatever reason.

There was a huge uptick of xenophobia against Asian people after covid. And there has been a slumbering racism, even sometimes 'positive' 'all Asians are good at math'-type racial stereotypes in every western countries.
With geopolitical tensions between the US and China, surely that must also play a role.

However, I think people are going a bit too far in speculating this is the reason why Bjorn is leaving for Japan, without any comment from him. And as noticed in this thread already, Japan and China have their own tensions, partially because of governments trying to stir tensions because of internal politics. And partially because of their history and lack of apology and reparations.
That said, you wouldn't be immune from racism as a Chinese person in Japan either.

Probably, there is this thing called 'bonsai' that made Bjorn move to Japan. But that might just be my speculation.

uhh dude you live in Europe, you have no clue how bad racism is here in the South, especially in rural tennessee especially after Trump riled them all up and continues to do so.

I invite you to go to South Carolina next week during the Trump rally and wave a Chinese flag around with you and I promise you will change your tune.

 

[Maiden69]

uhh dude you live in Europe, you have no clue how bad racism is here in the South, especially in rural tennessee especially after Trump riled them all up and continues to do so.

I invite you to go to South Carolina next week during the Trump rally and wave a Chinese flag around with you and I promise you will change your tune.

you're going to dig a comment from Sep 2023 that already died down to do what exactly? Leave politics out of this please... not like we have enough with main stream media BSing us 24/7. At least we have a little peace here.

 

[Glaucus]

uhh dude you live in Europe, you have no clue how bad racism is here in the South, especially in rural tennessee especially after Trump riled them all up and continues to do so.

I invite you to go to South Carolina next week during the Trump rally and wave a Chinese flag around with you and I promise you will change your tune.

Didn't I make that exact point in that post I was quoting? I kinda got in trouble going after Trump on this place before...
I live in Europe, exactly. I am not going to speak for Asians or Asian Americans living in say Tennessee.

On top of that, Bjorn will know about what types of racism he or his kids will face in Japan. I am not going to sit here and say that racism in the US is so so bad that he has to go live in Japan.
If it is what Bjorn said, fine. But it was just one user speculating. And just like I will call out far right people here for bullshitting, I will do the same to the other side.

 

[SouthernMaple]

you're going to dig a comment from Sep 2023 that already died down to do what exactly? Leave politics out of this please... not like we have enough with main stream media BSing us 24/7. At least we have a little peace here.

im not being political, im being a realist

 

[nuttiest]

im not being political, im being a realist

even realists are affected eventually

 

[SouthernMaple]

Didn't I make that exact point in that post I was quoting? I kinda got in trouble going after Trump on this place before...
I live in Europe, exactly. I am not going to speak for Asians or Asian Americans living in say Tennessee.

On top of that, Bjorn will know about what types of racism he or his kids will face in Japan. I am not going to sit here and say that racism in the US is so so bad that he has to go live in Japan.
If it is what Bjorn said, fine. But it was just one user speculating. And just like I will call out far right people here for bullshitting, I will do the same to the other side.

Bjorn moved to Japan to raise a family in one of the most beautiful places in the world, I applaud him for doing what many of us dream of. He will be around the best bonsai in the world, I can't wait to see what he does once he sets up his nursery.

 

[Maiden69]

On top of that, Bjorn will know about what types of racism he or his kids will face in Japan. I am not going to sit here and say that racism in the US is so so bad that he has to go live in Japan.

This is something global, every place has some kind of racism. The country were I did found myself at ease from the few I have lived on was South Korea. And I think it was because I tried to learn the language. Even in Germany I felt ok, most of the race issues I had there were from immigrants, mostly from Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine. Never had an issue with Germans, and I traveled most of the country.

The think that sets Bjorn away from the rest is that he lived there, he knows the culture, and he works in a trade that is highly regarded by the elite in Japan. He trained in one of the most recognized bonsai nurseries there. I don't see him having issues. His kid is still small, so he will get to go to school and hopefully be ok because he is going to grow along side Japanese kids. The big problem comes with older kids (like Army brats...) that move into the country because they had to, most of them have no intentions in learning Japanese or even learning some of the culture... those are the ones that will face consequences.

This is the latest video from Eisei-en, the statement he makes from where the video starts don't only apply to bonsai, but universally. When you go to a foreign country, you are just a guest, until you become a citizen of that country.

 

[Cajunrider]

This is something global, every place has some kind of racism. The country were I did found myself at ease from the few I have lived on was South Korea. And I think it was because I tried to learn the language. Even in Germany I felt ok, most of the race issues I had there were from immigrants, mostly from Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine. Never had an issue with Germans, and I traveled most of the country.

The think that sets Bjorn away from the rest is that he lived there, he knows the culture, and he works in a trade that is highly regarded by the elite in Japan. He trained in one of the most recognized bonsai nurseries there. I don't see him having issues. His kid is still small, so he will get to go to school and hopefully be ok because he is going to grow along side Japanese kids. The big problem comes with older kids (like Army brats...) that move into the country because they had to, most of them have no intentions in learning Japanese or even learning some of the culture... those are the ones that will face consequences.

This is the latest video from Eisei-en, the statement he makes from where the video starts don't only apply to bonsai, but universally. When you go to a foreign country, you are just a guest, until you become a citizen of that country.

Becoming a citizen of Japan is extraordinarily difficult.

 

[namnhi]

Becoming a citizen of Japan is extraordinarily difficult.

I wonder why as I have seen so many documentaries stating that Japan's birth rate is so low that they will not be able to support themselves in some years.

 

[Maiden69]

I wonder why as I have seen so many documentaries stating that Japan's birth rate is so low that they will not be able to support themselves in some years.

I really don't think it is that hard... BUT, they don't allow a Japanese citizen to have dual citizenship. So if you are a US citizen, you need to renounce it before they allow you to become a Japanese citizen. As if you are a Japanese citizen, and take US citizenship, your Japanese citizenship is revoked by Japan.

From Japan Nationality Law

(Naturalization)​

Article 4.​

A person who is not a Japanese national (hereinafter referred to as “an alien”) may acquire Japanese nationality by naturalization.

2. The permission of the Minister of Justice shall be obtained for naturalization.

Article 5.​

The Minister of Justice shall not permit the naturalization of an alien unless he or she fulfills all of the following conditions:
(1) that he or she has domiciled in Japan for five years or more consecutively;
(2) that he or she is twenty years of age or more and of full capacity to act according to the law of his or her home country;
(3) that he or she is of upright conduct;
(4) that he or she is able to secure a livelihood by one's own property or ability, or those of one's spouse or other relatives with whom one lives on common living expenses;
(5) that he or she has no nationality, or the acquisition of Japanese nationality will result in the loss of foreign nationality;
(6) that he or she has never plotted or advocated, or formed or belonged to a political party or other organization which has plotted or advocated the overthrow of the Constitution of Japan or the Government existing thereunder, since the enforcement of the Constitution of Japan.

2. When an alien is, regardless of his or her intention, unable to deprive himself or herself of his or her current nationality, the Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of the alien, notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the conditions set forth in item (5) of the preceding paragraph, if the Minister of Justice finds exceptional circumstances in his or her family relationship with a Japanese national, or other circumstances.

Article 6.​

The Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of an alien notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the condition set forth in item (1) of paragraph 1 of the last preceding Article, provided that the said alien falls under any one of the following items, and is presently domiciled in Japan:
(1) One who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more and who is the child of a person who was a Japanese national (excluding a child by adoption);
(2) One who was born in Japan and who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more, or whose father or mother (excluding father and mother by adoption) was born in Japan;
(3) One who has had a residence in Japan for ten consecutive years or more.

Article 7.​

The Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of an alien who is the spouse of a Japanese national notwithstanding that the said alien does not fulfill the conditions set forth in items (1) and (2) of paragraph 1 of Article 5, if the said alien has had a domicile or residence in Japan for three consecutive years or more and is presently domiciled in Japan. The same rule shall apply in the case where an alien who is the spouse of a Japanese national has been married with the Japanese national for three years or more and has had a domicile in Japan for one consecutive year or more.

Article 8.​

The Minister of Justice may permit the naturalization of an alien notwithstanding that the alien does not fulfill the conditions set forth in items (1), (2) and (4) of paragraph 1 of Article 5, provided that the alien falls under any one of the following items:
(1) One who is a child (excluding a child by adoption) of a Japanese national and has a domicile in Japan;
(2) One who is a child by adoption of a Japanese national and has had a domicile in Japan for one consecutive year or more and was a minor according to the law of its native country at the time of the adoption;
(3) One who has lost Japanese nationality (excluding one who has lost Japanese nationality after naturalization in Japan) and has a domicile in Japan;
(4) One who was born in Japan and has had no nationality since the time of birth, and has had a domicile in Japan for three consecutive years or more since then.

Article 9.​

With respect to an alien who has rendered especially meritorious service to Japan, the Minister of Justice may, notwithstanding the provision of Article 5, paragraph 1, permit the naturalization of the alien with the approval of the Diet.

Article 10.​

The Minister of Justice shall, when permitting naturalization, make an announcement to that effect by public notice in the Official Gazette.

2. The naturalization shall come into effect as from the date of the public notice under the preceding paragraph.

More on Art 12 - 16 on the website.

(Loss of nationality)​

Article 11.​

A Japanese national shall lose Japanese nationality when he or she acquires a foreign nationality by his or her own choice.

2. A Japanese national having a foreign nationality shall lose Japanese nationality if he or she chooses the foreign nationality in accordance with the laws of the foreign country concerned.

 

[coachspinks]

I wonder why as I have seen so many documentaries stating that Japan's birth rate is so low that they will not be able to support themselves in some years.

Japan's replacement rate, 1.4, is below what is needed, 2.1, to replace the population from one generation to the next. There are several countries worldwide who are in the same situation. Each is going to have to come with one or more methods to fix the issue.

 

[coachspinks]

Japan's replacement rate, 1.4, is below what is needed, 2.1, to replace the population from one generation to the next. There are several countries worldwide who are in the same situation. Each is going to have to come with one or more methods to fix the issue.

I hit post to quick. Each countries own political, social and cultural characteristics will determine how they deal with the issue.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

His kid is still small, so he will get to go to school and hopefully be ok because he is going to grow along side Japanese kids.

Bjorn has a tittle daughter and I think she will be fine in school.

 

[namnhi]

Japan's replacement rate, 1.4, is below what is needed, 2.1, to replace the population from one generation to the next. There are several countries worldwide who are in the same situation. Each is going to have to come with one or more methods to fix the issue.

One of the methods... would be to encourage more migration. That's why it doesn't make any sense to be so strict on the law when the result of that law is a problem.