Vintage Bonsai photos from Japan in 1945

[Wabi-Sabi]

Hello All!

Since I got such a wonderful and enthusiastic response to my Neo Valley Chrysanthemum Stone post, I thought I would share these bonsai photos that were taken in Japan in 1945.


There are only two Bonsai photos, but the historical context for these two images is that they where taken by a US Marine photographer in the days immediately after World War II.

From a history of bonsai spreading to the west perspective, here is an early post World War II example of a US serviceman finding particular interest in what was he probably considered as an exotic, and fascinating thing, which was these miniature cultivated trees.

The other thing that I find particularly interesting is the survival aspect. With a backdrop of war devastation and the reality of Japan’s total defeat, here are the people with their bonsai. What I see in the photos is dignified humility, and the importance of bonsai in Japanese culture.

Perhaps someone can identify what type of plants are in the photos. The photos were probably taken in the vicinity of Sasebo. Of course if the people in these photos could be identified that would be amazing.

I have included a few other pictures from the original photo album that were taken during the same time period for context. There are many more photos from the vicinity, of buildings, people and homes if someone with an interest wants to see them, perhaps a Sasebo local historian.

I hope these vintage bonsai images are found to be of interest. Thanks.

 

[Adair M]

The first tree appears to be a pine, so it's probably a Japanese Black or Red pine.

The second picture with the formal upright is probably either an Ezo Spruce, or a Cryptomeria. Most likely the latter.

 

[rockm]

My guess--Both black pines. The second could be a cork bark BP.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

2nd photo sure likes like a Nishiki-matsu, Corkbark black pine. Very popular around that time, along with red pines.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Cool! Is there a Website I could visit to see more photos like this?

 

[DougB]

Wabi-Sabi I tried to send you a private message, however you have everything blocked, so this posting.

I appreciate your posting of the 1945 pictures. I write articles for the Triangle Bonsai Society in Raleigh, NC. May I have permission to use your posting for our newsletter? If you approve would you please share how you happened upon these photos. Thanks.
Doug Barney
djbarney@earthlink.net

PS completing your profile with location, etc. and allow conversations (private messages) would be a big help to others.

 

[Wabi-Sabi]

Thanks All for your reply to this post!

and thanks DougB for the tips on the settings, I will dive into those settings today, so people can contact me.

I am happy to see interest in these vintage photos. I originally thought the photo album would appeal to WWII aviation, or military collectors, or a local Japanese historian, but as with much of the material that I deal with, there is usually several dimensions of interest, or value as a primary source for research.

I always thought the pictures of the Japanese family with their bonsai is an amazing photograph. Particularly with the span of the family members ages represented, and what I imagine to be their states of mind at the time. I also thought the picture of the eldest family member, and likely the bonsai cultivator, in front of the tokonoma is special too.

As, I mentioned in the original post, the photos need to be placed in their historical context. From the Japanese perspective; the freshness of Japan's unconditional surrender and occupation, and uncertainty ahead, but with a clear edict directly from the emperor that the people were to essentially cooperate, with “sincerity and integrity”, and "to be devoted to construction for the future" to preserve the continuity of the nation, and a "grand peace". The success of the occupation and the peaceful transformation that followed is largely attributed to the total cooperation of the Japanese with the occupation.

It is also interesting to note that the there is a picture in the album that show a Japanese Shinto Shrine and a warning sign posted that reads "Safeguard - Shinto Shrine-entrance prohibited to U.S. forces. Maj. Gen. T.E. Bourke ", Bourke commanded the 5th Marines during the occupation of Japan.

As primary source research material, this photo album is a view into exactly how things looked in 1945. So from a bonsai interest point of view, you see how things were actually displayed, or appeared, without the filter of time, changes in style etc. I'm sure there are older historic photos of Bonsai, but these photos show this particular meeting of two cultures, and the interest in bonsai.

As far as using the texts from my posts on this subject in your newsletter, go ahead, feel free.

As far as the photos, the photos were taken by a U.S. serviceman, an employee of the US government who was chronicling the occupation. The photographer is unknown, or anonymous. You should do your own research into the matter, but between work product of employees of the US government not being copyrighted, and fair use..??..

As far as the whole photo album is concerned, I deal only with original vintage prints, I have a physical copy of a vintage photo album assembled by a US serviceman, which I intend to place in a special collections library, historical society, or with a collector who will preserve the material and will probably ultimately donate it to an institution someday. The photos I take of the actual physical vintage photographic prints, are generally for showing potential new owner's what the originals they are purchasing look like. Libraries that purchase material for research will then make the material available to researchers.

The answer to how I obtained the vintage photos is - with great difficulty. Usually material is lost at the time of an estate transitioning, or its buried away in a closet for another 50 years. Its difficult to find good material, and there is a lot of work that goes into research, and scouting for it. If you want to see the entire album, or perhaps acquire it, just check out my Neo Valley Chrysanthemum Stone post (don't let the price of the stone scare you the album is much less), and follow the link and look around.

I just thought the Bonsai shots would be interesting, as a snippet from the album, but now that I think about it the whole album shows the backdrop for the two bonsai photos, what Japan looked like before all of the growth of the 1950's, and the first meetings of Japanese culture and American serviceman after the war, beginning to be peaceful allies (the servicemen became the future great American middle class of the 50's and 60's etc, a middle class that had the wages to be able to indulge in hobbies and pastimes, like wood working, bonsai, Ikebana, etc.)

Here is a picture of a cliff side shrine? that the white arrow points to: