My express thanks go to Dave Glazewski of The Bonsai Society of Greater Hartford, Connecticut for allowing me to use his text and pictures of this demo that
took place at his club during Spring 2005.
Son of the reknowned bonsai master Saburo Kato, Hatsuji Kato now
runs the family bonsai nursery, Mansei-en, with one of his brothers.
Mr Kato has worked for his father since leaving school. Although
he is a director of the Nippon Bonsai Association Cooperative,
a Vice-Director of the NBA, and is a sought-after teacher for
the Japanese Bonsai Society, Mr Kato still considers himself a
student, developing and studying new ideas and describing new
techniques. As a fourth-generation bonsai grower, he is dedicated
to furthering the understanding and practice of bonsai, directing
people away from the notion that it is only a rich or old person's
hobby.
The tree a Birds Nest Spruce (Picea abies 'Nidiformis') as bought to the demonstration by President of the Bonsai Society of Greater Hartford, Bob Neems.
