Among all of the great bonsai artists, one stands out for his generosity, encouragement and approachable personality: John Yoshio Naka.
Naka was one of the founding members of the California Bonsai Society and the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, advised the National Bonsai Foundation for many years and received various awards from both Japanese and American leaders and fellowship programs. A few of John’s trees are now on display at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, including the world-renowned “Goshin.”
On August 16, 2021, he would have been 107 years old. Please enjoy this digital archive to celebrate John Naka, his trees and his legacy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MASTER NAKA
John Naka was born in Colorado but grew up in Japan, where he studied bonsai under his grandfather. He moved back to the United States in his 20s and grew the bonsai movement largely from the West Coast. Learn more about John’s accomplishments, legacy and relationships with these entries from our Bonsai Blog.
THREE LINES OF WISDOM
In addition to his breathtaking bonsai work, Naka was known for repeating proverbs and writing poems. One of his haikus was featured in Volume 48 of the American Bonsai Society Journal by one of his dear friends and students Cheryl Manning who wrote, “John’s haiku is as beautiful as his bonsai. Three lines, fourteen words, seventeen syllables - creating a powerful image of renewal, hope, and enduring strength.”
Last leaf has fallen
Tree will sleep and I will dream
Spring is tomorrow
- John Naka
JOHN NAKA’S SKETCHBOOK
For 50 years, Naka traveled the world teaching bonsai, sketching out unique drawings to guide people for the future development of their bonsai. The National Bonsai Foundation published a sketchbook that compiled nearly 100 of his sketches, which display Naka’s artistic talent and matchless sense of design. They also provide simple examples of a technique you can use to improve your own bonsai trees.
EXPLORE NAKA’S WORK
The American Bonsai Society was kind enough to share content from Volume 48 of their journal, which celebrated John’s life.
Please enjoy “John Naka’s Gift of Goshin,” written by Former NBF Co-Chair Felix Laughlin on the backstory of one of the most breathtaking and historic bonsai in existence.
You can also scroll through A Gallery of John’s Seven Trees, a compilation of his trees at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum and the Pacific Bonsai Museum, created by former Assistant Curator Aarin Packard.
RESTORING NAKA’S GOSHIN II
In 2019 Ted Matson, the curator of the Bonsai Collection at The Huntington Library, brought long-time friend and past curator of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Jack Sustic, to restore/recreate John Naka's Goshin III. Sustic was part of the original team that helped create Goshin III the first time with John Naka. This video highlights the reconstruction, fundamental forest creation techniques and funny John Naka stories! Courtesy of the California Bonsai Society.
REMEMBERING MASTER NAKA
We invite you to join Jack Sustic and Jim Hughes in fondly remembering John’s incredible personality, teaching ability and bonsai skills by adding to the comments section below.
“John had the ability to be both a teacher and friend. He would see the artist in you and create an environment that encouraged creativity and confidence in your own talents. As a friend, he made you feel valued and appreciated. His friendship and teachings are enduring legacies.”
“What I admired most about John was his ability to reach out to his students and inspire them to create bonsai and love the process of doing so. At his essence, he was a teacher. It was his core trait and an intangible gift he shared with bonsai enthusiasts from all over the world.”
Cheryl Manning, a member of the NBF Board of Directors and a longtime student and friend of John’s, wrote about his process of envisioning the end product of his trees – including before and after photos!