A Minimal and Progressive Plant

Bonsai has become a business. It is a huge business in some particular countries. In 2008, Animal Quarantine Service Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan announced an interesting data, in the previous year (2007,) which shows the total amount of money of exported Bonsai from Japan and a breakdown by country as it is shown below:

The total amount:
￥5,452,500,000 (≒$46,207,627.1) [$1≒￥118 (2007)]

No.1: Netherlands (20%)
No.2: The UK (15%)
No.3: Spain (14%)
No.3: Taiwan (14%)
No.4: Italy (13%)
No.5: Germany (5%)

Surprisingly, except Taiwan, the dominants are European countries. Although Italy was ranked in no.4, it still showed a quite number. When it comes to the data in 2004, as another surprising thing, the total amount was only ￥890,000,000, which is about 1/6. The market had become more than 6 times bigger in 3 years. Yes, the Bonsai market was a really attractive! Yes...it "was..."
(To be continued)

For your own to appreciate or for your friends or steady to gift, have a super-small Bonsai. This may be the best one to begin Bonsai and understand its "world." You do not have to be bothered to look for some space to display it. Plus, you do not need to consult with your wallet. It is quite cheap. Having around €20, you can get this cute one! This is not only small. This has a "world." Plus, you do not have to go to a shop. You can buy it online. This cute one is sold at "Izu-Bonsai Online shop," (naruko@izubonsai.com) located in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan.
This super-small Bonsai will lead you to Bonsai World. Once you get into the world, you will definitely buy some more bonsai. Then, you will get a shelf for them as a small "gallery"

What do you associate with the words "minimal" and "progressive"? Some people may immediately think about music genre, especially in electro music. Bonsai accompanies these two words, I believe. The explanation for "minimal" is quite easy. As its appearance, it is, most of the time, small, compact, and plain. They are just same characteristic as minimal music. What about "progressive"? It is a bit deeper idea, I would say. Anyway, have you seen any CD jackets of progressive music in electronic? Actually, they are quite colorful. I mean they tend to be with different and more colors, compared to that of minimal. Apparently, bonsai is not so colorful. Yet, bonsai is a plant, living in seasons. So depending on the seasons, it changes its color, naturally. Also, pots for bonsai are not just a container but they are usually a pottery nicely designed by pottery craftsmen. What's more,"progressive" is more about chronology. Again, bonsai is a plant. Its figure has changed over time, extremely slowly, though.

Here, I show examples of minimal and progressive music and their CD jackets.