Chinese Herald News On April 14, 2024 (Sunday), in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, the China-Japan Youth Outdoor Exchange Activity with the theme of "Small Potted Plants, Big World" came to a successful conclusion.
The event was hosted by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Osaka, the Shikoku Federation of Overseas Chinese, and the Takamatsu Japan-China Friendship Association, co-organized by the Chinese Tourism Representative Office in Osaka, and supported by the Kagawa, Takamatsu, Kagawa International Exchange Association, and Takamatsu International Association. A total of 20 families from China and Japan participated in the event. Jiang Guangjian, director of the affairs bureau of the Federation of Overseas Chinese in the four countries, Akira Shiota, executive director of the Japan-China Friendship Association of Takamatsu City, and Miariki Uemura of the Marugame International Exchange Association attended the event.
Takamatsu Bonsai Village is the heart of the bonsai cultivation area in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and is home to more than 10,000 bonsai works from about 50 bonsai gardens. During the event, in addition to visiting and experiencing bonsai making, participants also had the opportunity to learn more about the common origin of bonsai culture between China and Japan. The event featured a cultural heritage knowledge session, where the staff of the park introduced the origin of bonsai and its historical origins in China, especially during the Tang Dynasty with the Han and Tang dynasties.
Japanese bonsai and Chinese bonsai have different style characteristics, plant selection and maintenance methods. The lecturer took the common Japanese bonsai such as black pine, Nishiki pine, five-needle pine, etc., as examples, explained the cultivation conditions and production techniques of Japanese-style bonsai, and led each group of families to make bonsai works. At the same time, the lecturer interacted with the participants in simple Chinese, led everyone to appreciate the bonsai works in the garden, and explained the relevant appreciation knowledge, so that the participants could better understand the charm of bonsai art.
At the event, the organizers also taught Chinese expressions about bonsai and the Chinese lyrics of the famous local "bonsai gymnastics" in Japan. At the end of the event, all the participants sang and danced "Bonsai Gymnastics" together, adding more joyful atmosphere to the event.