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T H E S P E C I A L D I S P L A Y
In honor of our friendship and as a tribute to the historical ties between our communities, the North American Bonsai Pottery Competition is proud to showcase selections of Japanese bonsai pots, generously shared by the Japanese bonsai community.
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S E N Z A N
MR. NAKAYAMA JUNICHI
Saitama Prefecture, Japan Tall Rectangular Polychrome Pot 2025 16.5 x 12.4 x 6.4 cm Inspired by Utagawa Hiroshige’s original woodblock print series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, this pot features Kanbara – Night Snow on the front and Hara – Mt. Fuji in the Morning on the back.
Utagawa Hiroshige created many landscape prints, often depicting travelers, townspeople, and the richness of nature. His famous series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō portrays scenes along the main highway connecting Kyoto, the old capital, and Edo (Tokyo), the new capital - a route of about 500 km with 53 post stations. Hiroshige’s works resonated with the common people, showing their daily lives in harmony with nature. The illustrations on this pot are based on woodblock prints published about 200 years ago in the Edo period. They were redrawn and kiln-fired after being recomposed in layout to fit the surface of the pots. Since the aspect ratio of the original prints differ from that of the pots, adjustments were made to preserve the atmosphere of the originals. |
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A B O U T S E N Z A N
Mr. Nakayama Junichi studied industrial design at Nihon University College of Art before joining a mold-making company, where he worked in mold design. Alongside his career, he pursued personal interests in metalwork, Japanese painting, and ceramics. After retiring, he established a pottery kiln in Nagatoro, Saitama Prefecture, where he continues to create painted bonsai pots to this day. His work has been widely recognized, earning him the Gold Prize in the 16th Modern Small Bonsai Potters’ Work Exhibition (Painting Division), the Gold Prize at Taikan-ten, and the Silver Prize in the Glaze Division.
"In addition to ukiyo-e motifs, I also paint landscapes, nature scenes, dragons, and bijin-ga (portraits of beautiful women) on my pots. How should we regard these painted bonsai pots? Especially with polychrome pots, one might wonder whether they harmonize well with the planted tree materials. Perhaps the vivid decoration lessens the impression of the tree’s form. Yet, despite this challenge, painted bonsai pots remain popular. Many people appreciate them as ceramic paintings and art pieces on their own, enjoying the designs even without a bonsai tree. They are well received by collectors and art lovers." - Senzan |
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T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
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D I S C O V E R P O T T E R S I S P R O U D T O S P O N S O R T H E 2 0 2 5 N O R T H A M E R I C A N B O N S A I P O T T E R Y C O M P E T I T I O N
