John Naka facts for kids
John Yoshio Naka (born August 16, 1914, in Fort Lupton, Colorado; died May 19, 2004, in Whittier, California) was a very important American expert in plants. He was a great teacher, author, and master of bonsai art.
Bonsai is the art of growing small trees in containers. These trees are shaped to look like large, old trees found in nature.
Contents
John Naka's Life and Bonsai Journey
John Naka was born in America. When he was 8 years old, he moved to Japan, his parents' home country. There, his grandfather taught him a lot about the art of bonsai.
In 1935, he came back to the United States. Later, in 1946, he settled in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Alice, and their three sons.
Starting the California Bonsai Society
In November 1950, John Naka and four friends started a bonsai club. This club is now known as the California Bonsai Society. He became a very important person in American bonsai art during the 1950s and 1960s.
He helped spread the love and practice of bonsai art in the Western world and beyond. Naka traveled all over the world, teaching at events and clubs. However, he never taught classes in Japan. He felt it was like "preaching to Buddha" because bonsai was already so developed there.
Naka's Famous Books and Sayings
John Naka wrote two very important books: Bonsai Techniques I and Bonsai Techniques II. Many artists consider these books like "bibles" for Western bonsai. By 1990, these books were translated into French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
He also wrote many articles and helped with other books. A book called Even Monkeys Fall Out of Trees shared 287 wise sayings from Naka. The title means that even experts can make mistakes sometimes.
Naka had many inspiring quotes, like:
- "Bonsai is not the result: that comes after. Your enjoyment is what is important."
- "It must have philosophy, botany, artistry, human quality behind it to be a bonsai."
- "The bonsai is not you working on the tree; you have to have the tree work on you."
- "Leave room for the birds to fly through" the branches of your bonsai.
Goshin - A Special Bonsai Creation
One of John Naka's most famous bonsai creations is called Goshin. This name means "protector of the spirit." It is a group of eleven juniper trees planted together. Each tree represents one of Naka's grandchildren.
You can see this amazing planting at the National Arboretum. About a month before he passed away, Naka gave his very first bonsai to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was a Montezuma bald cypress tree.
In 2005, a book called John Naka's Sketchbook was published. It showed over 80 of his drawings. These drawings showed how he imagined different bonsai trees would grow in the future.
Awards and Special Honors
John Naka received many important awards for his work and for building friendships between countries.
Early Recognition
On May 23, 1960, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs gave Mr. Naka an award. It was for his efforts to promote goodwill and friendship between Japan and the United States.
On November 24, 1967, he received another honorary medal and award from Japanese agricultural leaders.
On May 20, 1972, the County of Los Angeles honored Mr. Naka. They recognized his great contributions to Japanese-American friendship. He helped people understand and enjoy the beauty of bonsai culture.
Highest Honors
In 1985, Emperor Shōwa of Japan gave Naka a very special award. It was called The Fifth Class of the Order of the Rising Sun. This is one of the highest awards for someone who is not Japanese.
In 1992, Naka was chosen for a National Heritage Fellowship. He was the first bonsai artist to receive this important award. When he got the award, he said, "It has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow."
In 2001, a statue of John Naka was revealed at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington, D.C..
He also received the Pacific Pioneer Award in 2009 after he passed away. The American Bonsai Society named the John Naka Award after him. A special fund was also started in his name.
In May 2014, John Naka became the first person to be added to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum's Bonsai Hall of Fame.
