Kyuzo Murata

KYUZO MURATA was born in 1902 in the historical city of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture, deep in the mountains of central Japan. Although he entered Tokyo's elite Keio University, he was forced by illness to leave before graduating. Having always had a great interest in bonsai, after his recovery he decided to devote himself completely to the art of bonsai growing. In 1926 Kyuzo moved to Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture, where he established the Kyuka-en Bonsai Garden. Here he grew many high-quality...See more

KYUZO MURATA was born in 1902 in the historical city of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture, deep in the mountains of central Japan. Although he entered Tokyo's elite Keio University, he was forced by illness to leave before graduating. Having always had a great interest in bonsai, after his recovery he decided to devote himself completely to the art of bonsai growing. In 1926 Kyuzo moved to Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture, where he established the Kyuka-en Bonsai Garden. Here he grew many high-quality bonsai. Kyuzo was the Highest Councillor to the Japan Union of Bonsai Growers and also Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Kokufu Bonsai Association until his death in 1993. ISAMU MURATA, Kyuzo Murata's son, was born in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture in 1936. In 1959 he began to study the art of bonsai at Kyuka-en and since 1993, following the death of his father, has run Kyuka-en. Today Isamu continues to raise bonsai and to promote the art that he loves, based on a new sense that suits the modern era. His books include Four Seasons of Bonsai (Kodansha), Bonsai of the Imperial Family (Mainichi Shimbunsha), and A Guidebook to Wildflowers (Kodansha). Kyuka-en was established by Kyuzo Murata between 1926 and 1931 in Bonsai-machi, a section of Omiya City. Even now, the shelves of Kyuka-en display a large variety of bonsai throughout the year, all created with great devotion. The general public is free to visit Kyuka-en and see the bonsai. See less