Wazakura Japan Partners
At Wazakura, we've partnered with respected institutions, museum, artists, educators, and resellers in the bonsai and ikebana community to offer our customers exceptional bonsai tools and resources. Our partners share our dedication to excellence and commitment to providing high-quality products and services. Together, we're creating new opportunities for growth and innovation in the world of bonsai.
On this page, you'll learn more about our valued partnerships and exciting projects we've worked on. Join us as we continue to support and promote the art of bonsai and ikebana, and provide our customers with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wazakura Japan is now the exclusive Boonsai Tools brand of the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Recognized for our exceptional design and craftsmanship, we're honored to bring that same level of excellence to their organization, members and visitors!
Nestled amidst towering conifers in Federal Way, Washington, USA, Pacific Bonsai Museum connects people to nature through the living art of bonsai.
One of only two museums in the United States solely dedicated to bonsai, and one of only a handful of bonsai museums worldwide, Pacific Bonsai Museum maintains a collection of 150 bonsai that are among the finest examples of bonsai anywhere in the world. The collection is also the most geographically diverse bonsai collection in the United States, with trees from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
A grand outdoor setting with the elegance of a fine art museum, Pacific Bonsai Museum features 60 trees on exhibit at a given time, open to the public six days a week. This cultural gem offers contemporary and traditional bonsai exhibitions, group tours, education programs, field trips, and public events.
More at www.pacificbonsaimuseum.org
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Wazakura Japan has become the Ikebana Tool brand partner of the Ikebana educational plateform Ikebana.be.
Renowned for our outstanding design and craftsmanship, we are proud to extend the same level of excellence to their organization, students, and audience, as an honor.
Ikebana.be offers a path to tranquility amidst the chaos of today through the practice of ikebana. This ancient Japanese art form serves as a gateway to reconnecting with nature and oneself, grounding individuals in the present moment. By harnessing one's creativity, flowers and branches are granted a renewed life. The mission of Ikebana.be is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals to forge a deeper connection with nature and express themselves through ikebana, facilitating a profound understanding of both, self and the world.
Allow us to introduce Ilse Beunen and Ben Huybrechts, founders of Ikebana.be, who bring their wealth of expertise and unwavering dedication to the realm of ikebana. Through their teachings, workshops, books, and vibrant presence on social media, they fervently share their passion for this art form. Delve into their vast knowledge, find inspiration in their teachings, and immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of Japanese culture. Together, Ilse and Ben warmly invite you to embark on this captivating journey into the artistry of ikebana.
More at: https://www.ikebana.be
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Bonsai Mastermind
Our Exciting Collaboration with Yusuke Ogawa
ReBonsai Website
Ogawa Yusuke
Bonsai Artist and Instructor
Introducing our partnership with Recycling bonsai and plants studio ReBonsai! We are proud to collaborate with Mr. Yusuke Ogawa, the renowed representative of ReBonsai, located in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture. With the theme "Reborn × Bonsai = Recycling of Bonsai," ReBonsai is dedicated to promoting the leasing & recylcing of bonsai and has a wealth of experience in bonsai techniques from Mr. Ogawa's 5-year tenure as a bonsai artist in Saitama Prefecture.
As part of our partnership, Mr. Ogawa rigorously tests and uses every Wazakura bonsai tool, providing us with invaluable insights and feedback to continuously improve our offerings for bonsai enthusiasts around the world. With his exceptional expertise in creating bonsai that aligns with modern living, as well as his skillful craftsmanship in creating water and stone pedestals as a "daishi," we share a common vision of making bonsai more accessible and promoting this proud cultural heritage of Japan to a wider audience.
We are excited to work together with ReBonsai in preserving and promoting the art of bonsai, and we invite you to join us in exploring the world of "life with bonsai" with ReBonsai as our valued partner.
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Unveiling the Ikebana Journey
A Partnership of Artistic Excellence with Ilse Beunen
Ikebana.be Website
Ilse Beunen
Ikebana Artist and Instructor
Ilse, a renowned Ikebana Artist and intructor, graduated and journeyed to Japan in 1989 with the support from prestigious foundations. She apprenticed under landscape architect Suzuki Shigeichi near Nagaoka, immersing herself in Japanese culture and mastered Sogestu ikebana.
Obtaining her teaching certificate in 1997, she taught ikebana to both Japanese and foreigners and created stunning arrangements at the Belgian embassy in Tokyo. Returning to Belgium in 2000, Ilse established an ikebana atelier, working tirelessly to raise ikebana awareness through teaching, workshops, books, and social media. She chaired the Sogetsu Azalea Studygroup from 2013 to 2019 and now serves as vice-chairperson.
Organizing Iemoto Akane Teshigahara's visit to the Floralies in Genth in 2016 was a career highlight, and she received the 90th Anniversary Commemorative Overseas Akane Teshigahara Award the following year. Ilse continues her education under Joko Crivelli, holding the 1st-grade Jonin-Somu teaching degree, with two more grades to achieve. She eagerly anticipates future opportunities.
Through our partnership, Ilse will conduct thorough testing of the Wazakura Ikebana tools, offering us invaluable feedback to enhance our products for Ikebana enthusiasts worldwide. Additionally, she will share her valuable insights and thoughts on the realm of Ikebana.
We are thrilled to collaborate with Ilse in preserving and promoting the art of Ikebana, and we warmly invite you to join us in discovering this captivating world at Ikebana.be.
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Mastering the Bonsai & Ikebana Crafts
Inspiring YouTubers who trust our tools
Appalachian Bonsai YouTube
Ben Kirkland
Instructor of Industrial Design, Virginia Tech
Meet Ben, an incredibly talented Industrial Designer and true bonsai enthusiast. After graduating from Auburn University, he moved to Floyd, Virginia to help his family and has been living there since 2004 with his pets and beautiful bonsai trees. Ben has over a decade of experience in bonsai and is an active member of the Hinoki Bonsai Club, where he served as president from 2016-2018. He's known for his inspiring lectures and demonstrations on bonsai in the surrounding area,.
When he's not working on his bonsai creations, Ben shares his extensive knowledge as an industrial design teacher at Virginia Tech. His research interests include online education and speculative & critical design theory.
Follow Ben's incredible bonsai journey and get inspired to start your own!
Gro Bonsai YouTube
Darren George
Bonsai Artist Youtuber
Introducing Darren - a true bonsai enthusiast on a mission to spread joy and positivity through bonsai. He firmly believes that if everyone kept bonsai, the world would be a better place. Darren is dedicated to helping others experience the same happiness and fulfillment he gets from bonsai.
On his YouTube channel, you'll find a wealth of information aimed at bonsai beginners, including tips, tactics, techniques, and even tales of both the good and the bad that he's learned on his journey from hobbyist to professional. Get a glimpse into his bonsai world as he shares progress on his own trees and provides valuable insights to help you cultivate and care for your own bonsai.
Join Darren on his quest to make the world a more beautiful and peaceful place, one bonsai at a time. You won't be disappointed!
FlowerJoosYouTube
John McDonald
Ikebana Artist Youtuber
Introducing John McDonald from the YouTube channel Flowerjoos. With 40 years of experience in the flower industry, including running his own flower shops in Scotland and serving as head florist at Gleneagles hotel, John now creates floral design videos and shares his expertise with clubs and in competitions.
He's a devoted practitioner and teacher of Sogetsu Ikebana, which perfectly complements the high-quality Japanese products he uses. Kenzan, a tool used in ikebana, is versatile and applicable in various flower arrangements, especially for events and corporate settings. Expect to see Wazakura products featured not only in his ikebana but also in other designs.
John shares his passion on FlowerJoos, a YouTube channel dedicated to inspiring and providing ideas in floristry, floral art, and Ikebana. John's philosophy is that flowers don't have to be complicated; the best approach is to be hands-on and enjoy the creative process. Established seven years ago, the channel now boasts over 450 videos!!