Bonsai Conventions, Symposia, Demo/Workshops, & Exhibitions, Part VI
THE  CONVENTIONS,  SYMPOSIA,  DEMOS,  WORKSHOPS,  &   EXHIBITIONS,   PART VI



Last Updated: March 17, 2024


The following is a partial listing of known recurring conventions and exhibitions.

AFRICAN  BONSAI  CONVENTION   (ABC)
AMERICAN  BONSAI  SOCIETY   (ABS)
ARCOBONSAI   (ARCO)
ASIA-PACIFIC BONSAI  &  SUISEKI  EXHIBITION  and  CONVENTION  (ASPAC)
ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIAN BONSAI CLUBS LTD.   (AABC Ltd)
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH BONSAI ARTISTS   (ABBA)
BEST  OF  BRITISH  BONSAI   (BoBB)
BONSAI  ASSOCIATION  OF  BELGIUM  NOELANDERS  TROPHY   (BABNT)
BONSAI  CLUBS  INTERNATIONAL   (BCI)
BONSAI  SLOVAKIA  INTERNATIONAL  BONSAI , SUISEKI  and  TEA  EXHIBITION   (BSIBSTCE)
BONSAI  SOCIETIES  OF  FLORIDA   (BSF)
BONSAIAUTUMN   (BA)
BONSAI  TRIENNALE   (BT)
BRUSSELS  BONSAI  RENDEZVOUS   (BBR)
CAROLINA  BONSAI  EXPO   (CBE)
CHINESE  NATIONAL  PENJING  CONVENTION  and  EXHIBITION   (CNPCE)
CRESPI  CUP   (CRESPI)
EUROPEAN  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION   (EBA)
EUROPEAN  BONSAÏ  SAN  SHOW   (EBS)
FEDERATION  of  BRITISH  BONSAI  SOCIETIES   (FoBBS)
FEDERATION  LATINO  AMERICANA  de  BONSAI   (FELAB)
GOLDEN  STATE  BONSAI  FEDERATION   (GSBF)
INTERNATIONAL  BONSAI  ARBORETUM   (IBA)
INTERNATIONAL  STONE  APPRECIATION  SYMPOSIUM   (ISAS)
INTERNATIONAL  STONE  COLLECTION  ASSOCIATION   (ISCA)
KOREAN  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION  (Korean  Bonsai  Growers  Cooperative)   (KBA)
MALAYSIA  BONSAI  AND  SUISEKI  EXHIBITION  and  COMPETITION   (MBSEC)
MID-AMERICA  BONSAI  ALLIANCE   (MABA)
MID-AMERICA  BONSAI  SHOW   (MABE)
MIDATLANTIC  BONSAI  SOCIETIES   (MABS)
NEW  ZEALAND  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION   (NZBA)
PACIFIC  NORTHWEST  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION   (PNBCA)
PHILIPPINE  BONSAI  SOCIETY  INC.   (PBSI)
SAKKA  TEN INTERNATIONAL  NIPPON  BONSAI  SAKKA  KYOOKAI  EUROPE   (NBSKE)
SOUTH  AFRICAN  BONSAI  CONVENTION   (SABC)
TAIWAN  BONSAI  CREATOR  ASSOCIATION   (TBCA)
TAIWAN  NATIONAL  BONSAI  STYLE  EXHIBITION  and  COMPETITION   (HWA/HUA FONG)
UNION  DEL  BONSAI  ESPAÑOL   (UBE)
UNIONE  BONSAISTI  ITALIANI  CONGRESS   (UBI)
U.  K.  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION   (UKBA)
U.  S.  NATIONAL  BONSAI  EXHIBITION   (USNBA)
U.  S.  NATIONAL  SHOHIN  BONSAI  EXHIBITION   (USNSBA)
WORLD  BONSAI  FRIENDSHIP  FEDERATION   (WBFF)
ZHONGGUO  FENG  PENJING  EXHIBITION   (ZF)


ELEVEN  BEST  JAPANESE  BONSAI  EXHIBITS

KOKUFU BONSAI TEN

TAIKAN-TEN

SAKUFU-TEN

MEIFU-TEN

GAFU-TEN

SHUNGA-TEN

SHUGA-TEN

NAGAHAMA BONBAI-TEN

HISTORIC  EXPOSITIONS




PHILIPPINE  BONSAI  SOCIETY  INC.   (PBSI)

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2004


2005 May 19 - 24 Mandaluyong
2nd Open Exhibition
and Competition

2006 June 1 - 8 Mandaluyong
3rd Open Exhibition
and Competition

2007 October 12 - 21 Quezon
4th Open Exhibition
and Competition
Wu Shan Chang (Taiwan), Yang Kuo Yin (Taiwan); Mike Morden, Mrs. Fely S. Gupit, Yumie S. Gupit, Oding Reyes
2008 May 3 - 11 Quezon
5th Open Exhibition
and Competition
Min Hsuan Lo (Taiwan), Tang Kim Hong (Taiwan), Tzen Chin Yi (Taiwan); Raymond Cordero, Dr. Emer Cruz, Erwin Miranda, Fely Gupit, Mike Morden, Joel Embuscado, Glenn Gasid, Romy Dino
2009



2010 May 15 - 30 Mandaluyong
Philippine Bonsai Festival
With the cooperation of Bulacan Bonsai Artists Inc., Kapampangan Horticulture, and the Bonsai Artists Association of Tarlac
2011 May 6 - 30 Quezon
Philippine Bonsai Exhibition
and Competition

2012 May 8 - 11 Pampanga
Association of Bonsai
Friendship Federation (ABFF) 2012
Exhibition and Convention

2013 May 30 - June 5 Quezon
Asia-Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation 2013

2014 May 23 - June 1 Pasig
National Bonsai Exhibition
and Competition 2014
Judges were BCI president Dr. Thomas Elias (USA), Budi Sulistyo (Indonesia), Yen Tzu-Ching (Taiwan), and Tan Chin-Fen (Taiwan).
2015 May 13 - 20 Quezon
National Bonsai Exhibition
and Competition 2015

2016 March 17 - 20 Makati
"BCI Beyond Borders"
Joint with BCI; Dr. Tom Elias (USA), Peter Huang (China), Min Hsuan Lo (Taiwan), Shinichi Nakajima (Japan), Xu Wen Ren (Taiwan), William Valavanis (USA), Ricky Wu (Hong Kong & China); some 280 bonsais and 80 stones
2017



2018 June


2019 March Quezon City, Metro Manila


2020



2021



2022



2023 June 10 - 12 Bay City, Pasay, Philippines


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SAKKA  TEN
INTERNATIONAL  NIPPON  BONSAI  SAKKA  KYOOKAI  EUROPE   (NBSKE)

.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2002 November Abano Terme (PD), Italy
56 samples of bonsai and suiseki from all over Europe; Tomio Yamada, Susumu Sudo, and Hideo Suzuki; Professor Giangiorgio Pasqualotto.
2003
none



2004 November Wiesloch, Germany
2nd edition
exhibition of 46 bonsai and suiseki samples; Hideo Suzuki, Chiharu Imai, Hisaaki Nogami, Tomio Yamada.
2005
none



2006
none



2007
none



2008 November 14 - 16 Bressanone, Italy
3rd edition
33 exhibitors from various European nations; Kunio Kobayashi; Professor Aldo Tollini.
2009
none



2010 November 12 - 15 Padua, Italy
4th edition
44 exhibitors from different European nations; Kunio Kobayashi (Japan); Paolo Rigotti, Mario Sandri, Xavier Redon Peinado e Adriano Nalon, Paolo Giai, Lorenzo Agnoletti, Bruno Mazza, Edoardo Rossi, Hartmuth Münchenbach, and Nicola Crivelli; Mirko Storari, Professor Giangiorgio Pasqualotto, Professor Aldo Tollini, Fabio Smolari, and Edoardo Rossi.
2011
none



2012 November 2 - 5 Peñiscola, Spain
5th edition
Chiharu Imai, Tomio Yamada, Edoardo Rossi, D. Fidel Vives, Professor Aldo Tollini, and Professor D. Angel Chamorro.
2013
none



2014 November 7 - 9 Fiesole, Florence, Italy
6th edition

2015
none



2016 October 28 - 30 Rome, Italy
7th edition
Kunio Kobayashi
2017
none



2018 November 2- 4 Alcalà De Xivert, Spain
8th edition
Tomio Yamada, Minoru Akiyama
2019
none



2020
none


Postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
2021
none



2022 November 11 - 14 Vico Equense, Italy
8th edition
Tomio Yamada, Chiharu Imai, Keiko Ando, Alberto Giacomelli, Giangiorgio Pasqualotto, Aldo Tollini
2023



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SOUTH  AFRICAN  BONSAI  CONVENTION   (SABC)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
1980 December Cape Town
1st Convention
3-days, 90 x 80' exhibit hall for about 500 bonsai, commercial hall for 14 different vendors; Charles Ceronio (Sep 5) gave a talk on "The Winds of Change to Indigenous Bonsai Styles for South Africa."
1981



1982



1983 October 16 - 18 Durban
3rd Convention

1984 October 10 - 14 Johannesburg
1st International Convention
"Bonsai -- Beauty and Harmony"
John Naka and Shigeo Katō
1985



1986



1987



1988



1989



1990



1991



1992



1993



1994



1995



1996 September (?) Johannesburg
Craig Coussins, Rudi Adam, Charles Cerronio, Rob Clausen.
1997



1998



1999



2000



2001



2002



2003



2004



2005



2006



2007 Sept.


2008



2009 September 24 - 27 Pretoria "Bonsai: Excellence in Africa" Farrand Bloch (Holland), Václav Novák (Czech Republic)
2010



2011



2012



2013 October 24 - 27 Johannesburg
Rob Kempinski (BCI Chairman, USA), Michael Hagedorn (USA), Walter Pall (Germany)
2014



2015



2016



2017 November 17 - 19 Port Elizabeth

2018



2019



2020



2021



2022



2023 November 4 - 5 Durban

Stefan Pretorius, Brett Simon; Shaun Murphy, Schalk vd Merwe, Scott Bredin, Farouk Patel, Darryl Clifford.

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TAIWAN  BONSAI  CREATOR  ASSOCIATION   (CHWA FONG)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
1998 June
1st Annual Exhibition

1999 June
2nd Annual Exhibition

2000 June
3rd Annual Exhibition

2001 June
4th Annual Exhibition

2002 June
5th Annual Exhibition

2003 June
6th Annual Exhibition

2004 June
7th Annual Exhibition

2005 June
8th Annual Exhibition

2006 June
9th Annual Exhibition

2007 June
10th Annual Exhibition

2008 July 5 - 7

11th Annual Exhibition

2009 October 31 - November 2 Chung Hwa, Taiwan
12th Annual Exhibition
Some 500 selected bonsai and 300 suiseki were exhibited by the Taiwan Pine Association, Hwa Fong (National Bonsai Association of Taiwan) and the Taiwan Bonsai Creators to commemorate the 10th Asia-Pacific Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition and Convention; Shinji Suzuki (Japan, demo), Chien Liang Chen (Taiwan, demo), William N. Valavanis (USA, demo), Pedro J. Morales (Puerto Rico, demo), Arishige Mastuura (Japan, lecture: suiseki), Qing Qung Zhao (China, demo), David Benavente (Spain, demo), Budi Sulistyo (Indonesia, demo), Salvatore Liporace (Italy, demo), Chung Hong Lee (Taiwan, demo), Yu Chuan Chou (Taiwan, demo), Lindsay Bebb (Australia, demo), Yi Long Chan (Taiwan, demo), and Kuo An Lee (Taiwan, demo).
2010 June
13th Annual Exhibition

2011

14th Annual Exhibition

2012

15th Annual Exhibition

2013

16th Annual Exhibition

2014

17th Annual Exhibition

2015

18th Annual Exhibition

2016

19th Annual Exhibition

2017

20th Annual Exhibition

2018

21st Annual Exhibition

2019

22nd Annual Exhibition

2020

23rd Annual Exhibition
2021



2022

24th Annual Exhibition

2023 October 14 - 19 Xizhou, Changhu, Taiwan
25th Annual Exhibition

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TAIWAN  NATIONAL  BONSAI  STYLE  EXHIBITION  and  COMPETITION   (HWA/HUA FONG)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
1995 June 23 - 27 Taipei
1st China-Style Bonsai Exhibition

1996
none



1997
2nd Exhibition

1998
3rd Annual Exhibition

1999
4th Annual Exhibition

2000
5th Annual Exhibition

2001
6th Annual Exhibition

2002 December 28, 2001 - January 5
7th Annual Exhibition

2003
8th Annual Exhibition

2004 December 24, 2003 - January 2
9th Annual Exhibition

2005
10th Annual Exhibition

2006 November 17 - 22
11th Annual Exhibition
In conjunction w/2006 ABFF Bonsai Convention
2007
12th Annual Exhibition

2008

13th Annual Exhibition

2009

14th Annual Exhibition

2010

15th Annual Exhibition

2011 December 3 - 11
Taipei
16th Annual Exhibition

2012
Taichung
17th Annual Exhibition

2013 October 12 - 20 Taichung
18th Annual Exhibition

2014 November 15 - 23
Taichung
19th Annual Exhibition
Kunio Kobayashi (Japan), Li Zhong Hong (Taiwan), Yan Zi Jing (Taiwan), He Guo Ming (Taiwan).
2015 October 17 - 25
Taichung
20th Annual Exhibition

2016 November 5 - 13
Taichung
21st Annual Exhibition

2017 November 4 - 26
Taichung
22nd Annual Exhibition
Over 135 bonsai were displayed.  There was only one winning bonsai and eleven bonsai which received gold awards.
2018 October 27 - November 4

23nd Annual Exhibition

2019 November 1 - 10
Changhua County, Taiwan
24th Annual Exhibition

2020 November 14 - 22

25th Annual Exhibition
The most important annual show held in Taiwan, with 26 clubs each submitting 10 trees.
2021 November 10 - 28

26th Annual Exhibition

2022 September 24 - October 2

27th Annual Exhibition

2023 November 25 - December 3 Pingtung County, Taiwan
28th Annual Exhibition
"There are more than 150 works on display by 170 tree friends from 14 countries. The event is unprecedented and is expected to attract 10,000 visitors from home and abroad."

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UNION  DEL  BONSAI  ESPAÑOL   (UBE)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2019 January 26 - 27 Aranjuez
I UBE Bonsai Convención
Hiroaki Suzuki (Japan), Sandro Segneri (Italy), Marcio Meruje (Portugal), Germán Gómez (Spain), Gabriel Romero (Spain)
2020 January 24 - 26 Aranjuez
II UBE Bonsai Convención
Manuel Germade (Spain), Edoardo Rossi (Italy), Pablo Comesaña (Spain), Kazuo Yajima (Japan)
2021 January 23 - 24, 30 - 31
---
UBE Bonsai Convención
Virtual show due to COVID-19 concerns.  Demonstrations by Manuel Germade (Spain), Marcio Meruje (Portugal), Andrés Bicocca (Argentina), Gabriel Romero (Spain), Sebastian Fernandez (Spain), Pablo Comesaña (Spain)
2022 January 21 - 23 Aranjuez
III UBE Bonsai Convención
Kazuo Yajima (Japan), Marco Invernizzi (Italy), Felipe Dallorto (Brasil)
2023 January 27 - 29 Aranjuez
IV UBE Bonsai Convención
Kazuo Yajima (Japan), Salvatore Liporace (Italy), Andrés Bicocca (Argentina), Salvador De Los Reyes (Spain), Rafael Torres (Spain); Yuuki Ceramics (Spain), Arisa Nishino (Japan), Manuel Germade (Spain)
2024 January 19 - 21 Aranjuez
V UBE Bonsai Convención
Kazuo Yajima (Japan), Bjorn Bjorholm (USA), Koji Hiramatsu (Japan), Sebastián Fernández (Spain), Luis Vallejo (Spain), Pachi G. Pavia (Spain), Andrés Álvarez (Spain)

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UNIONE  BONSAISTI  ITALIANI  CONGRESS   (UBI)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
1997 May 16 - 18 Imola
I Congresso Nazionale
Craig Coussins (Scotland) [in four hours, a several foot wide forest planting on a fibreglass resin by Eugenio Zardi, assisted by a wonderful team of some of the best young bonsai artists in the region]
1998 October 30 - November 1 Casabianca di Fermo
II Congresso Nazionale
Joint w/EBA
1999

III Congresso Nazionale

2000 April 27 - May 1 Arco
IV Congresso Nazionale
Joint w/EBA; Hotsumi Terakawa (Netherlands); Lorenzo Agnoletti, Michele Andolfo, Adriano Bonini, Patrizia Capellaro (Italy), Aldo Cipollini Carlo, Cetorelli, Donato Danisi, Marco Invernizzi, Salvatore  Liporace (Italy), Andrea Parolari Emilio Melloni, Sandro Segneri, Gaetano Settembrini, Alfiero Suardi, Ken Ziliani; Prof. Augusto Marchesini, C. Padrini, Danilo Bonacchi, Prof. Ferruccio Poli
2001

V Congresso Nazionale

2002

VI Congresso Nazionale

2003

VII Congresso Nazionale

2004

VIII Congresso Nazionale

2005 May 6 - 8 Arco di Trento
IX Congresso Nazionale

2006 June 1 - 4 Alberobello
X Congresso Nazionale

2007 February 23 - 25 Fermo
XI Congresso Nazionale
Salvatore Liporace
2008 May 2 - 5 Arco
XII Congresso Nazionale

2009 March 20 - 22 Salerno
XIII Congresso Nazionale
Salvatore Liporace, Adolfo Michele, Enrico Savini
2010 April 16 - 18 San Marino
XIV Congresso Nazionale
Marco Invernizzi, Carlos Van Der Vaart (Holland), Peter Warren (UK)
2011 April 1 - 3 Sanremo
XV Congresso Nazionale
Luciana Queirolo (suiseki), Ryan Neil (USA; demo, demo/work), Jenny Banti Pereira (demo/work: ikebana), Prof. Perino ("Introduction to the Painting Giapponese"), Marc Noelanders (Belgium; demo/work), Beppe Mokuza (work: sumi-e painting), Bandera Maximum ("The Bonsai between tradition and innovation in Japan and the world"), Dr. Claudius Littardi
2012 May 4 - 6 Arco (Trentino)
XVI Congresso Nazionale
Giorgio Castagneri, Aldo Cetorelli, Nicola Crivelli, Armando Dal Col, Donato Danisi, Antonio Gesualdi, Adriano Nalon, Paolo Olivieri, Mario Pavone, Alfredo Salaccione, Gaetano Settembrini, Federico Springolo, Mauro Stembergher, Alfiero Suardi, Mirko Tedeschi.
2013 April 19 - 21 Vieste (FG)
XVII Congresso Nazionale
Taiga Urushibata (demo), Fabrizio Zorzi (demo), Silvia Orsi (lect: Shitakusa Kusamono)
2014/font> April 11 - 13 Torino
XVIII Congresso Nazionale

2015 April 10 - 12 Marostica
XIX Congresso Nazionale
Mauro Stemberger, Igor Carino, Rocco Cicciarello, Carlos van der Vaart, Sean Smith, Valentin Brose.
2016 May 6 - 8 Marostica
XX Congresso Nazionale
In conjunction with Arco Bonsai; ; David Benavente Lòpez, Rock Junior, Seok Kim Ju.
2017 March 10 - 12 Jesi
XXI Congresso Nazionale
Marco Invernizzi, Enrico Savini
2018

XXII Congresso Nazionale

2019
Firenze
XXIII Congresso Nazionale

2020

XXIV Congresso Nazionale

2021


Postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns.
2022 September 16 - 18 Reggio Emilia
XXV Congresso Nazionale

2023 June 23 - 25 Foligno
XXVI Congresso Nazionale

2024 August 26 - 28 Arco, Trentino
XXVII Congresso Nazionale
In conjunction with Arco XXII.

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U.  K.  BONSAI  ASSOCIATION   (UKBA)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2018 April 8 West London, UK
1st Expo Bonsai UK

2019 April 7 West London, UK
2nd Expo Bonsai UK

2020 none


2021 none


2022 May 8 West London, UK
3rd Expo Bonsai UK

2023 April 16 Crawley, UK
4th Expo Bonsai UK

2024 April 14 West London UK
5th Expo Bonsai UK

2025 April 13 West London UK
6th Expo Bonsai UK

2026 April 12 West London UK
7th Expo Bonsai UK

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U.  S.  NATIONAL  BONSAI  EXHIBITION   (USNBA)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2008 October 11 - 12 Rochester, NY
1st National Exhibition
138 exhibits (Oct 11)featuring 194 bonsai from 90 artists coming from 26 states and Puerto Rico; Seiji Morimae (Japan), Peter Warren (England), Pedro Morales (Puerto Rico), Kathy Shaner, Suthin Sukosol, Dr. Alice W. Chen
2009
none



2010 June 12 - 13 Rochester, NY
2nd National Exhibition
Kunio Kobayashi (Japan), Marco Invernizzi (Italy), Dr. Alice W. Chen, Sean Smith; Trees from the following collections were on display: The US National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (US National Arboretum, Washington, DC), The Montreal Bonsai & Penjing Collection (Montreal Botanical Garden, Montreal, Canada), The Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection (Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA), The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Bonsai Collection (Brooklyn, NY), The North Carolina Arboretum Bonsai Collection (Asheville, NC), The Chicago Botanic Garden Bonsai Collection (Chicago, IL), The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection (Weyerhaeuser Company's Bonsai Collection, Federal Way, WA), Iseli Nursery Bonsai Collection (Iseli Nursery, Boring, OR), The James J. Smith Bonsai Collection at Heathcote Botanical Gardens (Heathcote Botanical Gardens, Fort Pierce, FL), The Kennett Bonsai Collection (Kennett Square, PA); $8,300 was given for nine awards by three international judges: Kunio Kobayashi (Japan), Farrand Bloch (Holland), and David Easterbrook (Canada); 95 exhibitors from 27 states, over 225 beautiful bonsai masterpieces.
2011
none



2012 June 9 - 10 Rochester, NY
3rd National Exhibition
353 bonsai were entered by 118 exhibitors. Total bonsai on display was 248 by 95 exhibitors. Some bonsai were withdrawn after being accepted because of the tree's health.  There were 185 formal displays including 18 shohin bonsai compositions with 80 individual specimens. 30 states were represented in addition to Canada and Puerto Rico.
2013
none



2014 September 13 - 14 Rochester, NY
4th National Exhibition
175 display areas having 320 individual bonsai, including 40 shohin bonsai compositions with 120 small size bonsai; over 125 species and plant cultivars were displayed; 107 exhibitors from 27 states, plus, three special exhibitor groups from two provinces of Canada; leading botanical gardens and arboreta with significant bonsai collections in the U.S. also brought trees for special exhibits; fifty suiseki were displayed by 29 exhibitors; three judges were Hiroyoshi Yamaji (Japan), Peter Warren (England), and David Easterbrook (Canada).
2015
none



2016 September 10 - 11 Rochester, NY
5th National Exhibition
Sean L. Smith ("Suiseki -- Japanese Viewing Stones"), Michael Ryan Bell ("Bonsai Containers"), Peter Warren (England, demonstration), Enrique Castaño (Mexico, demonstration), Tony Tickle (England, demonstration), Minoru Akiyama (Japan, demonstration).
2017
none



2018 September 8 - 9 Rochester, NY
6th National Exhibition
From 27 states, 121 cultivars, 136 exhibitors, 281 trees, and 120 trees in 29 shohin compositions; 40 volunteers assisted Bill Valavanis; Taiga Urushibata (Japan), Glenis & Lindsay Bebb (Australia), Mauro Stemberger (Italy), Sean Smith, and Michael Ryan Bell.
2019
none



2020
none


Postponed until next year due to COVID-19 concerns.  Scheduled were: Koji Hiramatsu (Japan), Marco Invernizzi (Italy), Gerald Rainville (Canada).  Please see this Best of US National Video by Bonsai Empire.
2021 September 11 - 12 East Rochester, NY
7th National Exhibition
Revised judge list: Enrique Castano (Mexico), Kathy Shaner (US), Marco Invernizzi (Italy); Kusamono exhibit with Young Choe and suiseki exhibit with Sean Smith.  A Sold-Out Event in part due to COVID-19 crowd-restrictions.
2022
none



2023 September 9 - 10 Rochester, NY
8th National Exhibition
Koji Hiramatsu (Japan), Gerald Rainville (Canada), Corin Tomlinson (England), Sean Smith (US).  With Invitational Suiseki Exhibit.

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U.  S.  NATIONAL  SHOHIN  BONSAI  EXHIBITION   (USNBA)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2017 June 23 - 25 Kannapolis, NC
1st

30 exhibitors from 13 states transported and displayed 191 shohin and small size bonsai.  Suthin Sukosolvisit, Kathy Shaner, Michael Lebanik, and John Romano each conducted a workshop for only eight participants.  Michael Ryan Bell, Mark Arpag, Sean Smith and William N. Valavanis -- who organized this event with assistance -- presented ten lecture demonstrations.  Kathy Shaner, Suthin Sokolosovisit and Bill Valavanis judged the exhibition and conducted a group critique.  Twenty-two vendors brought their finest bonsai (all sizes), containers, pre-bonsai display tables, educational material as well as supplies for both the registrants and walk in public.
2018
none



2019 June 28 - 30 Kannapolis, NC
2nd
29 exhibitors. Minoru Akiyama (Japan), Peter Warren (UK), along with Marc Arpag, Michael Ryan Bell, Mark Fields, Carlos A. Morales, David Paris, John Romano, Michael Sullivan, Sean Smith, and Wm. N. Valavanis.
2020
none



2021
none



2022
none



2023



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WORLD  BONSAI  FRIENDSHIP  FEDERATION   (WBFF)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
1989 April 6 - 9 Omiya, Japan
1st World Bonsai Convention
"World Peace Through Bonsai"
Some 1237 delegates from 32 countries, approx. 40% Japanese and 60% from abroad; Saburo Kato (demo: Ezo spruce group planting), Hiroshi Takeyama (demo: stewartia grove), Hideo Kato, Masahiko Kimura, Susumu Nakamura, Jiro Fukuda, Toshinori Suzuki, Shinji Ogasawara, Tsunekazu Nakajima (demo: informal upright five-needle pine), Kanekazu Yoshimura, Koji Amakawa, Masao Komatsu, Hideo Chugun, Eijiro Hiruma, Noburo Kaneko (work: coniferous group planting) (all Japan)   [See Also: "Our Japan Trip Report" by Jack Wikle, Journal, ABS, Vol. 23, No. 3, Fall 1989, pp. 12-21, with 27 b&w and 1 color photo and 2 line drawings]
1990
none



1991
none



1992
none



1993 May 27 - 31 Orlando, FL, USA
2nd World Bonsai Convention
"New Horizons"
In conjunction w/BCI & ABS; 700 - 900 delegates; Saburo Kato (Japan, demo:  39 tree Stewartia monodelpha forest) (Oct 15), John Naka (California, USA, demo: 111 Florida elm forest from a preplanned computerized sketch), Yuji Yoshimura (New York, USA, lect-demo: shimpaku juniper rock planting); Pius Notter (Switzerland, demo: Ponderosa pine), Ben Oki (California, USA, demo: two bald cypresses & work: Podocarpus), Rod Clemons (Georgia, USA, demo: shimpaku juniper and Kingville boxwood forest on stone slab), Mary Madison (Florida, demo & work: buttonwood), Pedro Morales (Puerto Rico, demo: triple trunk Neea buxifolia & work: Ficus neriifolia clump) Ben Oki (California, USA), Russell Coker (Florida, USA, demo & work: Texas cedar elm), Hotsumi Terakawa (Netherlands, demo: jaboticaba & work: San Jose juniper and Hinoki cypress), Vaughn Banting (Louisiana, USA, demo: bald cypress group), James J. Smith (Florida, USA, demo: Ficus neriifolia & work: for children), Mas Imazumi (California, USA, work: juniper), Qingquan Zhao (China, demo: penjing planting on 48" white marble slab & work), Shinichi Nakajima (Japan, demo: buttonwood), Keiko Yamane (Japan, demo & work: kusamono), Paul Imada (Hawaii, USA, demo: Casuarina equisetifolia informal upright), Larry Ragle (USA, lect: suiseki), Felix Rivera (USA, lect: suiseki), Pat Vanders (USA, lect: suiseki).  [See Also: "It Was An Experience" by Martin L. Mann et al, Bonsai, BCI, Vol. XXXII, No. 5, September/October 1993, pp. 9-36, with 97 b&w and 16 color photos by Randy Clark, Charles Roy and Pius Notter, plus 3 lines drawings by John Naka and 1 by Paul Imada]
1994
none



1995
none



1996
none



1997 October 24 - 28 Seoul, Korea
3rd World Bonsai Convention
Approx. 200 overseas delegates, over 400 participants from 20 countries and a large exhibit of 220 Korean bonsai; Saburo Kato (Japan), Hideo Kato (Japan), Masahiko Kimura (Japan), Shinji Ogasawara (Japan), Hiroshi Takeyama, Haruhiko Kato, Pius Notter (Switzerland), John Naka (California, USA), Maria Teresa Volonterio, Hideo Saito, Ben Oki (California, USA), Hiroshi Suzuki, Lorenzo Malberti, Marina Pavanello, Othmar Auer
1998
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1999
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2000
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2001 May 31 - June 4 München, Germany
4th World Bonsai Convention
In conjunction w/EBA ; over 100,000 visitors to the event; Walter Pall, François Jeker, Angel Mota, Salvatore Liporace (Italy), Serge Clémence, Saburo Kato (Japan), Hirosi Takeyama, Toru Suzuki, Osamu Komatu, Shinichi Nakajima, I. C. Su (Taiwan), Kunio Kobayashi (Japan), Chase Rosade (Pennsylvania, USA), Pedro J. Morales (Puerto Rico), Chen Jen-Liang, Solita Tafur Rosade (Colombia & USA), Gill Taylor-Duxbury, Patrizia Cappellaro (Italy), Sabine Weber, Kirsten van Croonen-borgh.
2002
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2003
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2004
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2005 May 28 - 31 Washington, D.C.
5th World Bonsai Convention
"Bringing the World Together Through Bonsai"
In conjunction w/ABS, BCI & NBF, some 951 registrants; Jim Barrett (USA, lect: bonsai pots), Lindsay Bebb (Australia, work & demo), Charles Ceronio (South Africa, demo), Thomas Elias (USA, lect: bonsai history), Luis Ricardo Garcia (Venezuela, demo), Gadiel Gonzalez, Jr. (Puerto Rico, work & demo), Don Gould (USA, lect: bonsai pots), Guy Guidry (USA, demo & work), Kemin Hu (China & USA, lect: Chinese scholars' rocks), Marco Invernizzi (Italy, demo & work), Arthur Joura (lect: interesting native species), Mary Madison (USA, work & demo), Koichi Masumi (Japan, work: shohin & demo), Arishige Matsuura (Japan, lects: suiseki and suiseki display), Hideo Metaxas (USA, lect: suiseki in California), Roy Nagatoshi (USA, work: Ponderosa pine & demo), Nikunj & Jyoti Parekh (India, work: black olive), Solita Rosade (Colombia & USA, work: for children & demo), Kathy Shaner (USA, demo & work), Lindsay Shiba (USA, demo & work), Arthur Skolnik (Canada, demo & work), Robert Steven (Indonesia, demo), Jack Sustic (USA, work: California juniper), Hiroshi Takeyama (Japan, demos & work), Steven Tolley (UK, work & demo), William Valavanis (USA, lect: bonsai display & work ), Keiko Yamane (Japan, works: grass planting), Qingquan 'Brook' Zhao (China, demo & work: land and water penjing).
2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
July 7 - 13
San Juan, Puerto Rico
6th World Bonsai Convention
Tohru Suzuki (Japan), François Jeker (France), Salvatore Liporace (Italy), Min Hsuan Lo (Taiwan), Mrs. Chen (China), William Valavanis (USA), Xec Fernandez (Spain), Suthin Sukosolvisit (Thailand/USA), Lindsay Shiba (USA), Robert Stevens (Indonesia), Sean Smith (USA), Martin Schmalenberg (USA), Lindsay Bebb (Australia), Jim Doyle (USA), Louis Nell (South Africa), Sujey & Ruppa Shah (India), Rafael Rebollo (Chile), Jesus Ignacio Marín (Venezuela), Juan Manuel Andrade (Costa Rica), Roberto Martínez (Puerto Rico), Pedro J. Morales & Puerto Rico team, Masakuni Kawasumi III (Japan)
2010
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2011
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2012
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2013 September 24 - 28 Jitan, Jiangsu, China
7th World Bonsai Convention
Hu Leguo (China), Zhao Qingquan (China), Ng Shing-Fat (Hongkong, China), Chen Wenjuan (China), Jyoti & Nikunj Parekh (India), Isao Oomachi (Japan), Takashi Sakurai (Japan), Masashi Hirao (Japan), Koji Hiramatsu (Japan), Václav Novák (Czech Republic), Grant Bowie (Australia), Tony Bebb (Australia), Joy Morton (New Zealand), Brian Donnelly (Canada), Danial Lafortune (Canada), Robert Smith (Canada), William N. Valavanis (USA), Boon Manakitivipart (USA), Suthin Sukosolvisit (Thailand), Jack Sustic (USA), Bjorn Bjorholm (USA), Brussel Martin (USA), David Easterbrook (USA), Sergio Luciani (Argentina), Nacho Marin (Venezuela), German Arellano (Colombia), Rock Junior (Brazil), Juan Manuel Andrade (Costa Rica), Daniel Daza (Chile), Vic Ceballos (Philippines), Budi Sulistyo (Indonesia), Lee Jong Hong (China)
2014
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2015
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2016
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2017 April 27 - 30 Saitama, Japan
8th World Bonsai Convention
"Bonsai, Towards the Next 100 Years"
Masahiko Kimura, Hiroshi Takeyama, Kunio Kobayashi, Shinji Suzuki; Minoru Akiyama, Shigeo Isobe, Chiharu Imai, Taiga Urushibara, Kenji Oshima, Isao Omachi, Takashi Sakurai, Masayuki Fujikawa, Mitsuo Matsuda, Chie Yamasaki; Werner M. Busch (Germany/Europe), Hannes Fritz (Africa), Jyoti & Nikunj Parekh (India), Zhao Qingquan (China), Michael Siow Chee Long (Asia Pacific), Lindsay Bebb (Australia), Bjorn Bjorholm (North America), Juan Andrade (Central and South America); in attendance were 1,200 people registered from 40 foreign countries, and some 45,000 visitors (20,000 were expected) during the four-day event; there has never been the quantity of award-winning bonsai and "Important Bonsai Masterpieces" displayed in one venue, continuous demonstrations by the top bonsai artists of Japan and foreign artists, plus special exhibits from private bonsai collections, a display from the Imperial Bonsai and Container Collection, photographic displays of bonsai from around the world and how the art developed culturally, a special display of Saika Bonsai by the founder Kaori Yamada, and the Nippon Suiseki Association assembled the top 100 suiseki from throughout Japan. And a Grande Finale.
2018
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2019
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2020
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2021 October 14 - 17 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
9th World Bonsai Convention
Postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns.
2022 October 8 - 16 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Virtual 9th World Bonsai Convention
'Doornjil Yoordaniny: Coming Together - Moving Forward'
Virtual because of COVID-19 lockdowns. Joint with Australian Bonsai Association; Demonstrators: Hugo Zamora (Latin America Region), Kim Seok Ju (Asia-Pacific Region), Ravindran Damodar (South Asia Region), Zhang Zhigang (China Region), Shinji Suzuki (Japan Region), Marc Noelanders (Europe Region), Michael Hagedorn (North America Region), Jonathan Cain (Africa Region), Tony Bebb (Australia-New Zealand Region); Local Demonstrators Tony Bebb and Joe Morgan-Payler, Seiji Morimae (Suiseki display critiques), Frank Mihalic (Bonsai Pendant Workshops), Nacho Marin; photographic exhibition of trees and of suiseki; large open marketplace and online auction.
2023
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2024
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2025
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2026 August 28 - 31 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10th World Bonsai Convention
"Unity in Diversity"

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ZHONGGUO  FENG  PENJING  EXHIBITION   (ZF)
.

YEAR
DATE
LOCATION
THEME
NOTES
2012



2013



2014



2015



2016 October 2 - 6 Shanghai, China
3rd
Li Yunlong (China), Zhao Qingquan (China), Carla Spinellia (Italy), Yamazaki Chie (Japan), Robert Steven (Indonesia), Yu Qingyuan (Taiwan), Wang Yuankang (China), Enrique Castano (Mexico); this time only xiaopin penjing (Shohin) were exhibited together with wild grass (Kusamono), there was also tea ceremony and classical Chinese music performance, bonsai and ceramic pots making demonstration, etc.
2017 September 28 - October 3 Rugao, China
4th

the biannual National Forum Penjing Exhibition and the National Xiaopin Penjing Exhibition were consolidated starting this year; Kunio Kobayashi (Japan), Robert Steven (Indonesia), Chen Jian Liang (Taiwan), Nacho Marin (Venezuela), Sergio Luciani (Argentina), Enrico Savini (Italy), Pavel Slovak (Czech Republic), Milan Roskos (Slovakia), Andrew Campbell (England), Chris Xepapas (Australia), Wlodzimierz Pietraszko (Poland), Dario Mader (Switzerland), Elsa Boudouri (Greece), Dominique Bosch (Holland), Jun Llage (Philippines), Sandra Grica (Germany), Jennifer Price (USA); over 200 exhibit areas and over 300 vendors
2018
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2019 October 19 - 21 Nanjing, China
5th
18 demonstrations with artists from China, Japan, Germany, Argentina, Malyasia, Puerto Rico, and William N. Valavanis (US) who demonstrated on an ancient Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora); five or six demos on the stage at each time; 182 large penjing, 356 shohin bonsai compositions, each with at least 5-7 individual trees; over 10,000 visitors, 140 invited local and international guests
2020
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2021
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2022 October 19 - 21 Nanjing, China
6th
International Bonsai ArtFest 2022 with 2nd WORBAC Congress.  "Renaissance of Penjing Art begins in Yixing..."
2023





Conventions, Part I
Conventions, Part II
Conventions, Part III
Conventions, Part IV
Conventions, Part V

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