"Bonsai West 1969" was the fifth convention of the Bonsai Clubs Association (which had been renamed Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) the previous year), again staged at the Golden Gate Park Hall of Flowers in San Francisco.  The two-day event in February included a morning lecture-demonstration by local teacher Toshio Saburomaru and one in the afternoon by John Naka in his first appearance away from Southern California.
        A forerunner of the widely expanded productions that convention-goers have come to expect today, "Bonsai West" was to be the last combined effort of the Northern California clubs and BCI.  After its conclusion, the membership divided.  BCI moved East, developing into the strong international organization it is today.  [The more locally oriented Bay Area clubs would go on to be strong components in the 1978 founding of the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF), another success story.  Both alliances continued their mutual basic objectives of promoting education and the art of bonsai for all, while attaining separate geographic goals.]
       In June, John conducted a workshop with demonstration for the Cincinnati Bonsai Society with some members of the Indianapolis club in attendance. 13

        In 1971 (and again in 1973), John gave lecture-demonstrations on Channel 23 "Garden Master" TV show.  He was a guest of Pensacola, Florida botanist, Dr. William Benette. 14
        And this year saw the first of the tours John Naka conducted to that land.  (Others would be made in 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1992).  Upon returning from these trips, John would immediately try out a new technique or two in front of his students at previously scheduled workshops.  The new Japanese techniques would then be disseminated further.  Other teachers returning from travels similarly shared their knowledge and continue to develop this living artform.
        Beginning with the February issue, BCI's Bonsai Magazine included for a while haiku or senryu penned by John and translated into English by Davina Kosh.  The 5-7-5 syllable forms of Japanese verse -- haiku traditionally must have a seasonal word and limit itself to real things registered by the senses, while senryu includes intangibles such as a sense of humor, feelings and thoughts directly -- have been penned by John while he continues to study with a recognized Teacher of the forms.  John regularly enters his poetry for contests in the Los Angeles Area Japanese publication.  A line drawing by Naka-san accompanied each piece in Bonsai Magazine. 15

        Early in 1972, John gave a special free demonstation and lecture for the New York club, which was then followed by a workshop to put into practice those things learned.  For the Boston area Northeast club, John picked out 10 different plants for which each member was given a sketch of John's to go by in working up that style.  One photographer was retained to record the Naka demonstration; and others were not permitted so as to reduce the interference with John and with the members' view.  Slides and colored prints were made available to all afterward.  John also conducted workshops for the Pennsylvania club in the Philadelphia area.
        "John always came to Florida during the winter; one of his first visits was in March 1972.  It was a chilly night at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, where, in an unheated building, the Bonsai Club of Miami had arranged for a Miami Herald photographer to take slides of John's demonstration.  Flood lights and all the other rigging were set up for the big show.  I was nervous since I had been selected to find a suitable tree for John to work on.  In the middle of the floor in its pot, was a jaboticaba, well over six feet tall, a good 12 inches taller than John!  John worked and posed for the photographer for over three hours -- he did a wonderful show.  After all the clapping and accolades were quieted down, John said, 'I'd like to tell you something.  I learned a new Japanese cuss word tonight -- JABOTICABA!'  It was quite an evening.  As we were leaving for the night, John turned to me and said, 'Mayna, I think you better put that tree in a larger pot.'  Unknown to him, in Florida where bonsai was in its fledgling state, we had it in the largest pot available!  The tree lived with me for many years and developed nicely.  I gave it to Jim Smith in Vero Beach several years ago and he refined it and exhibited it at BSF 2001 in Orlando.  It looked great!  It just goes to show you that, although the tree was selected by a novice, it was styled by a master and that gave it the groundwork to become a masterpiece.  Mayna Hutchinson (Miami, Florida)"
        From May 14 to 28, the California Bonsai Society held its 15th Annual Exhibition.  This was in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Museum of Science and Technology which sponsors the event.  There was a special feature showing of loaned bonsai from the Japanese Imperial Household.
        In conjunction with the show, on May 20 the County of Los Angeles awarded John a commendation "for his outstanding contributions to the Japanese-American friendship, by providing the people of Los Angeles and the Nation with the ability to understand and appreciate the beauty and significance of Bonsai Culture."
  16

        For the second consecutive year a joint BCI-ABS convention was held, this time in July 1973 in Atlanta, GA.  The theme was "Growing Together."  John Naka was one of the guest demonstrators for the 503 delegates -- who gave him a standing ovation after Khan Komai's introduction.  John worked on a large 200 year old California juniper which had been dug from the side of a mountain two and a half years earlier.   He was assisted with this driftwood style by Ben Oki and Frank Goya.

"John Naka, true to tradition subordinated himself to his Bonsai in the Photo of a native Juniper." (Bonsai Magazine, BCI, Vol. XII, No. 4, May 1973, pg. 14)

        The year also saw the first edition of his excellent work, Bonsai Techniques, which grew out of a much smaller "Bonsai Mimeograph For Beginners Class" pamphlet.  He borrowed $30,000 against his home to self-publish this book and it was so successful that it provided an annuity to him and his family.  It contains five hundred b&w photos and illustrations and sixteen color plates which depict all aspects of the art.  While photo reproduction improved in later books, Bonsai Techniques continues to be a treasured resource.  Only a bare handful of the books issued before this time have proven their durability, remaining useful additions to an enthusiast's library.  Many of the others, especially in the U.S., were "practice" books by devoted amateurs who had only a few years' worth of experience.  Pictures of their trees-in-training were not terribly educational, and these books are now of historical value only.
        A photograph of a 27"H bonsai styled by John (below) was the first color cover of BCI's Bonsai Magazine in December.  Dug in late October 1956 this 7-1/2" diameter trunk beauty was one of John's first collected California junipers.

        John Naka was both a demonstrator and the master of ceremonies for the joint BCI-ABS Convention held in Pasadena, CA in July 1974 at the historic Huntington-Sherman Hotel.  Two forest plantings -- one with 23 Juniper foemina specimens -- were by him, in between problem-solving and allowing enthusiasts to see his personal collection of trees at his home.  The exhibit of bonsai by the California club was assembled by Frank Goya in the Wentworth Room at the Hotel and it became a central meeting place.  The exhibit was acclaimed by the visiting conventioneers from all over the United States, as well as from Australia, Canada, and Japan. 18

Alan Walker and John Naka, 03/25/76.   (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

        John was one of twenty-two contributors of articles to the BBG's 1976 Bonsai For Indoors handbook, which was edited by Constance T. Derderian.  "Pruning Can Make the Difference" (pp. 26-29) includes nine line drawings by Naka. 
       The official dedication ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C. for the bicentennial gift of 53 bonsai from Japan to the U.S.  During the July BCI Convention which was held in conjunction with this, John Naka styled a buttonwood bonsai.   July 29 through August 1 in Philadelphia, PA John headlined the ABS Symposium.
       On November 20, a display was held at the Museum of Modern Art in Caracas, Venezuela put on by the Club Venezolano de Bonsai.  John Naka and Jorge Lucero demonstrated.  Over three thousand people visited the first day.  The display was also covered by live TV.  John also taught in Peru this trip.  19

      The National Bonsai Collection Guidebook was edited by John and Yuji Yoshimura in 1977.  John opened and closed the BCI Convention in Chicago with lecture/demonstrations on July 6-10.  John's second trip to Australia was made this year, and after 2 weeks in Sydney he went to Melbourne, Victoria for a week.

        Between Feb. 10 and 12, 1978 John led the Houston Bonsai Society thru all phases pertaining to the creation of good bonsai.  For the lecture-demonstration John worked on several different plants, including Japanese yew ( Podocarpus ), azalea, holly, and juniper.  All of the critiques and workshops were full, the latter using both collected and nursery stock for their materials.  This was the second year in a row that the Society brought the sensei to Houston for a workshop.

John Naka and Ben Oki at Lake Catahoula in central Louisiana, 03/78. (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

        At the BCI Convention this year from July 19 to 23 "Bonsai Country" in Portland, OR, Toshio Saburomaru and John were the guest artists.

        John was elected president of Crane Products, a Pico Rivera, CA importer of Kaneshin hand-crafted bonsai tools from Japan.
        At the joint 1979 BCI-ABS Convention from July 4 to 8 in New York City, Yuji Yoshimura, John Naka, and retiring Frank Okamura of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden were the guest artists.  The proceedings included a number of programs for Spanish-speaking attendees from Central and South America, and an "Open House" at the BBG and the Japanese garden there.
        A third trip to Australia was made this year and this time he took in Brisbane, Queensland.  A second portfolio of his workshop sketches was produced.  One thousand copies were printed, sampling from both the 1977 visit and this one.  Today both Australian portfolios are still sought after, but they are no longer in print.  John was the first bonsai artist in that country to take a large old tree and turn it into the "bones" of a bonsai.  It was John's dramatic personality and his ability to make his hosts and other workshop participants all comfortable in his company, making for a memorable bonsai experience for them all.  Because of John's great popularity there, Australia was able to bring other masters from the U.S., such as Melba Tucker and Khan Khomai.
        The year saw John's collaboration with Richard K. Ota and Japan's Keko Rokkaku to present Bonsai Techniques For Satsuki.
 

        In the spring of 1980 Naka-san demonstrated with Italian cypress trees and discussed Japanese horticulture at the Mitchell Park Pavilion before more than 100 persons.  This event was sponsored by the Milwaukee, WI Bonsai Society and Milwaukee County Park System.  An article in the Milwaukee Sentinel covered half a page and included two b&w photos of John in action.
        "Bonsai -- A Bridge to International Friendship" was the theme of the July 3-6 BCI Convention in Honolulu.  Japanese grand master Saburō Katō headlined with John.
         John's first lecture/demonstration in South Africa occurred in October.  For most of that month he amazed audiences and won friends with his engaging and often humorous style in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.

John Naka and Goshin, 1980.   (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

        John visited the bonsai nurseries in China in 1981, noting the larger general size of the trees (because of display in larger gardens, shrines and courtyards), the less defined shapes and styles (due to a lack of knowledgeable teachers) and the beautiful, well-designed antique pots "just as I dreamed they would be."  On this tour -- which John led -- the group also stopped in Hong Kong to view the personal collection of Yee-sun Wu, and then went on to Japan to attend the National Satsuki Exhibition there.  20
        John also visited India that year, conducting demonstrations and workshops using native trees of that country as part of the 1st Bonsai Week of the two-year-old Bonsai Study Group of the Indo-Japanese Association.
        With Yuji Yoshimura, John headlined for the Atlanta, GA ABS Symposium July 9 through 12.
        And the Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention in San Diego from Nov. 13 through 15 saw John as the principal artist.
        He returned to Caracas, Venezuela in the same year.