Last Updated: February 10, 2024
The Meifu Bonsai Exhibition, also known as "Meifu-ten," is the second oldest continuous public exhibition of bonsai in Japan, less-known in the west than the oldest, Tokyo's Kokufu-ten. Meifu is the third largest bonsai exhibition in Japan and an important venue to see and study fine-quality bonsai of a great number of species and styles. Hosted/sponsored by the Chubu Bonsai Kumiai, a professional cooperative, it gathers hundreds of remarkable specimens specially selected from all over the country at the Fukiage Hall in Nagoya. This is the largest display in the Chūbu region, the nine prefectures in the center of Japan's main island, Honshu. The exhibition is held in a huge clear span building with excellent lighting and wide aisles. Besides the artworks on display, visitors are able to spend time at the workshops, activities or having tea at the specialized corner installed for tea tasting while enjoying those unique plants and mingling with other aficionados. Those looking for a bargain may also find nice opportunities during the Charity Auction. There is an extensive sales area with a good number of vendors selling tools, containers from 1,000 yen up for Kozan/Tofukuji/Chinese antiques/etc., art, scrolls, display tables, fertilizer, a nice assortment of suiseki, wire and, of course, bonsai of all shapes and sizes available at a large price range from reasonable up to over 1 million yen. Some of the best suiseki collecting areas in Japan are located near Nagoya so one may find some prizes among the vendors here. A large full-color commemorative album is always published which is an excellent study guide for design as well as illustrating the current state of the Japanese bonsai community. Like many other major exhibits the plants are judged, selected, and photographed in the Fall in order to have the photo album available for the January exhibition. It is always held over a mid-January weekend including the second Monday national holiday known as Adult Day. In 2020 the Meifu had its 90th Edition. There were over 130 masterpiece bonsai shown with accessories and suiseki. Many of these bonsai are owned by hobbyists, but displayed by the professional bonsai artists. A large percentage of these bonsai have or will be displayed in the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition. All very high-quality works of art. Another exhibit there featured four large panels with paintings displayed with bonsai, something new in Japan. A special memorial display for Masao Kito, a director of the Nippon Bonsai Association and an important bonsai collector who passed away the previous year, was also held.
The Meifu-ten is held in the Nagoya Trade and Industry Center, aka Fukiage Hall, 2-6-3 Fukiage, Chikusa-Ward, Nagoya-City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. This is basically 165 miles/266 km southwest of Tokyo. The Meifu-ten admission price is a very modest ¥500 (currently about 3.35 USD or 3.11 Euro). Workshops and activities may require separate fee.
NOTES: "90th Meifu Bonsai Exhibition (Meifu-ten)," Aichi Now; "2020 90th Meifu Bonsai Exhibition, by William N. Valavanis, January 12, 2020; No. 88 album image from Bonsai Plaza; "The 85th Meifu-ten 2015 part 1," Andys Shohin Bonsai; "The 84th Meifu-ten Exhibition," by John Milton Bonsai, January 13, 2014; "Meifu-ten - Nagoya's bonsai exhibit" by Jonas Dupuich, Bonsai Tonight, February 14, 2012; "The Best Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibits in Japan" by Thomas S. Elias, originally on pg. 12 (of pp. 10-14 article) of the May/June 2002 issue of Bonsai Clubs International's Bonsai Magazine.
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