Kokufu Bonsai Ten Shows, Part II

Kokufu Bonsai Ten, Part II

("National Bonsai Exhibition")

Koku Fu Bon Sai Ten

Compiled by Robert J. Baran, with William N. Valavanis

This Page Last Updated: September 1, 2024

Overview	The Shows by Year	Some Photos
Observations	Some Albums	Notes

SHOWS BY YEAR

The following was compiled to provide an easy and definitive listing of which show took place in what year and vice-versa.
Several sources were studied and compared for this info. The show dates from 1934 through 1983 are per Valavanis' study
of the NBA's 50th Anniversary book and later works.

A brief summary: Ninety-seven actual shows to date (there was not a No. 19).
Two shows (Mar-Apr and Nov-Dec) in each of these ten years: 1934-1937, 1939-1942, 1948, and 1954.
No shows in these four years: 1944-1946 and 1959.
One show in Nov-Dec in 1938 and 1947; one show in March 1943; one show in December in 1949-1953, 1955-1958.
One show every year in February since 1960.
The record for attendance goes to grandmaster Saburō Katō (1915-2008) who, it is believed,
was the only person to attend every one of the first 80 Kokufu Ten (there was not a No. 19)
which had been held up to the time of his death (on the eve of the 82nd show).

Year	Show	Notes	Year	Show	Notes	Year	Show	Notes
1934	1st / 2nd	March 17-20; Album size: 15 x 22 cm, 96 pp., 96 trees / Dec. 5-10; 15 x 22 cm, 96 pp.	1971	45th	Feb. 15-21 19 x 26.5 cm, 200 pp.; 201 selected entries	2008	82nd	Feb. 9-16; 26 x 25.5 cm, 285 pp.; 265 selected entries out of 414 applications (64%): 102 conifers, 89 deciduous, 63 medium-sized, 11 shohin compositions
1935	3rd / 4th	March 7-12; 15 x 22 cm / Nov. 24-28; 15 x 22 cm.	1972	46th	Feb. 16-22; 26 x 19 cm, 200 pp., now horizontal format and color pictures were introduced in the commemorative albums (WNV)	2009	83rd	Feb. 8-15; 26 x 25.5 cm, 285 pp.
1936	5th / 6th	Apr. 5-8; 15 x 22 cm, 98 pp. / Nov. 29 - Dec. 4; 15 x 22 cm, 98 pp.	1973	47th	Feb. 15-21; 26 x 19 cm, 196 pp.	2010	84th	Feb. 9-17 (Holiday on 15th); 26 x 25.5 cm, 235 pp.; 265 selected entries out of 389 applications (68%), + 4 special exhibits
1937	7th / 8th	Mar. 21-25; 15 x 22 cm, 98 pp. / Nov. 27-30; 15 x 22 cm, 98 pp.	1974	48th	Feb. 15-21; 26 x 19 cm, 215 pp.; 200 selected entries.	2011	85th	Feb. 13-20; 26 x 25.5 cm, 270 pp.; 245 selected entries out of 346 applications (70.8%), + 8 special displays; only 9 shohin compositions (48 pcs) this year; 2 suiseki used as accents; 2 very large forests displayed alone w/o accessories
1938	9th	Nov. 27 - Dec. 1; 15 x 22 cm, 98 pp.	1975	49th	Feb. 14-22; 26 x 19 cm, 190 pp.	2012	86th	Feb. 3-10 26 x 25.5 cm, 232 pp.; 252 selected entries including 7 shohin bonsai compositions (6 box stands and one half box stand); 130 narrow-leaf evergreens; 118 bonsai wired, 12 unwired; 73 medium-sized bonsai, and 7 large bonsai which did not have any accessories.
1939	10th / 11th	March 10-12; 15 x 22 cm, 96 pp. / Nov. 26-29; 15 x 22 cm, 96 pp.	1976	50th	Feb. 5-13; 26 x 25.5 cm, 204 pp.	2013	87th	Feb. 5-12 26 x 25.5 cm, 235 pp.; 204 displays including only 6 shohin compositions. Also there were 70 kicho (Important Bonsai Masterpieces).
1940	12th / 13th	March 15-18; 96 pp. / Dec. 1-3; 19 x 26 cm, 96 pp.	1977	51st	Feb. 4-11; 26 x 25.5 cm, 229 pp.	2014	88th	Feb. 4-12; 26 x 25.5 cm, 360 pp.; Although not a tenth year anniversary year, show was in two parts: Part 1, 170 displays, including 29 kicho and 5 shohin; Part 2, 170 displays, 26 kicho and 5 shohin
1941	14th / 15th	March 14-15 / Nov. 27-30	1978	52nd	Feb. 4-11; 26 x 25.5 cm, 228 pp.; 215 selected entries out of 400 applications (54%)	2015	89th	Feb. 5-8, 10-13; \ 26 x 25.5 cm, 229 pp.; Part I, 181 displays with perhaps 250 individual bonsai, only 5 shohin displays, six bonsai displayed by non-Japanese, 3 of those by Americans.
1942	16th / 17th	Mar. 5-7; 25 x 18 cm, 117 pp. / Nov. 7-8; No album published ?	1979	53rd	Feb. 4-11; 26 x 25.5 cm, 228 pp.	2016	90th	Feb. 5-8, 10-13; Parts I and II each had 181 displays; In Part 2 there were only four shohin compositions which each had more than five specimens.
1943	18th	March 19-21; No album published	1980	54th	Feb. 5-11; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2017	91st	Feb. 4-8, 10-13; Parts I and II each had 179 displays, with 5 and 6 shohin compositions, 24 and 10 kicho, and 6 and 5 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1944	19th	March 19-21, but cancelled because exhibition halls were being used for war planning -- never held (DrE)	1981	55th	Feb. 5-11; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2018	92nd	Feb. 8-11, 13-16 ; Parts I and II had 179 and 161 individual bonsai displays, 18 and 19 kicho, and 5 and 4 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1945	none	---	1982	56th	Feb. 6-13; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2019	93rd	Feb. 9-12, 14-17 ; Parts I and II each had 151 individual bonsai displays, 19 kicho, and 3 and 5 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1946	none	---	1983	57th	Feb. 6-13; 26 x 25.5 cm, 235 pp.	2020	94th	Feb. 8-11, 13-16 ; Parts I and II each had 151 individual bonsai displays, 12 and 19 kicho, and 4 and 4 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1947	20th	Nov. 29 - Dec. 3; 25 x 18 cm, 128 pp.	1984	58th	Feb. 4-14; 26 x 25.5 cm, 232 pp.	2021	95th	Feb. 8-11, 13-17; 278 pp.; Parts I amd II each had 131 individual bonsai displays, 9 and 8 kicho, and 3 and 3 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1948	21st / 22nd	March 19-21; 26 x 19 cm, 87 pp. / Dec. 1-4; 26 x 19 cm, 87 pp.	1985	59th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 235 pp.	2022	96th	Feb. 8-11, 13-16; 320 pp.
1949	23rd	Dec. 1-4	1986	60th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp. Double album (WNV)	2023	97th	Feb. 9-12, 15-18 ; Parts I and II each had 140 individual bonsai displays, 95 and 90 large bonsai, 35 (70 pcs) and 27 (54 pcs) chuhin (medium), 8 and 8 shohin (52 and 52 pcs), 13 and 12 kicho, 2 and 2 special exhibits for approximately 189 and 212 total displayed bonsai, with 3 and 3 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1950	24th	Dec. 7-10	1987	61st	Feb. 8-15; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2024	98th	Feb. 9-12, 14-17, Parts I and II each had 146 display areas, 111 and 110 large bonsai, 32 (64 pcs) and 27 (54 pcs) chuhin (medium), 10 shohin (55 and 30 pcs), 10 and 6 kicho, 2 and 2 special exhibits for approximately 230 and 205 total displayed bonsai, with 3 and 3 Kokufu Prizes, respectively.
1951	25th	Dec. 6-10	1988	62nd	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2025	99th	Feb. 8-11, 13-16
1952	26th	Dec. 10-14	1989	63rd	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 229 pp.	2026	(100th)
1953	27th	Dec. 11-16	1990	64th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 231 pp.	2027
1954	28th / 29th	? / Dec. 11-15; 25 x 18 cm, 113 pp.	1991	65th	Feb. 9-16; 26 x 25.5 cm, 262 pp.	2028
1955	30th	Dec. 10-14; 25 x 18 cm	1992	66th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 262 pp.	2029
1956	31st	Dec. 11-16; 25 x 18 cm	1993	67th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 262 pp.	2030
1957	32nd	Dec. 13-18	1994	68th	Feb. 10-17; 26 x 25.5 cm, 262 pp.; 248 selected entries (40% of those applying)	2031
1958	33rd	Dec. 13-18; 25 x 18 cm	1995	69th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 260 pp.	2032
1959	none	due to planned change-over in exhibition dates	1996	70th	Feb. 8-16; Double album (WNV) 26 x 25.5 cm, 492 pp.	2033
1960	34th	Feb. 13-17	1997	71st	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 262 pp.	2034
1961	35th	Feb. 15-19; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 175 pp.	1998	72nd	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 270 pp.	2035
1962	36th	Feb. 15-19; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 169 pp.	1999	73rd	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 279 pp.	2036
1963	37th; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 180 pp.	Feb. 15-19	2000	74th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 279 pp.; 265 trees, each with a companion plant.	2037
1964	38th	Feb. ? ; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 175 pp.	2001	75th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 279 pp.	2038
1965	39th	Feb. 15-20; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 181 pp.; 181 bonsai and 24 suiseki displayed	2002	76th	Feb. 9-16; 26 x 25.5 cm, 281 pp.	2039
1966	40th	Feb. 15-20; 19.5 x 26.5cm, 205 pp.	2003	77th	Feb. ? ; 26 x 25.5 cm, 281 pp.	2040
1967	41st	Feb. 15-20; 19.5 x 26.5cm, 205 pp.	2004	78th	Feb. 8-15; 26 x 25.5 cm, 281 pp.	2041
1968	42nd	Feb. 15-20; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 205 pp.; 203 selected entries	2005	79th	Feb. 9-16; 26 x 25.5 cm, 281 pp.	2042
1969	43rd	Feb. 15-21; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 175 pp.; 203 selected entries	2006	80th	Feb. 9-12, 14-17; Double album, 26 x 25.5 cm, 507 pp.; 500 photos, 470 trees	2043
1970	44th	Feb. 14-21; 19.5 x 26.5 cm, 203 pp.; 202 selected entries	2007	81st	Feb. 9-16; 26 x 25.5 cm, 286 pp.; 265 selected entries out of 445 applications (60%): 83 conifers, 93 deciduous, 76 medium-sized, 14 shohin compositions;	2044

Overview	The Shows by Year	Some Photos
Observations	Some Albums	Notes

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