Jihei Katō had been in the horticultural business in mid-19th century Japan.  His son, Tomekichi, established the Mansei-en nursery in Tokyo.  At that nursery could be gotten orchids, evergreens and foliage plants.   Tomekichi traveled extensively throughout Japan and became recognized for his knowledge of plants.  After his business had become well established, he began to also develop an interest in bonsai.  As he and his wife produced only five daughters and no sons, the family name could not continue unless a man was willing to marry into the family and assume the family name of his wife -- a relatively common practice in Japan.  It was also a common practice for an apprentice to assume the name of his mentor upon the latter's passing.

        Enter a young man who had been born on January 4, 1883 into the Taketa family.  As a young man he had developed a keen interest in horticulture and bonsai.  He wanted to study under the guidance of Tomekichi Katō, but Katō-san did not want to have any students.  Taketa persisted and eventually was allowed to work and learn at Mansei-en.  After two years of basic cleaning work he was allowed to care for the bonsai trees.  Learning the techniques of grafting and wiring, he began to creatively develop nice bonsai -- which he sold to Tomekichi.  Taketa  was eventually allowed to marry the nurseryman's oldest daughter, and he thus assumed the Katō family name.  (It was either when his father-in-law died that Taketa assumed the name of Tomekichi Katō II or at the time he assumed responsibility of the now exclusively-bonsai Mansei-en). 

        Now, he was especially fond of shimpaku (Juniperus chinensis), goyo-matsu (Pinus parviflora, five-needle pine), tosho (Juniperus rigida, needle juniper), and ezo-matsu (Picea glehni Mast., aka Picea jezoensis, Ezo spruce).  The latter had been lovingly cultivated by a certain group of bonsai artists since the late nineteenth century, but they were not fully recognized for their potential until around the time of the Great War when many trees from the north were being brought into Honshu, the main island of Japan.
        Tomekichi Katō (II), an outstanding master and second-generation proprietor of the Mansei-en Bonsai Garden, was the one first taken with the beauty of the Ezo spruce.  He promptly brought them back from Hokkaido and popularized them.

Early Mansei-en Postcard.  This was the first bonsai nursery in Japan to issue post cards. Three of Tomekichi's daughters were old enough to be assisting in the daily chores of the nursery. (Photo from Thomas S. Elias' "Mansei-en and the Kato Family: Part One" article, pg. 17)

        Ezo spruce would not grow vigorously because of the impeded development of their roots and would continue to survive and grow a little because of some small fine roots growing in the upper part of the layer of sphagnum moss.  Due to the long winters, the growing season was extremely short.  Since the tree must open its buds, become active and achieve its entire growth in the four or five month humid period from the beginning of June to the end of September, it has dwarfed shapes suitable for bonsai. 
        Collected and returned to Honshu in mid-September, the Ezo spruce would produce beautiful light green new growth the following spring.  The trees were initially planted in sphagnum moss to duplicate what seemed to be the most important growing medium in nature.  Because of the new growth, one would think they were fine and sell them.  As time passed, however, the trees would lose their vigor and by the end of their third containered year, most died.  Katō would return once or twice a year with 400 to 500 small Ezo spruce trees.  Thousands of trees are said to have perished this way.  It would be years before the masters of bonsai found ways to keep the tree strong and responsive to training. 1

        The bonsai growers of Omiya wanted to donate an Ezo spruce to the Imperial Household's bonsai collection.  The task of preparing a suitable tree fell naturally to Tomekichi.  After many hours of work to make it perfect for the great honor, the tree was donated in 1934.  This was but the first of several trees from Omiya which were donated to that collection and, in the end, the Imperial Agency did actually purchase that Ezo spruce.

Saburo and Tomekichi Kato with Ezo Spruce. (Photo from Thomas S. Elias' "Mansei-en and the Kato Family: Part One" article, pg. 16)

        Tomekichi Katō died in 1946 at age 64, and his son Saburō assumed the responsibility of Mansei-en nursery.  Extreme hardships were suffered by bonsai nurserymen in war-ravaged Japan when very few patrons could afford to buy bonsai.  However, it was the American GI's of the Occupation Forces who came to Omiya to buy black pine and became interested in learning about bonsai that inspired the nurserymen there to persevere and continue their trade.  Instead of paying money to Katō, the GI's brought food -- sugar, chocolate, meat and more.  Katō was even more happy with those precious supplies than money since money was not as useful in those days.  Meanwhile, an adjutant of Gen. MacArthur visited Katō one day and asked him to teach bonsai to the Americans at the bases.  This he did for one year.  Katō was so happy that bonsai became an object of interest for foreigners, and he was grateful that members of the American occupational forces also adopted the Japanese custom of purchasing potted pine, bamboo and flowering plum arrangements for New Year gifts.  He acknowledged the help and kindness he received and to this day credits the successful revitalization of bonsai to post-war bonsai interest by Americans.  This interest strengthened the faith of the few remaining growers and they resolved to continue and rebuild the culture.  Subsequently, there was a rebirth of bonsai first in Omiya, and later throughout Japan." (Members of the Occupation Forces were the only people who could afford to purchase his bonsai and Katō would often credit these people with helping to save Mansei-en during the critical first few post-war years.  It took 7 to 8 years until the Japanese rekindled their interest in bonsai after the war.) 3

       This year also saw K. Murata editing the book Father of Ezo Spruce: Mr. Tomekichi Katō, 100th Anniversary of His Birth. 10

        On November 3, 1985 Saburō Katō was awarded the Ranjuhosho decoration, the Prime Minister's Medal of honor for his exemplary contributions to the development of culture or international goodwill, the promoting of bonsai as an art form. 11

        For the 30th Anniversary convention of the California Bonsai Society, Inc. in April 1987, Saburō Katō was the lead demonstrator, representing the 20,000 member NBA.  
        Also this year, Spanish Prime Minister Gonzalez was studying bonsai with him at Mansei-en for two days.  While waiting for Gonzalez during this time, Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi began talking with Katō about bonsai.  Obuchi would later study with Katō and continued to do so until his death in the spring of 2000.

        The following year, his book The Beauty of Bonsai was published with in Japanese with an English summary.  An oversized work, this illustrates many of Katō's masterpiece bonsai and provides detailed information about Mansei-en and the Katō clan.

        The first World Bonsai Convention was held in Omiya, Japan -- the center of the world's bonsai art -- between April 6 and 9, 1989.  Its theme was "World Peace Through Bonsai."  Almost thirteen hundred enthusiasts from twenty-eight countries gathered for the event at which three dozen Japanese masters gave lectures and demonstrations.  These included both Saburō Katō and his brother Hideo.

Saburo Kato 04/09/89. (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)

 

Saburo Katō, John Naka, and Daizo Iwasaki (Japan's WBFF director and WBFF vice-chairman) 05/19/02. (Photo courtesy of Alan Walker, 05/11/07)