Surrender yourself to nature every day
Live at the pace of plants

Mornings at the Shiotsu Botanical Research Institute begin with cleaning. When I wake up around 6 o'clock, I first clean my house, get ready, and then go straight to work. "The most important thing for plants is good ventilation, and it's the same for people. I love cleaning, and I don't miss it every morning." That's what Kumiko Shiotsu says.

There is no distinction between where housework ends and work begins. For two people who have chosen to live with plants, it is natural for them to live at the pace of plants.

I proceeded with the day's work such as office work, customer service, and caring for the plants, and started watering for the first time at 10 o'clock. It takes more than an hour to thoroughly water all XNUMX plants to the bottom of their pots.

The second watering is at 15pm. In the scorching summer sun, there is no need to worry about the water being heated by the sun. "If you water at this time every day for years and years, the plants will learn. They will adapt properly and won't boil over." Takehiro Shiozu's answer is clear.

From seeds, seedlings, finished products to treatments.
Comprehensive treatment of bonsai

We were given a step-by-step tour of the greenhouse to learn about the process of growing bonsai. First, stocks. There are about 5 to 10 types of seedlings (mishonae) that are grown by germinating them from seeds, and cuttings (sashigi) that are grown by inserting a portion of the plant into a cutting (sashidoko). grows black pine, eel, and walnut.

"Every year, we try different things and do research. If only one germinates, we have to examine what was good. So far, black pine has an extremely high success rate."

In one corner is a group of pots who are hospitalized. Diseased and stunted plants brought in from all over the country are treated and allowed to rest in a shady environment. When I noticed a leafless tree, he said reassuringly, ``This zelkova is fine now. It will sprout soon.''

Next we visited a house lined with pots.

``I intentionally display them in a jumbled manner (lol)'', with pots of various sizes mixed together. Antiques and new items, as well as pots from Shimane and Aichi, lined up in a variety of colors, making it look like a general store. You can pick it up and choose, and you can rest assured that the price is written directly on the back of the pot.

And the finished bonsai. Just by looking at them carefully, you will be amazed at the wide range of bonsai, from the miniature cypress trees that are only about 5cm tall, to the pine trees with the massive branches that are typical of bonsai trees.

``In addition to the generally popular autumn leaves and pine trees, we also deal with trees that are not well-recognized for their ornamental value.We want people to enjoy familiar plants rather than special trees, so the basics are ones that suit the climate of Japan. A 500 yen seedling and a 500 yen pot will suffice.''

In the past, natural wood called yamadori was also available, but it is now prohibited in many areas due to environmental concerns. The 130-year-old masterpiece that is enshrined in the last row has such a history, but there are also works for which the details are unknown.

This is because the number of requests from the families of the deceased to collect bonsai is increasing. "Most of our customers say they don't know how to throw them away or can't bear to throw them away. However, there are some beautiful pieces, so in those cases we will buy them for you, offering a price."

Recently, the author himself sometimes brings it in as a final act. Helping living trees start a second life has now become one of the important tasks of the Shiotsu Botanical Research Institute.

For beginners, I recommend deciduous trees to start with. The reason for this is that ``it's strong as a tree, you can feel the seasons, and it's easy to prune because the leaves fall off.''

The key to not making mistakes is to choose something that is not too small. If the pot is small, there will be fewer roots, which means the plant will wither easily. Most beginners tend to dry out their plants, so it is easier to handle them if the soil has a larger capacity and is less likely to dry out.

However, each person has their own preferences and disadvantages. Since the temperature and sunlight vary depending on where you live and where you place the pot, it is difficult to say which one is easier.

``For those who are new to bonsai, we listen to their living environment and suggest plants that are suitable for them.High-touch customer service is essential for long-term enjoyment.Therefore, we try to avoid other errands on business days as much as possible. We are always available and waiting for our customers."

His sincere attitude towards selling living things is unwavering.

From the personalities brought out by the two
The person who finds the gem is the one who finds it himself

Now, this is where bonsai gets interesting.

No matter how much you know how good plants are, if they are grown in their natural state, they are not worth appreciating. Bonsai are fun and adorable because they are made by hand.

“We do regular replanting every few years, butAfter cutting the roots, it is often returned to the same pot. The tree will stay the same size as the pot. It's like an aquarium with tropical fish,'' says Takehiro.

``We regularly spray chemicals to maintain the health of the plants.We also change the soil composition depending on the tree species,'' says Kumiko.

Their theme is to think about how humans and plants can stay healthy together.

``Environmental issues are being talked about all over the world right now, but to be honest, it's hard to understand because the destruction of nature is such a big deal.But if you look at the world inside a pot, you feel closer to it. I think bonsai is something that has an element of design added to it."

Following Takehiro's argument, Kumiko says, ``Look, it's cute,'' while showing the seedlings wrapped with wire.

``Our role is to bring out the individuality of plants and trees in this way.One day, someone will find a 1 in 20,000 piece and take it home.We don't mind if you take it all the time.'' like".

Takehiro concluded the essence of bonsai. ``It is up to the customer himself to find the gem among the stones.There is no right answer.''

By the way, what is your dream to work abroad? When I asked Kumiko about that, she said, "Oh, that's enough," and just laughed.

“I probably wanted to explore. It just happened that English was easy for me to learn. Plants are endless, and you can keep chasing them.”

So, is it possible to turn your attention to something other than plants? Takehiro takes over the answer to the question.

"The two of us often talk about that topic. When we do, we don't stop each other and support each other. For example, pottery."

"Well, I don't think so (lol)."

“I’m here now (lol).”

As the two laugh together, their trust in each other and their sincere love for the plants and trees overflow. The Shiotsu Botanical Research Institute continues to move toward becoming a “temple for plants and trees.”

(Titles omitted)

Shiotsu Botanical Research Institute

993-1 Toichicho, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture
0744-48-0845
Business hours / 9: 00-17: 00
Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays