Discovering “Man-Bonsai” — Creating a Tiny World with Plants and Figures(2007)
Do you know what “Man-Bonsai” is? It refers to a tiny world created by combining bonsai with small figures or models. I’ve been interested in bonsai for quite some time, and I finally decided to give this style a try. Once the idea came to mind, there was nothing to do but take action — so I started making one right away.
Almost all of the materials were purchased from a 100-yen shop. Here’s the rough to-do list I followed while creating it.
- I reused a small banyan tree (gajumaru) that I had previously bought at a 100-yen shop.
- I also picked up a suitable pot from the same shop.
- For the soil, I considered using baked akadama soil that I normally use in my aquarium.
- Since I planned to add moss, I thought about placing a layer of leaf mold over the akadama. (I wondered whether moss would root better in that layer.)
- I collected some moss from the area where the Katsura River meets the Yodo River and laid it over the soil.
- Finally, I added a few tiny figurines — and the miniature world was complete.
According to the official website of the Japan Man-Bonsai Association
By step 4 the base was finished, and by step 5 the moss was fully in place. The result is a small, imaginative world in a pot, created with simple materials and a playful spirit.
Man-Bonsai doesn’t follow strict traditions or rules like classical bonsai. The only real “guideline” is to use a bonsai pot and small figures, and to enjoy creating your own tiny universe without spending too much on expensive materials. It may look simple, but once you try it, you realize how deep the world of Man-Bonsai can be.
It isn’t enough to simply place a figure on a small bonsai — the story only comes alive when the theme, humor, and composition work together. And just like regular bonsai, daily care such as watering is still essential.
Why not try making your own little universe — one that reflects your sense of imagination and creativity?
