‘Dry Bonsai’ Gives New Life to Withered Trees, Allows Free Artistic Expression

By Akio Oikawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

7:00 JST, February 24, 2026

Bonsai reward their owners for the meticulous, affectionate care they receive by growing over many years. If they wither, they can be reborn as “Dry Bonsai,” a new type of bonsai that is gaining attention for its marvelous blend of bonsai’s traditional beauty with modern sensibilities, such as through the addition of vibrant colors.

Bonsai has long been a cherished Japanese hobby, with quite a few pieces reaching the level of art. However, even with devoted care, they can wither and die.

Bonsai artist Shigeo Fujita, 60, accepts such bonsai and gives them new life.

Fujita says that he came up with the idea for Dry Bonsai as he wanted to preserve their beauty forever.

A Japanese black pine with browned foliage and a shimpaku juniper tree reduced to a bare trunk and branches are among the withered bonsai trees that have made their way across Japan to Fujita’s atelier in Chiba.

When working with these bonsai trees, Fujita first removes the soil, and then sterilizes, cleans and thoroughly dries the trees. He also prunes the branches and refines the shape of the roots. Finally, he attaches things like preserved conifer needles and high-quality artificial cherry blossoms one by one to the tips of the branches.

The entire process takes about one to three months, depending on the size of the piece.

“Since no two pieces are in the same condition, I handle each one carefully,” Fujita said.

Fujita is creative and freethinking. For example, he gives a Japanese black pine that seems to have lived for 40 years blue leaves, not green. He adorns a satsuki azalea with cherry blossoms in full bloom. Some of his pieces are designed to be exposed down to their roots.

His Dry Bonsai pieces are a fusion of traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary sensibilities, never boring viewers.

Fujita was born in Chiba Prefecture in 1965 and began working as a bonsai artist in 1992. He presented his first Dry Bonsai in 2016 and trademarked the term in 2018. He has promoted the art form through exhibitions at his gallery in Tokyo’s Ginza district and elsewhere.

Once Dry Bonsai was launched, it gained popularity not only as an ornament for the home but also as shop and office decor, mainly because it is easy to handle and does not require watering or pruning.

Fujita has received more and more requests to accept withered bonsai trees that can be used for Dry Bonsai. He now works on 300 to 400 pieces monthly.

“Even if they are given new life, they each retain the unique dignity created by nature. I want people to fully appreciate their beauty,” Fujita said.

Well-received overseas

Fujita’s Dry Bonsai were featured at the Milan Design Week in Italy in April last year. About 20 colorful pieces were displayed and they were well received by ordinary visitors and interior design professionals alike.

As interest in Japanese culture grows, his atelier receives more and more inquiries from overseas customers.“I think the Dry Bonsai’s high design quality is being recognized,” Fujita said. “Going forward, I want to actively promote its appeal overseas, as well as in Japan.”