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World Bonsai Day

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World Bonsai Day 2025

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A celebration of community, living art, and the spirit of bonsai

What an awesome turnout: We estimate that more than 8,000 people joined the Potomac Bonsai Association Festival and World Bonsai Day!

We were thrilled to support PBA as they hosted yet another incredible annual festival. All weekend long, the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum buzzed with activity, joy, and curiosity. Guests explored the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, watched awe-inspiring bonsai demonstrations, sipped tea in honor of the Yamaki Pine, participated in hands-on workshops, browsed vendors, found their next bonsai project... and celebrated the art of bonsai together.

As Museum Curator Michael James reflected, the scale and spirit of the event was inspiring. "It was amazing to see the Museum honored by the presence of thousands of visitors from all walks of life," he said. "World Bonsai Day gave us a chance to show how deeply this art form connects people across cultures and generations."

L to R: Aaron Stratten, past president of the Potomac Bonsai Association; Ambassador James Zumwalt, Chairman, Japan-America Society; Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, the Ambassador of Japan; Dr. Richard Olsen, Center Director of the U.S. National Arboretum; Michael James, Curator, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum; Ben de Guzman, Director, Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

This year we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the Yamaki Pine, also known as the Peace Tree, which stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, peace, and friendship. We marked the occasion with a formal tea toast led by Dr. Richard Olsen, Center Director of the U.S. National Arboretum, and Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, the Ambassador of Japan. This meaningful recognition added a moment of elegance and quiet reflection to a busy, joy-filled day. We are grateful for the specialty Japanese tea service provided by local DC shop Teaism.

L to R: Dr. Richard Olsen, Center Director of the U.S. National Arboretum; Le Ann Duling, President, Potomac Bonsai Association; Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, the Ambassador of Japan; Ambassador James Zumwalt, Chairman, Japan-America Society; Michael James, Curator, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum; Ben de Guzman, Director, Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

Alongside Dr. Olsen and the Ambassador, we were honored to welcome a remarkable group of speakers and special guests whose presence elevated the spirit and significance of the event:

  • Ambassador James Zumwalt, Chairman, Japan-America Society

  • Ben de Guzman, Director, Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

  • Le Ann Duling, President, Potomac Bonsai Association

  • Aaron Stratten, Immediate Past President, Potomac Bonsai Association

  • Michael James, Curator, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

We are deeply grateful to them for joining us this year to share their thoughtful reflections on the art and practice of bonsai around the world.

Aaron Stratten and expert guest artist Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai

Guy Guidry of NOLA Bonsai

The weekend featured engaging, expert-led workshops that drew large, enthusiastic crowds. Our special guest artists, Guy Guidry and Andrew Robson, brought decades of experience and a passion for sharing the art of bonsai. Guidry, known for his bold, expressive styling, demonstrated dramatic transformations that captivated onlookers. Robson, a rising leader in American bonsai, focused on naturalistic approaches to deciduous trees, blending tradition with innovation. Attendees learned both foundational skills and advanced techniques, and many walked away with fresh inspiration and new perspectives.

Sandra Moore reads from her book about the Yamaki Pine.

Sandra Moore, author of The Peace Tree from Hiroshima, joined us as well, sharing the story of the Yamaki Pine with families and young visitors. Her engaging presence and thoughtful readings helped connect the history of this remarkable tree to new generations, reinforcing the themes of peace, resilience, and cross-cultural friendship at the heart of World Bonsai Day.

Museum Volunteer and Docent Phillip Merrit

This festival simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated volunteers from PBA, who showed up in full force. Members from Brookside Bonsai Society, Maryland Bonsai Association, Northern Virginia Bonsai Society, and Richmond Bonsai Society helped make the entire weekend run smoothly—with visitor guidance, knowledgeable advice, and hands-on event support.

We also welcomed friends from Baltimore Bonsai Club, the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, and even a full busload of members from the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society, one of the oldest bonsai organizations in the United States. We are so appreciative that they made the trip to celebrate with us! Dan Angelucci and Ross Campbell from the National Bonsai Foundation’s Board of Directors were also in attendance, and we're grateful for their leadership.

A family enjoys World Bonsai Day at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

Le Ann Duling, President of PBA, noted that everyone went above and beyond, highlighting how vital our regional clubs and members are to making this festival possible. "Everyone did more than their jobs," she said. "This was a powerful reminder of the strength of our community—and how much we can accomplish when PBA clubs come together."

Grillmaster BBQ serves visitors at World Bonsai Day.

A heartfelt thank you to the food trucks that kept our guests fueled and smiling throughout the weekend: GrillMaster BBQ, Taco Dirty to Me, DC Slices, Blossom Bakery, and Captain Cookie. Their presence helped make the day deliciously memorable.

Workshop participants at World Bonsai Day

World Bonsai Day reminds us that bonsai is more than an art form—it’s a living tradition that brings people together across generations and cultures. The day was founded in honor of bonsai master Saburo Kato, who taught that bonsai no kokoro, or the spirit of bonsai, is rooted in peace, respect, and shared connection. The PBA Festival showed that this spirit is alive and well.

Thank you to the honored guests, expert artists, dedicated volunteers, helpful partners, and curious visitors who made the weekend so unforgettable! We’re honored to celebrate the beauty, tradition, and future of bonsai with all of you.

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The Artist Behind This Year's World Bonsai Day T-Shirt Design: Aaron Stratten

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Aaron working on his bonsai.

The artwork featured on this year’s commemorative World Bonsai Day t-shirt was designed by Aaron Stratten. Aaron is a bonsai lover, multi-medium artist, art educator, and self-proclaimed “gardenbody.” He currently serves as Potomac Bonsai Association’s President and has taught art at Faifax County Public Schools for over a quarter century. We were lucky to sit down with him to learn more about his inspiration for this year’s shirt, what he loves most about bonsai, and why he thinks you should join a bonsai club. Read all about Aaron below…And, order your t-shirt for this year’s World Bonsai Day (WBD) on May 13th.

 

1.) Tell us a bit about your art form, your process, and your history.

To understand me as an artist, you have to first understand that I am an art educator.

I have served Fairfax County Public Schools for nearly 25 years as a high school and middle school art teacher, and as the K-12 art educational specialist in the fine arts office. I have also taught at the preschool and college levels. Art teachers in public schools teach a full range of media and skills. This educator lens reinforces a  widely-varied personal art practice which includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, digital art, and of course, bonsai. I believe deeply in teaching and practicing a variety of ideation and planning processes as the foundation for creating artwork, and for solving any other sort of problem, so my process involves many drafts, sketches, and iterations.

For my personal education in art, I went to Indiana University where I earned a BS in art education and a BA in fine arts with a focus on painting. I later got a Masters from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) where I had a dual focus on painting and printmaking. The irony is not lost on me that I spent so many years training in two-dimensional media and now spend most of my creative energies in three dimensions, shaping living trees and pots to keep them in.

2.) Tell us about the design you created for WBD. What was your inspiration, your process, technique, etc.

Aaron’s design for the 2023 World Bonsai Day commemorative t-shirt.

The 2023 World Bonsai Day t-shirt design was intended from the start as a single color, graphic image that would capture the essence of bonsai and bonsai practice rather than the image of a particular bonsai tree. It is a combination of traditional ink drawing, cut paper, and digital manipulation. Progressively larger circles contain, first, a simplified ink drawing of a tree in a pot illustrating the most basic translation of the Japanese kanji, “bon” (a pot or tray) and “sai” (a tree or plant). The second ring shows ramified branches extending outward from the center of the design just as branches extend from the trunk of a tree, and the third ring represents the life-giving foliage of the tree represented with a simplified pattern of ink brush blots. The circles are not concentric, but are very intentionally arranged with asymmetry, an essential aspect of bonsai design, and imperfectly to give a nod to the wabi-sabi aesthetic which is deeply embedded in bonsai practice and is reinforced by the imperfection of the torn-edge of the outer shape. Order yours today!

3.) How did you get involved with bonsai? What do you love about the practice and the art form?

I have practiced bonsai for over 25 years. It combines my love of art and a love of nature gained from spending so much time outside in my rural Indiana upbringing. Bonsai also aligns nicely with some of my artmaking habits. As a painter, I have often struggled with knowing when to stop. I would continue refining and adjusting a painting forever if I didn’t have a deadline. This tendency toward continuous refinement and iteration lent itself well to working with a medium that continues to grow and change over time. It also inspired the title of my bonsai blog, Bonsai Iterate.

I practiced solo for way too long and didn’t join a bonsai club until 2016 when I found the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society. My learning accelerated and before I knew it, I was president of the club, a role I held from 2018 through 2022. The best advice I can give anyone who loves bonsai is – join a bonsai club! The connections to other practitioners is invaluable, and your learning will take off leading to better, healthier trees.

4.) Do you have a favorite tree at the Museum? If so, which and why?

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) donated by Fred H. Mies in 2003, in training since 1979

There are so many amazing trees at the bonsai museum but I am regularly drawn back to the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) in the North American Collection. My time in the woods in the Midwest and in Virginia has fostered a love of the big, native deciduous trees of our temperate forests. While these species, like the American Beech, may not offer naturally small leaves ideal for miniature trees, they still speak to me as representations of the environments I know so well. Visiting the Beech at the museum is also inspiration for continuing to work on a few beech in my own collection.

5.) How will you be celebrating World Bonsai Day?

I am currently the president of the Potomac Bonsai Association (PBA) so I just might be spending World Bonsai Day – the weekend immediately following the annual PBA Bonsai Festival – recovering from all that we put into running that event. I’m a bit of a homebody… or maybe a garden-body (Can we make that a thing, please?) so I can’t think of anything better than spending time with my bonsai and in my garden at my home in Woodbridge, Virginia. The roses and Siberian irises will be blooming, as they always do just in time for Mother’s Day, and all the trees will be lush and green. What could be better?

Purchase your commemorative
World Bonsai Day 2023 t-shirt today!

World Bonsai Day 2022: A History of Friendship and Celebration

Are you joining the National Bonsai Foundation at the U.S. National Arboretum for World Bonsai Day 2022?! Check out our agenda for the day, and in the meantime, freshen up on the history of this global celebration:  

The concept of World Bonsai Day sprung from the thoughtful mind of Saburo Kato, a world-renowned bonsai artist – and philosopher of sorts. 

Born May 15, 1915, in Japan, Kato spent much of his life working on Ezo spruces, so much so that he published a book called “Forest, Rock Planting and Ezo Spruce Bonsai.” He helped to establish numerous bonsai groups, like the Nippon Bonsai Association and the Japanese Bonsai Union. 

Kato had a big hand in Japan’s bicentennial gift of 53 bonsai and six viewing stones to the United States in 1976, which were the start of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum collection. A few years later, he gave a speech at the International World Bonsai Convention that underscored the idea that you can become closer with the beauty and fragility of the natural world by practicing bonsai. 

This philosophy is known as “bonsai no kokoro,” or “the spirit of bonsai,” and Kato touched on it in many speeches after that initial convention. In 1989, he co-founded with John Naka and Ted Tsukiyama the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF), which exists to bring peace and camaraderie to the world through this art form. 

After Kato passed in 2008, WBFF established World Bonsai Day to pay homage to Kato and his efforts to promote international peace and friendship through bonsai. The first event was held in 2010, and the day is now celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year, to coincide with Kato’s birthdate. 

Arboretum Director Dr. Richard Olsen said he hopes that visitors on World Bonsai Day can rekindle and forge new personal connections to trees, their value and the need for preservation and conserving the world’s flora after these last few years of online celebrations.

“Bonsai are living works of art meant to be enjoyed in person, not in two dimensions on screens or pages,” Olsen said. “The connections between visitors and the bonsai specimens – expressions of astonishment and awe – remind us of the importance of curating and showcasing this art form. World Bonsai Day is the ultimate annual event in celebrating an art form that transcends cultures and boundaries.” 

NBF Board Chair Dr. Richard Kahn, PhD, said World Bonsai day calls attention to an art form that is not often understood or appreciated and that visiting the Museum or pursuing more information online can convey more about the living sculptures known as bonsai. 

“Bonsai and penjing enriches many lives, not just those who nurture these beautiful objects,” he said. “We hope you, too, will now take the opportunity to enjoy them as so many do.”

NBF Board Chair Emeritus Jim Hughes said that, no matter where or how you’re celebrating, World Bonsai Day is a celebration of your community and all its nurturing aspects. 

“Although the online, digital connection on World Bonsai Days of the past two years had its pluses, being together face-to-face (or face-to-tree) this year has many more tangible benefits,” he said. “Come to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum to observe and see first-hand this living art form in person this year!”

MaryEllen Carsley, an artist hosting classes for the WBD celebration at the Arboretum, said she is excited to take part in the day’s festivities after growing up visiting the Museum. She hopes class participants adopt a deeper appreciation of the artistry and beauty of bonsai and the sense of mindfulness, peace and renewal that accompanies the act of drawing an emotionally moving object or scene. 

“It seems especially important and meaningful in these times, too, that this is a global celebration of peace, friendship, and beauty,” she said. “Whether a person is new to bonsai, drawing, or both, I hope picking up the pencil and sharing an hour together drawing among the beautiful trees inspires them to make more art in any form!”

MaryEllen added that the final drawing (or any artistic product) is not as important as engaging and reflecting on the beauty of life that is present in the day’s medium: for Saturday, that’s the bonsai.

“Saburo Kato spoke about how, through bonsai, you can learn to appreciate the beauty of nature,” she said. “Drawing is like that: it makes you engage with and reflect on life and nature's never-ending cycle. 

MaryEllen said she is looking forward to sharing the joy of drawing bonsai with those present and remembering all those around the world who will be appreciating the spirit of friendship.

Museum Curator Michael James said he is looking forward to seeing crowds strolling through the Museum to admire the bonsai and garden collections once again. He said the Museum has been a place of inspiration for the bonsai community and nature enthusiasts alike, especially on international celebratory days like World Bonsai Day. 

“It is uplifting to see the amazement in people of all ages,” Michael said. “To celebrate World Bonsai Day again in person after two years is exactly what the doctor ordered.” 

Stop by the Museum on Saturday, May 14, for docent-led personal tours, crafts, bonsai demonstrations and more!

NBF World Bonsai Day 2022


It’s official: The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is hosting in-person festivities for World Bonsai Day once again!

After two years of virtual celebrations, the National Bonsai Foundation is thrilled to welcome everyone to a creative and informative day of bonsai appreciation the Museum is putting on Saturday, May 14. Observed on the second Saturday of May every year, the World Bonsai Friendship Federation established this international day of celebration to pay homage to bonsai Master Saburo Kato's mission to promote peace and friendship through the art of bonsai. 

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect on May 14. 

Get crafty

Visit Bonsai Technician Rose Behre at the children’s arts and crafts table to get your hands on some botanical coloring pages, stamps and origami. For those of you who attended our origami class, be sure to stop by and show off your skills!

Sit in on a demonstration

Museum volunteers will demonstrate bonsai pruning techniques and answer questions from the public. Pending weather conditions, visit their station under the arbor in the Lower Courtyard from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.

Explore your inner artist 

As a bonus this year, register for one of artist and art educator Mary Ellen Carsley’s bonsai drawing workshops! In each of her hour-long sessions (11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.), Mary Ellen will review fundamental sketching techniques and the principles used to properly translate bonsai to the page. All artists will be provided with a drawing pad, pencil and eraser at the Yuji Yoshimura Lecture and Demonstration Center.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!