The World Bonsai Contest has apparently become one of the most popular events for bonsai enthusiasts. This year marks the 7th World Bonsai Contest. The bonsai skills and techniques of participants are getting more sophisticated every year making it diffcult for the screening committee to select the winning entries. This year, we received 234 entries from 25 countries and regions through the internet and by post. The entries from North and South America have signifcantly increased, owed to the fact that the 5th World Bonsai Convention was held in Washington, D. C. last Spring where the winners of the 2004 World Bonsai Contest were exhibited in the Bonsai Pavilion of the U.S. National Arboretum. The winners of the 2005 World Bonsai Contest will also be exhibited in this prestigious location.

The first step of the screening process involves the selection of one best bonsai from each applicant. We selected 65 International Winners by looking into the level of bonsai art and horticultural technique regardless of origin. The second step was to select 35 Honorable Winners by considering regional and cultural tastes and the entrants’ eagerness towards bonsai art. Then among the International Winners, we selected one Grand Winner and two Runners-up winners. Several entries were considered by the Committee as top ranking, which resulted in many heated discussions. There were little differences among the selected entries so each was analyzed carefully from every possible angle and aspect. We can confess that there were many debates between us on the Screening Committee while selecting the top three winners.

As we reviewed all entries, we could feel the diversity between regions, but we anticipated further expanding the understanding of "Bonsai no Kokoro," bonsai art among the different cultures and regions. Through this contest, regardless of the nationalities or races of participants, we hope to impart to the bonsai community an understanding of true bonsai art, and that there is something in a special bonsai which makes people impressed.

How do you feel when you look at this year's winning bonsai?

This is the first time we have cooperated with Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) to present the World Bonsai Contest. We are also supported by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF), the Nihon Bonsai Association and the Bonsai Growers Association. We continue to have the support from the U. S. National Arboretum. We would like to extend our special appreciation to all of those individuals and organizations which helped us in many ways for this event.

We plan to continue this event in efforts to increase an international cultural exchange and to contribute to world peace through bonsai art. We would like to ask your under-standing and support towards this event and the "Bonsai no Kokoro."

World Bonsai Contest Screening Committee

Saburo Kato

Hiroshi Takeyama

Shinichi Nakajima

Hatsuji Kato

Jiro Fukuda

Yasuo Ito

21st November 2005



		Message from the World Bonsai Contest Screening Commitee
			RESULTS
	World Bonsai Contest Trophy
The World Bonsai Contest has apparently become one of the most popular events for bonsai enthusiasts. This year marks the 7th World Bonsai Contest. The bonsai skills and techniques of participants are getting more sophisticated every year making it diffcult for the screening committee to select the winning entries. This year, we received 234 entries from 25 countries and regions through the internet and by post. The entries from North and South America have signifcantly increased, owed to the fact that the 5th World Bonsai Convention was held in Washington, D. C. last Spring where the winners of the 2004 World Bonsai Contest were exhibited in the Bonsai Pavilion of the U.S. National Arboretum. The winners of the 2005 World Bonsai Contest will also be exhibited in this prestigious location. The first step of the screening process involves the selection of one best bonsai from each applicant. We selected 65 International Winners by looking into the level of bonsai art and horticultural technique regardless of origin. The second step was to select 35 Honorable Winners by considering regional and cultural tastes and the entrants’ eagerness towards bonsai art. Then among the International Winners, we selected one Grand Winner and two Runners-up winners. Several entries were considered by the Committee as top ranking, which resulted in many heated discussions. There were little differences among the selected entries so each was analyzed carefully from every possible angle and aspect. We can confess that there were many debates between us on the Screening Committee while selecting the top three winners. As we reviewed all entries, we could feel the diversity between regions, but we anticipated further expanding the understanding of "Bonsai no Kokoro," bonsai art among the different cultures and regions. Through this contest, regardless of the nationalities or races of participants, we hope to impart to the bonsai community an understanding of true bonsai art, and that there is something in a special bonsai which makes people impressed. How do you feel when you look at this year's winning bonsai? This is the first time we have cooperated with Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) to present the World Bonsai Contest. We are also supported by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF), the Nihon Bonsai Association and the Bonsai Growers Association. We continue to have the support from the U. S. National Arboretum. We would like to extend our special appreciation to all of those individuals and organizations which helped us in many ways for this event. We plan to continue this event in efforts to increase an international cultural exchange and to contribute to world peace through bonsai art. We would like to ask your under-standing and support towards this event and the "Bonsai no Kokoro." World Bonsai Contest Screening Committee Saburo Kato Hiroshi Takeyama Shinichi Nakajima Hatsuji Kato Jiro Fukuda Yasuo Ito 21st November 2005

World Bonsai Contest 2005 The winning bonsai may be viewed by clicking on the links below. Please note that these are low resolution PDF files (Acrobat Reader required) to preserve bandwidth and keep download time to a minimum. Each file is approx 750kb. International Winners Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Honorable Winners Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 High quality photographs are available in the 1st Quarter (Jan./ Feb./ Mar.) issue of Bonsai Magazine. If you are a non-member of BCI, or are a member wishing additional copies, click here for Ordering information. Home