NEWS FROM JAPAN
VSANA News 2026
February 13-16, 2026
The 63rd Meihinten (Exhibition of Japanese Suiseki Masterpieces)
Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno
2nd floor, Hall 4. Hours 9:30-1730
The Museum is closed on Monday, February 17th
VSANA News 2025
November 21-24, 2025
The 45th Taikan-ten
The 45th Taikan-ten (Grand View Exhibition)
Miyako Messe (Convention Center)
Kyoto, Japan
November 1-2, 2025
The 52nd All Japan Aiseki Association Exhibition
The All Japan Aiseki Association held their 52nd annual exhibition from November 1-2, 2025 in the Asakusa Public Hall in Tokyo. Fifty suiseki were displayed including four from France, and a single stone from the United States. In addition, there was a special exhibit of figure stones. The Japan Suiseki Association helped support this event. Photographs courtesy of Tatehata Kengo.
The rockery in the Tian-yi Garden near the exhibition was made with natural unprocessed Lingbi stones, a rather unique feature in Chinese gardens.
February 13-16, 2026
The 63rd Meihinten (Exhibition of Japanese Suiseki Masterpieces)
Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Ueno
2nd floor, Hall 4. Hours 9:30-1730
The Museum is closed on Monday, February 17th
November 1, 2025
In Memorium
With regret, we learned of the recent passing on November 1, 2025 of Mr. Sakurai Toshio, Japan’s leading stone carver and suiseki dealer, at the age of 90. He was a dear friend and helped us learn about Japanese stone appreciation. Sakuirai had a shop in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he cut and made suiseki, mainly from natural stones collected in the Abe, Ibi, and Saji rivers. Over a period of nearly fifty years, he made several thousand suiseki which were sold to many dealers and directly to stone collectors. He had a booth at the Green Club during the Kokufu-ten, and the Japan Suiseki exhibition in Tokyo. Sakurai also had a sales booth at the annual fall Taikanten in Kyoto. Sakurai specialized in making natural looking landscape suiseki and hut stones.
To learn more about Sakurai Toshio and the manufacturing of suiseki in Japan, see two published papers, Enhancing the Stone, Part 1 and Part 2 in the Classroom section of the www.vsana.org website (https://www.vsana.org/classroom).
July 12-13, 2025
The Japan Small Stone Club Exhibition
The Japan Small Stone Club based in Tokyo, Japan, sponsored an exhibition at the Toyota Citizens Cultural Center July 12-13, 2025. This event was co-sponsored by the Monthy Aiseki magazine, and with support from the city, local newspapers, and the Japan Suiseki Association.
A total of 64 stones were displayed included two special exhibits. One of the special exhibits was entered by Kobayashi Kunio, and the other special exhibit by the Japanese actress Toyota Naho. Twelve stones were entered by overseas members of this club. Over 500 people viewed this exhibit. Special programs and activities for children were included in this event.
January 25-26, 2025
All Japan Aiseki Association: 17th Kansai Exhibition (51st All Japan Exhibition)
The 17th Kansai Exhibition and the 51st All Japan Exhibition were held at Kakumei-kan, Okayama Koraku-en January 25-26, 2025. This event was sponsored by the All Japan Aiseki Association and co-sponsored by the Sanyo Aiseki-kai.
Thanks to careful planning, excellent stones, and good weather for two days, this was one of the most successful stone exhibitions sponsored by the All Japan Aiseki Association with about 450 visitors including tourists who were visiting Koraku-en on those days. Forty-five stones were displayed, some from the All Japan Aiseki Association members and others from Sankyo Aiseki-kai members. Sankyo Aiseki-kai members worked hard to promote the show by sending direct mail to their friends. Mr. Kobayashi Ippu was a special guest for this exhibition and made a Tokonoma display.
VSANA News 2024
November 22-25, 2024
The Appeal of the 44th Taikanten, Kyoto, Japan
In late November 2024, 4500 people visited the largest display of excellent bonsai and viewing stones at the four-day 44th annual Taikanten in Kyoto, Japan. This event is held in the city’s spacious convention center, the Miyako Messe, in mid-November typically at the height of the spectacular fall foliage display through this historical and cultural important city. This major event is organized and hosted by the Nippon Bonsai Taikanten Organizing Committee with support from the City of Kyoto, the local newspaper and broadcasting corporations, and the Japan Bonsai Cooperative.
Even though the February exhibitions at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum featured a greater number of bonsai and stones, I prefer the Taikanten. Although the Tokyo exhibitions featured more trees and stones, the Taikanten is superior for the following reasons.
The Kyoto November exhibition permits exhibitors to use a wider range of accessory items to accompany an outstanding bonsai or viewing stone. The displays may be traditional with a scroll and accent plant or they may be more contemporary. A prime example of the latter is a display of medium-sized bonsai with four modern abstract expressionist paintings. The color present is the fruits of a princess persimmon bonsai, which can be seen in the accompanying painting. The more contemporary or experimental approach may have greater appeal to younger audiences, attract new people to the art of bonsai and viewing stone appreciation, and reverse the steady loss in the number of people pursuing these art forms in Japan.
Another appealing feature of the Taikanten is the presence of bonsai and viewing stones displayed together or individually in one venue. The two art forms are complementary and make pleasing exhibits when displayed together. The common saying in Japan that bonsai and suiseki are like the two wheels of a bicycle is appropriate and best understood when attending the Taikanten.
I find the atmosphere of the Taikanten to be more relaxing and with less emphasis on the commercial aspects of bonsai and viewing stone appreciation than at the February exhibitions in Tokyo. Sitting with colleagues from Japan and other countries and discussing a particular exhibit or developing a better understanding of the aesthetic qualities found in a tree or stones is one of the joys of attending a major class exhibition such as the Taikanten.
Finally, Kyoto has many cultural attractions—temples, gardens, museums, the historic Gion District, and much more within a short distance from the convention center. The vibrant fall foliage colors seen in several of the Buddhist temples are spectacular in mid to late November. These features together with a panoply of great restaurants make Taikanten and Kyoto a must-see destination.
November 14-15, 2024
All Japan Aiseki Association the 50th Anniversary National Exhibition
By Thomas S. Elias
The 50th Anniversary Exhibition of All Japan Aiseki Association was held November 14th and 15th in the Asakusa Public Hall in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the association displayed 50 Suiseki from their member’s collections. All the stones were natural. This event was sponsored by the All Japan Aiseki Association with support from the Japan Suiseki Association and the monthly Aiseki Magazine.
In addition, a few foreign members displayed several stones from foreign countries. Even though can find stones anywhere in the world, we hope that visitors to this exhibition found it interesting to see the similarities and differences between Japanese and foreign stones. The Aiseki association was set up in 1985 to promote communications and exchanges among members and to develop and spread the hobby of collecting stones.
August 24-25, 2024
First All Japan Suiseki Wonderful Pieces Exhibition & Auction, hosted by the Japan Suiseki Dealers Association & Japan Suiseki Association. Ueno Green Club, Ueno District, Tokyo
August 10-11, 2024
Small Stone Exhibition hosted by Japan Small Stone Club & Monthy Aiseki. Toyota City Culture Center, Toyota City, Japan
February 14-17, 2024
The Nippon Suiseki Association’s 61st Suiseki Association Meihin-ten at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
February 09-17, 2024
The Ueno Green Club Spring Sales in Tokyo.
February 09-12; 14-17, 2024
The Nippon Bonsai Association’s 98th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park.
January 27-28, 2024
The All Japan Aiseki Association 15th Kansai Exhibition in Koraku-en in Okayama.
