Space (the universe) is still unknown. We know about it just a little bit. And also some Japanese products and people are still unknown for some people in the world.
The intent and purpose of Astro Shop Japan is to let people in the world know about the wonderful Japanese products and people. Hence the name of my blog.
A little while ago, I watched a Japanese variety show "TV performer rating classification check (芸能人格付けチェック)". Major Japanese artists, major Japanese TV performer, major Japanese comedian and major Japanese actor appear in the TV show. They are checked whether they are real major people or not.
GACKT is a regular of the TV show.
Masatoshi Hamada is a facilitator of the show. He is one of major Japanese comedian. His comedy duo name is "Down Town". His partner is Hitoshi Matsumoto who made a film "Big man in Japan (大日本人)". "Down Town" is a great comedy duo. I love them. Especially, Hitoshi Matsumoto, he has a great deal of talent. I want to post an article about them someday.
Masatoshi Hamada. His nick name is "Hama-chan"
Hama-chan shows general products (Amateur) and luxury goods (professional) of the same category to the major people. And then, they have to figure out which one is the luxury goods. That will determine their rank according to the number of correct answers. The question is alternative "A" or "B" with some exceptions. For example, they distinguish sound of a violin. The violinist plays same music by using two different violins. One of them is a mass-produced product, cheap violin and the other one is Stradivarius which is worth hundreds of thousands to several million U.S. dollars at today's prices. It is very hard to distinguish. And there was a Bonsai question. Here are two Bonsais.
Please try to think which one is one million dollar Bonsai.
One of them is made by Kunio Kobayashi who is a Bonsai expert and owner of Shunkaen Bosai Museum.
The other one is a fake Bonsai. But It is made by Mitsuyo Otsuki. She is an artificial Bonsai expert. Her Bonsai is not real but her technique is fantastic.
Artificial Bonsai expert: Ms. Mitsuyo Otsuki
These are the materials for Artificial Bonsai. She is also winner of Prime Minister Award.
They are both professional and master of the field. Here is the Bosai picture again. The point is the height. A has double in height than B.
Have a closer look at A and B
They look very similar for me. A is kind of huge as Bonsai, I guess. B is bright in color.
They can not touch them and they have to see Bonsais from some distance. Did you get your answer? Please take a look the pictures again if you are still thinking. Are you ready to answer? The answer is... (scroll down)
Bonsai (盆栽, Bon is a tray or low-sided pot and sai is a planting or plantings.) is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers.
”Bonkei” is the original type of Bonsai. It is actually came from China. Bonkei came to Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185 years). Bonkei was very popular hobby around the court nobles and warriors, and the name became "Bonsai" in the Edo era (1603-1868 years).
Now, Bonsai has evolved as Japanese unique culture, and has earned a reputation as a "great traditional culture of Japan" from all over the world. There is an university of Bonsai in Italy.
You can sell your Bonsai by a higher price than when you bought !?
Bonsai has the elements of "gardening" and "art".
If it says "the art", there is a decent "value". There is a Bonsai which the price is rather than several million yen, or tens of millions yen, and the highest peak one is several hundreds of million yen! The older one gets higher price.
"You can sell your Bonsai" is one of its greatest attractions. Do you want to try to do Bonsai?
