A follow-up blog for "Plum Bonsai Exhibition @ Nagahama City"

This is a follow-up to the blog "Plum Bonsai Exhibition @ Nagahama City" from February 6th.

It seems I've been captivated by the Nagahama Plum Bonsai Exhibition.　Last Sunday, I went to the exhibition again, this time when it's lit up at night. 

Notice: This is not the real lighted garden scene. A hanging scroll and sliding doors, as well as the Plum bonsai placed in the showroom, happened to be reflected by the window glass and ended up in the lighted garden scene.　

First of all, I'd like to explain a little about the venue.

The venue of the exhibition called "Keiunkan", is a very historic wooden architecture built in 1887.

According to the website of the Keiunkan,  a message was sent in the fall of 1886 that Their Majesties the Meiji Emperor and Empress would make a brief stop at Nagahama on their return trip from Kyoto to Tokyo in February 1887.  Mr. Asami Matazo, an influential businessman from Nagahama, immediately began to build the guesthouse by his personal funds. It was said that the construction was a rushed project and finally the guesthouse had completed at February 21, 1887. It was barely in time for the imperial visit to Nagahama.　　

On the second floor of the Keiunkan, there was the room where Their Majesties the Meiji Emperor and Empress spent their time. It is still in the same condition as it was back then.

 I think the impression of a Bonsai is quite different depending on the place where it is displayed. In this sense, I think this old Plum Bonsai looks very splendid because it is placed in this historical Japanese architecture.

This Plum Bonsai was called "Hourai", named after the sacred mountain for ascetics. It is placed in a small room surrounded by black reflective plastic plates. That's like a cave. Age of the tree: reportedly 150 years.

(P.S.) In the new building connected to the Keiunkan, there are modern bonsai exhibitions in collaboration with the works of a local paper-cutting artist.