WORLD
BONSAI
FRIENDSHIP
FEDERATION
An excerpt from Saburo Kato's Bonsai no kokoro ("Spirit/heart of bonsai") speech in 1980.
Everyone here has gathered together from distant places. In each of your countries you have mountains, rivers, woods and forests. These are beautiful scenes to inspire you. Choose the most beautiful examples for your bonsai. Do not just copy anything. Rather, make your bonsai like the best parts of nature.
To raise bonsai it is very important to learn the strong and weak points of each plant. Raising bonsai is like raising children. Be a teacher and a guide but with patience and loving care. Treat your plants as you do your family. I'm sure that each of you will also be able to create and grow beautiful bonsai.
Bonsai is a living thing in the roots and even in the leaves. Every day that you are attending your bonsai, although the plant cannot speak to you, you'll sense that the plant is trying to tell you something. You'll one day know a plant is asking for water or fertilizer. When you come to that stage, you'll have developed a close bond. Bonsai responds to your love and becomes like honest friends with no human falsehood or betrayals.
Bonsai are loyal if you water and fertilize regularly with loving care. Life is more meaningful when we attend these little plants. We learn the essence and dignity of life! Even the life of a bonsai is older than us. So bonsai must be passed on to the next generation to preserve the life in the tray. This is important.
Bonsai is a god-given gift to man. This form of nature is closest to man and portrays the drama of life. Bonsai is nature without an end. So those who grow bonsai have a responsibility to be diligent and a duty to continue to carry on. In conclusion, I hope that the art of bonsai will never die and will keep the torch of peace burning throughout the world. I hope closer and deeper friendships will tie us together.
---
translated/adapted by David Fukumoto, shared with his express permission for IBC
WELCOME TO WBFF OFFICIAL WEBSITE
We’re an enthusiastic group of individuals brought together by a common passion - pure love of bonsai.
Our pioneers worked tirelessly to establish a federation back in 1970, to unite the world bonsai community.
Have a look at what we’ve got coming up, and if you’re interested in knowing more about WBFF?
simply get in touch with us.
Our Objectives
To promote and diffuse throughout the world, bonsai a living art that can be appreciated by all peoples.
To sponsor and promote World Bonsai Convention (WBC) once every four years.
To exchange knowledge, technology, information, and related matters to the art of bonsai among countries of the world, thus advancing international friendship and goodwill.
WBFF promotes World Peace Through Bonsai
Image courtesy of 王聰賢 Impressive natural heritage - Yamadori Juniperus squamata Lambert var.Images taken at Yushan National Park, Taiwan.
Upcoming Highlight Events
- Thu, Jul 04SurabayaJul 04, 2024, 7:00 PM GMT+7 – Jul 08, 2024, 7:00 PM GMT+7Surabaya, Jl. Mayjen Sungkono No.89, Gn. Sari, Kec. Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60225, Indonesia
- Thu, Jul 04SurabayaJul 04, 2024, 7:00 PM – Jul 08, 2024, 7:00 PMSurabaya, Jl. Mayjen Sungkono No.89, Gn. Sari, Kec. Dukuhpakis, Surabaya, Jawa Timur 60225, Indonesia
- According to respective organizer-According to respective organizer-
- Sat, Oct 18Xizhou TownshipOct 18, 2025, 8:00 AM GMT+8 – Oct 26, 2025, 12:00 PM GMT+8Xizhou Township, No. 138號, Section 3, Zhongyang Rd, Xizhou Township, Changhua County, Taiwan 524Oct 18, 2025, 8:00 AM GMT+8 – Oct 26, 2025, 12:00 PM GMT+8Xizhou Township, No. 138號, Section 3, Zhongyang Rd, Xizhou Township, Changhua County, Taiwan 524The 10th WBC warming-up event for the year of 2025 will be hosted by the National Bonsai Association of Taiwan (NBAT) from October 18th, 2025 to October 26th, 2025. The event is in cooperation with the "Taiwan Design Expo 2025" hosted by the central government of Taiwan.
- Fri, Aug 28Kuala LumpurAug 28, 2026, 7:00 AM GMT+8Kuala Lumpur, 2, Persiaran Jalil 8, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Find us on world map
WBFF establishment, through its Bylaws divided the world bonsai into 9 regions, and required that each region to have a regional organization represented on the WBFF Board of Directors. The objective is to promote and diffuse throughout the world, bonsai a living art that can be appreciated by all peoples.