News and Events

January Ben Oki Workshop was a success

The Tallahassee Bonsai Society has been honored to host Ben Oki as a vising master artist in January of 2010, and in previous years. Ben has been growing and teaching bonsai since 1958, specializing in California Juniper. He studied bonsai under John Naka and has assisted him with demonstrations and meetings. He believes that he is what he is because of John Naka. Ben is a curator of the Golden State Bonsai Federation Collections in California. The Ben Oki International Design Award and the Ben Oki National Design Award were established by Bonsai Clubs International and the American Bonsai Society, respectively, to honor his achievements world wide. He was honored by the Agricultural Society of Japan in 2001 with the Ryokuhaku-Juyukosho (Green and White achievement award). He was born in Sacramento, California. At age six, he moved to Japan where he learned Japanese landscape and stone techniques. In 1950, Ben returned to the United States and has managed his entrepreneurship in landscape gardening ever since. Ben is an active member of California Bonsai Society, Satsuki Society, Nanpu Kai, and the Southern California Chapter of the Japanese Satsuki Society. He is also an honorary member of many bonsai organizations in the United States and the world.

Ben Oki's Web Site