I'm looking for the title and author of a book that I had read many years ago (late 80's, early 90s).

It was a technical examination of the Japanese bonsai styles. It broke down each style into the ideal, going so far as to identify the Japanese name for each branch that makes up the style, and to talk about what each branch in the design represents. It was in English, but I think it may have been translated from the original Japanese. It was accompanied by black and white line drawings.

I've been growing bonsai for many years, but have never been much bothered with following the rules - I just make my trees look like the trees that I see around me. Now I'd like to learn more about the strict Japanese rules for bonsai style; if anyone knows what book I'm thinking of and can point me in the right direction I'd very much appreciate it!

Thanks!
SLR

My 2b is western Canada (southern Saskatchewan). Obviously a lot of bonsai material wouldn't survive in that climate - I only bonsai hardy trees (chinese elms, alberta spruce, scots pine, burr oak, etc. etc.) In the winter, I pop them out of their pots and heel them in. (If you leave the pots outside over winter they will shatter - I learned the hard way).

This way, it's a cheap hobby - I air layer trees growing at the edges of fields, dig up some wild material from ditches and start some stuff from seed. The bloody pots, though, are expensive!

Thanks for the suggestions about the books - I'll try looking at a copy of Naka's and see if it's the one I'm thinking of. I could really use some structure in my trees - up 'till now I've been just winging it :)