YOSHIHIKO SHINZATO
The man - The myth - The legend
Hiko: The Real-life Mr. Miyagi
One random evening, as Naomi casually shared the impressive history of her father with her husband Roy, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"Wait, so let me get this straight. Your dad's from Okinawa, a retired Karate Master, And does Bonsai? ...Like Mr. Miyagi??"
While this "Karate-Master-to-Bonsai-Guru" journey may sound like a plot straight out of The Karate Kid or Cobra Kai, it's actually the real-life story of our founder Yoshihiko Shinzato (新里 善彦), aka Hiko.
With over five decades of experience, Hiko has not only trained thousands of karate students across three continents, but he has also dedicated his life to the art of Bonsai.
2023 marks 50 years of nurturing Bonsai -- a golden anniversary and incredible testament to his unwavering passion and expertise.
"Bonsai is perfect for you if you love plants, stay consistent, and practice patience."
- Hiko -
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Hiko and Naomi in Lima, Peru
❤️️1994
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Hiko and Naomi at the Karate Dojo
🥋1990
From our family to yours: A gift for generations
Hiko has cultivated Bonsai for half a century, but this is the first time in the family's history that his Bonsai are made available online.
Hiko's daughter Naomi and her husband Roy moved from Gardena, CA to Coral Springs, FL in 2021 to be closer to their father and start the next generation of the family business.
Naomi and Roy are dedicated to managing this online platform with great care, ensuring meticulous packaging and dependable shipping so that Hiko's artistry can be enjoyed by people across the country.
As Bonsai trees can endure for generations with proper care, Hiko's Bonsai have the potential to be handed down as beautiful, living family heirlooms. Imagine your grandchildren nurturing YOUR Bonsai in their backyard, and taking care of it just as you have 💕
Pictured here is Hiko's adorable granddaughter carefully watering our Bonsai.
Reduce stress with Bonsai
In Japan, when someone is dedicated to martial arts, it is considered a very "hard" life.
It is common that martial artists, Samurai, or anyone with a "hard" life will seek "softness" to find one's balance. In fact, some of the toughest warriors have created the most beautiful art in Japanese history.
This translates to modern day and modern stresses as well.
If you think about it, cultivating and caring for Bonsai requires focus, patience, and attention that promotes active meditation, mindfulness, and a connection to nature. This daily practice serves as a gentle form of self-care that naturally reduces stress and anxiety.
Hiko says, "That's probably why I ended up getting into Bonsai. After doing karate all day, everyday, Bonsai gave me the peace I needed outside of the Dojo."
Patience, Daniel-san
Hiko would like to share a Japanese proverb with anyone interested in caring for Bonsai:
石の上にも三年
Ishi no ue nimo san nen
It means, one should not give up because perseverance and patience will be rewarded.
Hiko recommends curbing modern expectations when approaching Bonsai. Some of his students will cut a bit here and trim a lil there and expect to go home with a finished, fully "done" Bonsai.
It just doesn't work that way.
It takes Bonsai at least 3-5 years to begin taking your desired shape, and even then, it's still very young.
Mr. Miyagi's wise words, "Patience, Daniel-san..." continue to ring true, and Hiko agrees. Stay patient, consistent, and see the beauty in nurturing. If you can do that, Bonsai will always bring you comfort.
"It's art, but it's never finished and ever-changing."
- Hiko -
FAQs
What's Hiko's favorite Bonsai?
He has numerous favorites but if he had to choose one it would have to be the Shimpaku Juniper.
What tools do I need to get started
You don't need an entire toolkit. Basic Gardening Scissors. More info about our tool recommendations will be posted on our blog soon.
Hiko loves Japanese Hasami and Kui Kiri (maybe coming soon to Hiko Bonsai).
Is Hiko from Japan?
Yes, Hiko was born in 1950 in Nanjo, Okinawa, Japan. From there he moved to Lima, Peru, and then to Plantation, Florida (US).
He speaks the Okinawan language Uchinaguchi, traditional Japanese, and a bit of Spanish and English.
How does Hiko feel about being compared to Mr. Miyagi?
Hiko finds it hilarious. To him there's no comparison --Mr. Miyagi was a fictional character in a movie. Hiko is a real-life Karate Black Belt and Bonsai Artist. But he thinks it's good fun and enjoys it.
Are Bonsai a specific type of plant...?
No. Bonsai is not a specific type of plant. It is the way the plant is nurtured. You can make a Bonsai from a cutting from your favorite tree in your backyard!
Is Hiko's daughter Naomi a Karate and Bonsai master too?
Karate, yes.
Bonsai? Maybe a master in the making 😉
Hiko started training Naomi and her brother Karate as soon as they could walk. And they were always around Hiko's bonsai as early as they can remember. For Naomi and her brother, Karate and Bonsai are a normal part of their lives.
But just so you know, Naomi speaks 3 languages (Japanese, English, Spanish), cooks delicious Japanese, Peruvian, and Okinawan dishes, and is a big Hello Kitty fan.
Why do you only offer Small Sized Shohin Bonsai online?
This is due to two reasons: popularity/demand and our current shipping capabilities.
At our shows, we noticed there are a lot of younger people who don't have a backyard or outside space. Most of our customers prefer to keep a smaller sized Bonsai in their apartment, home, or office.
Honestly speaking, large Bonsai are both hard and expensive to ship so at the moment, we only offer our larger options in person here in Southern Florida.
Thank you so much for your understanding!