NEWS
Masashi will appear on TV Tokyo!
Update：2014/12/22
Masashi will appear on TV Tokyo for the documentary program called “Crossroad” on January 3rd 2015.
The program introduces one person each time who keeps challenging in their own fields.
And now it is Masashi’s turn so please don’t miss it!
Masashi on TV Tokyo “Crossroad” starts at 22:45 on January 3rd 2015
An introductory Bonsai book supervised by Masashi Hirao was released on December 16th 2014!
Update：2014/12/17
A Bonsai book in Japanese “Create, Cultivate and Enjoy introduction to Bonsai” supervised by Masashi Hirao is now available at stores.
You won’t need any advance knowledge about Bonsai.
With this book of Masashi’s guidance and scrupulous care, you can start fun Bonsai right away.
“Create, Cultivate and Enjoy introduction to Bonsai” Price:1,800 yen (only in Japanese)
Also available at Amazon:
“Create, Cultivate and Enjoy introduction to Bonsai”
Masashi delivers his lines at university
Update：2014/06/24
Masashi will talk about his overseas activities as a Bonsai master and Japan cultural envoy for 2013 at Sagami campus of Joshibi University of Art and Design.
He will have a Bonsai performance as well.
Please come and join him!
Date: July 20th 2014
Time: 13:30~15:30
Place: Joshibi University of Art and Design, sagami campus, 632 class room, 3rd floor of Building 6
Joshibi University of Art and Design URL:http://www.joshibi.ac.jp/access/sagamihara
Masashi will be on air
Update：2014/06/10
Masashi was interviewed by “NEWS ZERO” of Nippon TV.
He talks about Bonsai that is spreading out in the world, the new Bonsai era and his activities outside Japan.
The interview will be on air on June 12th 2014 at about 23:52 Japan time. (airdate will be subject to change).
It is just for 40 seconds so please don’t miss it!
NEWS ZERO:http://www.ntv.co.jp/zero/ (in Japanese)
Masashi introduced in the International house of Japan magazine
Update：2014/06/09
Masashi is introduced in the International house of Japan’s magazine “I-House Quaterly No.2”.
His article is about “Blazing the way. A young master brings Bonsai into a new era”.
It will be published on June 10th 2014 and available for free at International house of Japan or cooperation groups.
It is written in English as well.
The International House of Japan is a private, non-profit organization incorporated, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and other private institution and individuals, in 1952 for the purpose of promoting cultural exchange and intellectual cooperation between the peoples of Japan and those of other countries.
Magazine is published quarterly. (every March, June, September and December)
International house of Japan URL:http://www.i-house.or.jp/eng/programs/
At the EU-Japan Fest committee
Update：2014/05/29
Masashi was introduced by the EU-Japan Fest committee before leaving for Europe.
EU-Japan Fest backs up artists or people who play an active role in the artistic culture.
EU-Japan Fest committee in Japan:http://eu-japanfest.org/
Please click the picture above to go to Masashi’s article.
Masashi will be again on Bonsai journey
Update：2014/05/28
Masashi is going to Europe to participate in events and share his great Bonsai work with people from May to July 2014.
~Italy~
Workshop con Masashi Hirao
Date:May 31st
Place:Ghezzano, Italy
URL:https://www.bonsaipisa.it/
Masashi will have Bonsai workshop. Please join him in making one Bonsai art in if you are nearby.
~Germany~
Prepare Bonsai for the worrier
Date:June 15th
Place: Dudenhofen ,Germany
URL:https://www.bonsai-sturm.de/
Masashi’s another great workshop in Germany.
Check out his flier: https://www.bonsai-sturm.de/images/Veranstaltungen/masashiH/masashiflyer_web.JPG
More information about Masashi’s Bonsai journey coming soon!
A talk with Mr. Shimizu, a Saitama mayor, has been published in the Saitama newspaper.
Update：2014/03/18
Masashi had a talk with Mr. Shimizu, a Saitama mayor about the actual condition of the Japanese Bonsai world and the foresight of its future as the next WBFF will be held in Saitama-shi, Japan in April of 2017.
WBFF(World Bonsai Friendship Federation) is an international non-profit organization that was organized in 1989 in Japan.
It aims for the world peace through Bonsai. WBFF holds every 4 years.
The first WBFF was in Saitama-shi and after 28 years it will come back to Japan.
The competition will have demonstrations of pruning, workshops and party. Venues will be Oomiya sonic city, Oomiya Bonsai village and Oomiya Bonsai museum.
Masashi commented in the newspaper that he would like not only Bonsai lovers/fans from overseas but also many Japanese people to come to the WBFF to discover the fascination of Bonsai.
(Top left photo: (from left) Masashi Hirao, Shimizu mayor.)
(Right bottom photo: Masashi demonstrating Bonsai in Mexico)
Debriefing session for the Japanese cultural envoy 2013
Update：2014/03/12
A forum was held on February 28th for the 6 Envoys who had finished their abroad activities in 2013 and 2014.
Masashi Hirao reported his activities and experiences with his “Bonsai Warrior” movie and some photos.
Performers:
Narumi Osawa – professional GO player
Miho Yamaji – Koto/Shamisen player
Souun Takeda – Kanji Artist
Novmichi Tosa – President of Meiwa denki
Syuhei Hasado – Japanese plaster craftman
Masashi Hirao – Bonsai specialist
Time and date: 14:30~18:00 on February 28th 2014
Place: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Roppongi
About the state of that day please go to Japan cultural envoy facebook
Participated in PechaKucha Night
Update：2014/01/27
Masashi Hirao gave a speech at PechaKucha Night (Vol.110) at @SuperDelux in Roppongi, Tokyo on January 22nd 2014 as one of the presenters.
For more details, please check out the PechaKucha Night webpage. 「PechaKucha Night」
There is no limit of the theme or participants.
Each participant shows 20 slides in the presentation, each slide has 20 seconds to explain.
PechaKucha Night carries out in more than 600 cities in the world now.
PechaKucha Night
http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/tokyo
Masashi Hirao appeared on“Bonsai Empire”
Update：2014/01/17
Masashi Hirao appeared on the online Bonsai website “Bonsai Empire”.
You can check out Masashi’s introduction, pictures of him and his Bonsai work and more there.
https://www.bonsaiempire.com/origin/bonsai-artists/asia/masashi-hira
It has gone on the air on channel 22, State TV in Mexico.
Update：2013/11/14
channel 22, State TV in Mexico
http://www.canal22.org.mx/
Bonsai talk with Saitama Mayor, Mr.Shimizu
Update：2013/10/29
Masashi Hirao puts in words the beauty of Bonsai and talks about Oomiya
Bonsai’s actual condition and challenge with Saitama mayor, Mr. Shimizu.
They also talk about the difference of people’s interest in Bonsai between
Japan and overseas and the approach to the next World Bonsai Competition.
The talk will be on a brochure of Saitama-shi “Sekaino kaze ga fuku machi he” (meaning “to the city where the wind from the world blows”).
It will be in stores at 680+tax yen from Nobember 26th.
Our Bonsai master, Masashi Hirao talking about Bonsai will go on the air at BS Fuji.
Update：2013/10/29
Our Bonsai master, Masashi Hirao talking about Bonsai will go on the air at BS Fuji.
Program: “BONSAI Planet” at BS Fuji
Date: November 2nd (Sat)
Time:15:00~15:55
Now you can see “Bonsai Warrior” Video here introducing Masashi Hirao’s global activities.
Update：2013/08/23
Masashi Hirao goes around the world as a Japanese cultural envoy 2013!
Update：2013/06/01
On May 22nd 2013, Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs held a ceremony to issue a certificate to each Japanese cultural envoy.
Envoys go around the world to spread Japanese art and culture.
And this time, one of our Bonsai masters, Masashi Hirao has been chosen as one of them.
He goes to Philippines, Istanbul-Turkey, Lithuania, Italy, France, Holland, Germany, Australia, Mexico to promote Bonsai to the world from May to October of 2013.
The picture on the upper right shows the ceremony. Masashi Hirao is the 4th one from the left.
Masashi is giving a speech with passion.
His speech was “I did not know that Bonsai was recognized widely as an art in the world until I made my way into foreign countries.
I believe that my activities are to meet and talk with people in the world through Bonsai.
I am unfledged both as a Bonsai master and a cultural worker but I will do my best to give everybody the best result when this project is finished.“
Masashi Receiving the certificate as an envoy.
His activities have just started so there will be more photos and reports on him, Bonsai and Bonsai lovers of the world.
We will keep you posted here on the Advance K&B Farms corporation Homepage.