The word tradition comes from the Latin tradere meaning to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping. A tradition is something passed down with symbolic meaning which has origins in the past. Some traditions give a sense of comfort or familiarity.
But what if you break with tradition? In America that doesn’t seem so bad. But what if you broke with tradition in Japan? Japanese culture is rich with traditions, passing from generation to generation with little or no change.
For example, the shrine buildings at Naiku and Geku along with the Uji Bridge are rebuilt every 20 years for many purposes. One such purpose is the passing of building techniques from one generation to the next, tradition.
At the age of 15, Masahiko Kimura was an apprentice under a bonsai master. Bonsai is a Japanese art form that dates back centuries and has traditional rules. As Kimura’s skills grew, he started breaking with tradition. His work featured deadwood intertwined with living wood and at first, wasn’t accepted but soon was recognized and respected for his vision in the art.
His own bonsai garden, located in Omiya, Japan, is open to the public by appointment only. He also teaches an online Masterclass. He has had numerous apprentices from Japan, Europe, and America that have gone on to become masters themselves.
Innovation sometimes comes from breaking with traditions.
Kimura Masterclass can be found HERE
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