Starting Year: 2014;
Provenance: Italy;
Container: Yixing Ceramic Container;
Source: Yamadori.

Style: Sharimiki Han-Kengai;
Height: 65cm;
Nebari: 20cm;
Estimated Age: Around 100 Years old.

This Taxus baccata began its journey in 2014, collected as a yamadori in Italy and carrying with it the rugged character and natural history of its native landscape. Estimated to be around 100 years old, the tree displays the powerful presence and durability that define the European yew—an ancient species long revered for its longevity and expressive deadwood features.

Styled in Sharimiki Han-Kengai, the composition highlights the dramatic contrast between life and decay. The trunk’s shari forms the centerpiece of the design, flowing naturally into the cascading movement of the foliage. This interplay gives the tree a sense of age, struggle, and perseverance, evoking the image of a solitary yew clinging to a rocky cliff.

Standing at 65 cm with a 20 cm nebari, the tree is presented in a Yixing ceramic container, chosen for its understated elegance and its ability to harmonize with both the texture of the deadwood and the deep green of the yew’s foliage. The pot anchors the composition while allowing the dramatic Han-Kengai movement to remain the focal point.

Careful refinement over the years has enhanced the tree’s natural lines, revealing a mature and expressive bonsai that carries the spirit of its mountainous origin and the artistry of its ongoing development.