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| Hiroshi Matsuda is also known as Master Yo, and has developed his extensive knowledge of Bonsai over a period
of three decades, and has developed his teaching skills over the last 25 years with over 1000 students. He owns and operates Matsuda Bonsai Nursery in northern California.
Hiroshi Matsuda was born July 7, 1947 to Ritei A. and Shinobu Matsuda. His mother is a teacher of Ikebana of the Sogetsu School, and his father is a teacher of Shodo (Japanese calligraphy). Hiro was introduced to the Art of Bonsai by his uncle during the 1960's, and he later inherited his uncle's bonsai collection, suiseki (viewing stones), books, and related items upon his uncle's passing. In the 1970's, Hiro graduated from Cal Poly, Pomona, with a degree in Landscape Architecture with a strong background in Japanese garden design. He worked through college as a salesman at Nisei Gardens Nursery. Upon graduation, he embarked on an extended stay in Hiroshima, Japan, where he traveled extensively and studied cultural arts of the country. Upon returning to the United States, Hiro started formal bonsai studies with Mr. Kahn Komai. During the 4 years with Mr. Komai, he had the good fortune to study Saikei (bonsai landscape) with Mr. Toshio Kawamoto, and Mr. Tomio Abe, a famous Japanese artist and tea master. Mr. Abe was very instrumental in explaining the relationship of the arts of Japan to Hiro.  In the 1980's, Hiro returned to Placer County from Los Angeles, and became a landscape designer and contractor specializing in gardens with the Japanese touch. Award winning gardens were built by Hiro in the decade he spent as a landscaper. In 1991, the dream of starting a bonsai nursery finally took shape. It has grown in size and scale through out the years, and answering the wishes of the public Hiro started teaching the art of bonsai to an ever increasing clientele.  Hiro's artistic philosophy is based on the form follows function school of thought, and he takes all that he has learned from the Japanese Cultural Arts and presents it in the context of the modern western world. This is universal in all his endeavors. Ultimately, he says, I want to teach what I have learned in my lifetime so it will not take the next person as long. My dear bonsai teacher, Mr. Kahn Komai told us, I will teach you all that I know -- so please promise me that you will do the same for your students. I have done that and will continue to do so.  During the last couple of years, Hiro has been working on a new vision of the art of bonsai, which he calls Bonarte. You can read about it here.  |
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