Tosho

Tosho is a Japanese term that refers to a type of bonsai made from needle juniper (Juniperus rigida). Needle juniper is a coniferous tree native to Japan, China and Korea, and it has sharp and fine needles. Tosho bonsai are prized for their knobby deadwood, known as ibo-jin or wart-jin in Japanese, and their thin life lines with good movement. Tosho bonsai are often collected from the wild and require careful handling and pruning. The bonsai museum at Shinpukuji Temple in Japan features some great examples of tosho bonsai.