Club Sensei
Our Kai is fortunate to have four Sensei (teachers) with whom we work:
Johnny Uchida
Yoneo Uchida, known as Johnny to his friends and colleagues, was born in Kagoshima, Japan and graduated from Ichiki Nogei Koko (Ichiki Agricultural High School). He came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor Contract and worked at various fruit farms in California. After he completed his labor contract in 1959, he was hired by the Domoto Nursery in Hayward as a nursery laborer. It was there that he became interested in bonsai.
Johnny joined the Fuji Bonsai Club in 1962 and began studying the art of bonsai. In 1969 Johnny helped found the Yamato Bonsai Club in San Lorenzo, California. His friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa were the first Senseis of the club.
In 1971 Johnny started his own nursery in Hayward specializing in bonsai. Grove Way Nursery continues today, 36 years later, as one of the very few bonsai nurseries still in operation in the Bay Area. His clients count on his expertise and artistic abilities.
With diligence he continued to study techniques of cutting, pruning, wiring, shaping, and potting and, in 1976, Johnny became Yamato Bonsai Club’s instructor, or Sensei. For the last 31 years he has served the club in this position. In honor of his service, the Yamato Bonsai Club has placed a pedestal in his name at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Collection North in Oakland.
In addition to serving the Yamato Bonsai Club, Johnny has served as the Sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyu Kai in Sacramento. Many clubs ask Johnny to be the featured demonstrator for their club shows. Johnny has traveled to Alaska, Washington, Texas, Michigan, and throughout California to demonstrate the art of Bonsai as a featured demonstrator. Johnny helped Masahiko Kimura in Detroit, Michigan with translation and demonstration, and convinced Mr. Kimura to be the featured artist at the Yamato Bonsai Club’s 33rd Annual Bonsai Show in 2004. In 2005 Johnny was able to arrange for Shinji Suzuki to be the featured artist at the Yamato annual show.
For the past 30 years Johnny has conducted evening classes at Adult Schools in Castro Valley, Newark, and San Lorenzo. Johnny earned his teaching credential for the State of California in 1976 and his Life Credential is one of the few vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the State.
Johnny was honored by the Great Japanese Agricultural Society in 2001 “for his distinguished contribution to the development of agriculture and the friendship between Japan and America.” The Governor of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Prince Nobuhito Katsura, and the President of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Eiji Yamagiwa, presented Johnny with the RYOKUHAKUJU-YUKOSHO (or the Medal of Green with a White Line) on November 22, 2001.
Johnny was presented with the Circle of Sensei Award at the GSBF Convention in 2003. This award honors those who have influenced the Bonsai world by being teachers of bonsai art and by their dedications and commitments to bonsai in California.
A visit to Grove Way Bonsai Nursery at 1239 Grove Way, Hayward, is a must for any Bonsai enthusiast who comes to Northern California. The gardens reflect the skills of a true bonsai artist. As a member of the Circle of Sensei, Johnny is recognized as one of the great teachers of bonsai. He continues to share his knowledge, promote the awareness of the art of Bonsai, and serve as a gracious mentor to his many students. His enthusiasm and integrity make him the perfect teacher.
Tony Hayworth
Tony’s first introduction to the art of bonsai was during the late 1970’s while stationed in Japan with the U.S. Air Force.
After returning to California, Tony joined the Yamato Bonsai Club in 1982. Tony eventually took Sensei Uchida’s bonsai class (twice!) offered through the local adult school and became quite active with his bonsai pursuits.
Throughout the remainder of the 1980’s Tony was influenced in bonsai by Sensei Uchida, Frank Fujitani, George Fujita, Frank Reyes, and the bonsai culture in general of the SF Bay Area.
In 1989 he attended the World Bonsai convention in Omiya with Sensei Uchida and George Fujita.
In early 1990, Tony took up a work assignment back to Japan, choosing to live in Omiya near Bonsai Village. This was a valuable period in Tony’s bonsai development that lasted 6 years. He became a local in Omiya’s Bonsai Village during his non-work time, bouncing from nursery to nursery and event to event. By chance, Tony’s daughter and Saburo Kato’s granddaughter were classmates and Tony spent many hours visiting and studying the fine detail of bonsai at Mansei-en, the home and workshop of Saburo Kato, former Chairman of Nippon Bonsai Association.
In 1992 Tony met Masahiko Kimura in downtown Omiya. Kimura-san was so taken that Tony recognized him on the open street… he observed that “even Japanese people don’t know who I am”… he immediately invited Tony to his bonsai nursery and signed copies of his book for him. Needless to say this is one of Tony’s prized possessions (and stories). Tony attended the 1993 Kofuku-ten as a personal guest of Kimura-san. Another grand highlight!
In 1996 Tony returned to the SF Bay Area with his company and resumed his Bonsai relation with Yamato Bonsai.
In 1998 and in 2000 Tony returned to Japan on short work assignments. He always made time to visit Omiya and Bonsai Village and was warmly greeted and remembered by the Kato Family.
In 2002, Tony again took a two-year assignment in Japan with his employer. Visiting Omiya was a constant for him, especially to guide the many visitors from the States who came to Japan for Kofuku-ten and at other times of the year. Tony contributed notes from Japan that were included in Yamato Bonsai club’s monthly newsletter
Tony returned to the Bay Area, (his home is in Union City) in 2004 where he has been rebuilding his bonsai collection, working on client trees, and furthering his bonsai skill.
Since 2004 Tony has assisted in the demonstrations of Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki, and California’s own Harry Hirao. He has assisted Yamato Sensei Johnny Uchida many times at demonstrations and club events.
Tony has performed his own demonstrations at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, East Bay Bonsai Society, Collection North in Oakland, and the Buddhist Church annual summer Bazaar in Union City.
Tony is currently President of the Yamato Bonsai Kai. He enjoys teaching others about bonsai and writes a monthly column for the Yamato Bonsai Kai newsletter.
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Michael Baker
Mike started his Bonsai journey in August of 2000. He and his wife visited a local nursery in his home town of Pleasanton, where he spotted a cascading blue cedar tree that he found some strange fascination for.
It had a $60.00 price tag…… that scared him away….
5 days later he received the tree as a birthday gift from his wife along with a prepaid set of classes with a certain Japanese gentleman that owned a Bonsai nursery in Hayward (Sensei Uchida).
$60.00 does not bother him anymore!!
He took the Bonsai classes offered by Johnny Uchida at San Lorenzo Adult School 15 times over the next 5 years and still considers Johnny as his Sensei. “I will always defer to Johnny” is a common statement Mike uses in the class he now teaches at Castro Valley Adult School. At Johnny’s urging Mike has been teaching an entry level and now an artist level class since achieving his California teaching credential in 2005.
Mike has traveled in Japan under the watchful eye of Tony Hayworth, assisted several well known Bonsai masters including Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki and Boon Manakativipart and continues to actively pursue information from bonsai artists locally and from around the world.
Mike is an active member of Yamato Bonsai Kai and has been since 2000.
His real passion in the art is the tree itself. Mike works hard to stay focused on the trees and helping others to learn and enjoy the true art of bonsai.
He credits much of his success to his Sensei Uchida without whom the entire journey would not have thrived; to Tony Hayworth his continued bonsai brother and inspirational leader, his students that drive his hunger for knowledge keep him focused on moving forward and his wife to whom he dedicates the serenity of his backyard.
Michael Butler
Mike became interested in bonsai several years ago after retiring from the Alameda Count Sheriff's Department. In 2006 I took my first class at San Lorenzo Adult School under Mike Baker. I began assisting Mike in 2010 after taking his class about 12 times. In the spring of 2011 I began teaching the Bonsai 'Basic' Class now held at the Castro Valley Adult School.
In 2007, I joined Yamato Bonsai Kai and became the Show Chairman for our annual show in 2010. I have been asked to Chair the show again this year because I either did a good job or no one else wanted the position.
For the past 2 years I have been asked by our Sensei Johnny Uchida, to conduct Bonsai demonstrations at the Southern Alameda County Budhist Church's Annual Bazaar. This has been a highlight in my studys of the art of Bonsai. It has given me a feeling of accomplishment being asked by Sensei Uchida to do these demonstrations.
Johnny Uchida
Yoneo Uchida, known as Johnny to his friends and colleagues, was born in Kagoshima, Japan and graduated from Ichiki Nogei Koko (Ichiki Agricultural High School). He came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor Contract and worked at various fruit farms in California. After he completed his labor contract in 1959, he was hired by the Domoto Nursery in Hayward as a nursery laborer. It was there that he became interested in bonsai.
Johnny joined the Fuji Bonsai Club in 1962 and began studying the art of bonsai. In 1969 Johnny helped found the Yamato Bonsai Club in San Lorenzo, California. His friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa were the first Senseis of the club.
In 1971 Johnny started his own nursery in Hayward specializing in bonsai. Grove Way Nursery continues today, 36 years later, as one of the very few bonsai nurseries still in operation in the Bay Area. His clients count on his expertise and artistic abilities.
With diligence he continued to study techniques of cutting, pruning, wiring, shaping, and potting and, in 1976, Johnny became Yamato Bonsai Club’s instructor, or Sensei. For the last 31 years he has served the club in this position. In honor of his service, the Yamato Bonsai Club has placed a pedestal in his name at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Collection North in Oakland.
In addition to serving the Yamato Bonsai Club, Johnny has served as the Sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyu Kai in Sacramento. Many clubs ask Johnny to be the featured demonstrator for their club shows. Johnny has traveled to Alaska, Washington, Texas, Michigan, and throughout California to demonstrate the art of Bonsai as a featured demonstrator. Johnny helped Masahiko Kimura in Detroit, Michigan with translation and demonstration, and convinced Mr. Kimura to be the featured artist at the Yamato Bonsai Club’s 33rd Annual Bonsai Show in 2004. In 2005 Johnny was able to arrange for Shinji Suzuki to be the featured artist at the Yamato annual show.
For the past 30 years Johnny has conducted evening classes at Adult Schools in Castro Valley, Newark, and San Lorenzo. Johnny earned his teaching credential for the State of California in 1976 and his Life Credential is one of the few vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the State.
Johnny was honored by the Great Japanese Agricultural Society in 2001 “for his distinguished contribution to the development of agriculture and the friendship between Japan and America.” The Governor of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Prince Nobuhito Katsura, and the President of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Eiji Yamagiwa, presented Johnny with the RYOKUHAKUJU-YUKOSHO (or the Medal of Green with a White Line) on November 22, 2001.
Johnny was presented with the Circle of Sensei Award at the GSBF Convention in 2003. This award honors those who have influenced the Bonsai world by being teachers of bonsai art and by their dedications and commitments to bonsai in California.
A visit to Grove Way Bonsai Nursery at 1239 Grove Way, Hayward, is a must for any Bonsai enthusiast who comes to Northern California. The gardens reflect the skills of a true bonsai artist. As a member of the Circle of Sensei, Johnny is recognized as one of the great teachers of bonsai. He continues to share his knowledge, promote the awareness of the art of Bonsai, and serve as a gracious mentor to his many students. His enthusiasm and integrity make him the perfect teacher.
Tony Hayworth
Tony’s first introduction to the art of bonsai was during the late 1970’s while stationed in Japan with the U.S. Air Force.
After returning to California, Tony joined the Yamato Bonsai Club in 1982. Tony eventually took Sensei Uchida’s bonsai class (twice!) offered through the local adult school and became quite active with his bonsai pursuits.
Throughout the remainder of the 1980’s Tony was influenced in bonsai by Sensei Uchida, Frank Fujitani, George Fujita, Frank Reyes, and the bonsai culture in general of the SF Bay Area.
In 1989 he attended the World Bonsai convention in Omiya with Sensei Uchida and George Fujita.
In early 1990, Tony took up a work assignment back to Japan, choosing to live in Omiya near Bonsai Village. This was a valuable period in Tony’s bonsai development that lasted 6 years. He became a local in Omiya’s Bonsai Village during his non-work time, bouncing from nursery to nursery and event to event. By chance, Tony’s daughter and Saburo Kato’s granddaughter were classmates and Tony spent many hours visiting and studying the fine detail of bonsai at Mansei-en, the home and workshop of Saburo Kato, former Chairman of Nippon Bonsai Association.
In 1992 Tony met Masahiko Kimura in downtown Omiya. Kimura-san was so taken that Tony recognized him on the open street… he observed that “even Japanese people don’t know who I am”… he immediately invited Tony to his bonsai nursery and signed copies of his book for him. Needless to say this is one of Tony’s prized possessions (and stories). Tony attended the 1993 Kofuku-ten as a personal guest of Kimura-san. Another grand highlight!
In 1996 Tony returned to the SF Bay Area with his company and resumed his Bonsai relation with Yamato Bonsai.
In 1998 and in 2000 Tony returned to Japan on short work assignments. He always made time to visit Omiya and Bonsai Village and was warmly greeted and remembered by the Kato Family.
In 2002, Tony again took a two-year assignment in Japan with his employer. Visiting Omiya was a constant for him, especially to guide the many visitors from the States who came to Japan for Kofuku-ten and at other times of the year. Tony contributed notes from Japan that were included in Yamato Bonsai club’s monthly newsletter
Tony returned to the Bay Area, (his home is in Union City) in 2004 where he has been rebuilding his bonsai collection, working on client trees, and furthering his bonsai skill.
Since 2004 Tony has assisted in the demonstrations of Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki, and California’s own Harry Hirao. He has assisted Yamato Sensei Johnny Uchida many times at demonstrations and club events.
Tony has performed his own demonstrations at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco, East Bay Bonsai Society, Collection North in Oakland, and the Buddhist Church annual summer Bazaar in Union City.
Tony is currently President of the Yamato Bonsai Kai. He enjoys teaching others about bonsai and writes a monthly column for the Yamato Bonsai Kai newsletter.
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Michael Baker
Mike started his Bonsai journey in August of 2000. He and his wife visited a local nursery in his home town of Pleasanton, where he spotted a cascading blue cedar tree that he found some strange fascination for.
It had a $60.00 price tag…… that scared him away….
5 days later he received the tree as a birthday gift from his wife along with a prepaid set of classes with a certain Japanese gentleman that owned a Bonsai nursery in Hayward (Sensei Uchida).
$60.00 does not bother him anymore!!
He took the Bonsai classes offered by Johnny Uchida at San Lorenzo Adult School 15 times over the next 5 years and still considers Johnny as his Sensei. “I will always defer to Johnny” is a common statement Mike uses in the class he now teaches at Castro Valley Adult School. At Johnny’s urging Mike has been teaching an entry level and now an artist level class since achieving his California teaching credential in 2005.
Mike has traveled in Japan under the watchful eye of Tony Hayworth, assisted several well known Bonsai masters including Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki and Boon Manakativipart and continues to actively pursue information from bonsai artists locally and from around the world.
Mike is an active member of Yamato Bonsai Kai and has been since 2000.
His real passion in the art is the tree itself. Mike works hard to stay focused on the trees and helping others to learn and enjoy the true art of bonsai.
He credits much of his success to his Sensei Uchida without whom the entire journey would not have thrived; to Tony Hayworth his continued bonsai brother and inspirational leader, his students that drive his hunger for knowledge keep him focused on moving forward and his wife to whom he dedicates the serenity of his backyard.
Michael Butler
Mike became interested in bonsai several years ago after retiring from the Alameda Count Sheriff's Department. In 2006 I took my first class at San Lorenzo Adult School under Mike Baker. I began assisting Mike in 2010 after taking his class about 12 times. In the spring of 2011 I began teaching the Bonsai 'Basic' Class now held at the Castro Valley Adult School.
In 2007, I joined Yamato Bonsai Kai and became the Show Chairman for our annual show in 2010. I have been asked to Chair the show again this year because I either did a good job or no one else wanted the position.
For the past 2 years I have been asked by our Sensei Johnny Uchida, to conduct Bonsai demonstrations at the Southern Alameda County Budhist Church's Annual Bazaar. This has been a highlight in my studys of the art of Bonsai. It has given me a feeling of accomplishment being asked by Sensei Uchida to do these demonstrations.
