Bonsai: the Endless Ritual | Extraordinary Rituals | BBC Earth Explore

[@SeerWS]

I am not a naturally patient person. I got into Bonsai 11 years ago to teach myself patience. I now have 20+ bonsai and they have indeed taught me patience.

[@PHlophe]

Newly minted Sanseer eh ?

[@donmiller2908]

Ersan Seer - Do your evergreen bonsai trees need to be outside? I want to have one but if I have it outside I know it will be stolen.

[@ConstantChaos1]

I tried the same thing ... turns out my house had a mold problem and it turns out my tree and i were both susceptible so i fell ill and my tree died

[@notinthislife451]

make bong out of it we can smoke some kush 🤸

[@SuperLazyCat]

@@notinthislife451 lol omg

[@leonardmyers1674]

I could listen to her talk all day... her voice is so calming....

[@Penny-wl1ui]

Absolutely

[@baqikenny]

like a voice actor from some anime eh

[@mohammedakmal9358]

Yes the voice has a meditative quality

[@tofucube7703]

I know right! Whenever my friend talks, her voice is somewhat soothing.

[@JesusChristIsLord__]

When you cultivate enough bonzai you start to sound that way maybe who knows?

[@mymorenoblepursuits9173]

I really hope there is someone to look after her grandfather's tree. It's so special.

[@XantherBlaze]

I agree, isn't The God fantastic?

[@SpockLover27]

@@XantherBlaze Huh?

[@sonofben3322]

“In the old days, we always try to mend broken things, but now when things break, we just get new ones.”

[@Rajkumar-vc2pg]

@@XantherBlaze no.. Not god

[@Apolloneek]

I need to figure out how to be a bonzai apprentice.

[@ryanjones7681]

I never knew bonsai trees were normal trees. I thought they were some sort of mini or dwarf species. Amazing...

[@katerinakassiotes8983]

Ryan Jonas same

[@danshellem8295]

The word "bonsai" actually translates to "tray planting." So the name refers to the method rather than any specific species of tree. I really like how even the leaves become miniature. I wish I could go study under her and become a bonsai master. It seems like a very zen career.

[@SuperBruno666]

🤦🏼‍♂️

[@AsdfgAsdfg-zz5cn]

It really is the perfect metaphor for Japanese life

[@GCBonsai]

☺😀

[@DontYouJuana]

When she said "you can't grow plants if you don't have any sense of ritual or spirituality" I felt that.

[@lockeofficial279]

As a gardener?

[@TheBarser]

Well it is not really true though. I have always been growing all kinds of different plants, and have my home filled with them. I dont believe in spirituality, or use any ritual besides watering the plants when I feel like it is time. But yeah it did sound nice

[@ThePitbull032]

@@TheBarser You do have a ritual of planting, watering, caring for the plants in itself and whether you harvest or plant for the pleasure of the act; you are spiritually connecting to the plants in one way or another.

[@TheBarser]

@@ThePitbull032 well yeah you need to look after them. But I dont really know if I would call it spiritual. We humans just likes to take care of things, be it pets, children, plants, whatever. When I heard the word spiritual I just think of superstition. But I guess it doesn't have to be.

[@leszeksliwa9250]

@@TheBarser You say your home has always been filled with plants. You don't grow them for crop, do you? If they are for your pleasure, they play a spiritual role. i.e. they cater for your mind. Spiritual can be also be defined in opposition to material, no need to delve into magic :)

[@AVdE10000]

Thank you for actually subbing the person and not just let a voice over actress talk over it in a silly Japanese accent as some other networks do. Much more respectful this way.

[@jonathanmurphy8147]

also japanese sounds beautiful

[@biggus6633]

AV dE Do you get easily triggered?

[@athiaj1199]

I hate the dubbed voices by voice actors as well. It should always be subbed. ( I also hate how they make the voice actors imitate an Asian accent at times. 🤢)

[@AVdE10000]

@@biggus6633 Of you mean to say do I frequent Tumblr, then no. It's more annoyed than anything else

[@RichardLimRomulo]

I have a bonsai.. dead but I care I put new soil ..and the second week she is alive and after the cutter pillar horm bonsai and then my bunsai is weedless and now she grew up again

[@battenburg6089]

"Old men plant trees who's shade they know they shall never sit in"

[@TechnoTweet]

well said

[@JesusChristIsLord__]

Where's the quote from? Curious to know...

[@battenburg6089]

@@JesusChristIsLord__ it's an ancient Greek proverb. Not sure if anyone said it specifically, I think it was just a message to society as a whole

[@JesusChristIsLord__]

@Puppet I see. That's a very wise saying! Good to know.

[@bri1085]

You'd have to be shrunk to sit under a Bonsai tree's shade

[@luuk341]

That devotion is something I wish we could all have for our passions

[@preetimehra207]

Nice comment

[@totallyfackedmate]

everyone has it, it's just not everyone who wants it.

[@kumabanh1744]

We can. I know this sounds cheesy but as long as you keep believing and work towards a dream it'll one day become reality.

[@adam3d851]

more like an addiction

[@andrec.fennell9255]

wow

[@lolshatter]

at 3:35 she says "Time goes by so fast. You see kids grow before your eyes" instead of "thinking about that is overwhelming"

[@mralabbad7]

I guess it was overwhelming for the translator

[@PK-er6gh]

st00pid weeb

[@fortheloveofthewhippetnijm8125]

Thank you. Those are beautiful words

[@YeviCoulson]

@@mralabbad7 Lmao

[@YeviCoulson]

seeing kids grow in reference to seeing trees stay the same would've juxtaposed nicely as humans aren't very big in the grand scheme of living things I mean even an infant to an adult is barely a commendable difference to nature but a tree which are known to rival human infrastructure in height staying small enough to carry

[@CustodialDaniel]

This brought me to tears. The amount of passion and devotion to every single leaf, root, centimetre of bark- everything. They’re so beautiful, and eternal in their magnificence. I have never appreciated bonsai like I do now, so thank you so very much for this wonderful insight into an artistic world I had so woefully taken for granted all these years.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Burning Sun Art Of Seduction

[@MagisterialVoyager]

"You can't grow plants when you don't have any sense of ritual or spirituality." It's very well said, Chiako Yamamoto-sensei. You'd at least need the ritual to water them, but I suppose it goes beyond that, if you've lived with your plants for a while. This is such a beautiful video. Thank you for making it. I'd love to see more.

[@Hans-hz6un]

what she means is that, through dedication and time, you will see your bonsai evolve slowly, while your life in comparison seems to go by so quickly. I guess it's some kind of meditation, working on these bonsai, with this thought in mind.

[@tempname8263]

What she means is that if you were to acknowledge that you've been only taking care of trees for a whole life, you will go insane.

[@KoolAidPianist]

Not sure if this is a meaningless troll but hope you realize that with the knowledge of death (of ourselves, if not the universe), doing anything at all with your energy should feel just as futile and lead to insanity.

[@moarsaur]

Temp Name Seriously, cultivating cultural artifacts that will survive her by decades or centuries, in a tradition connecting her to her ancestors and future generations, while contributing peacefully to the national identity? What a waste of time! She could be stamping out disposable consumer electronics!

[@tempname8263]

And rocks degrade for millions of years, thus connecting you with "history" of mankind. So what?

[@JonSnowIII]

Can we just take some time to acknowledge how beautifully she's aged.

[@jessfondoe2015]

I agree.

[@eksine]

Can we not, she's still old, it's not like someone's gonna mistake her for an 18 year old

[@Gr95dc]

Totally! That's the first thing I noticed when I saw her.

[@alkahiihakla144]

@@eksine welllll someone's jelly

[@user-rq6qd9ki9c]

@@eksine the stupidity of your second comment is indescribable.

[@dextachris2970]

I legit cried during this whole video this was extremely heartbreaking to see the shape the earth is in and the love for nature this sensei has

[@carlostorres8771]

I legit think you are exaggerating

[@jewelzstrattana]

Knock it off

[@oiy1336]

Her grandfather's bonsai looks like trees that are called "tree of life" in fantasy

[@namphan956]

Wow😁😁😁😁

[@RonnyB0i]

What Studio Ghibli movie is this?

[@itdwellintheforest]

That'd be great concept for a Studio Ghibli film ,a family tending there enchanted miniature forest over the the generations keeping the ancient ways alive ,then the wise old grandmother passes leaving it in the care of her granddaughter, secrets to be discovered heheh :D

[@balazsvezendi6106]

@@itdwellintheforest i would watch the shit out of this movie

[@younlok1081]

@@itdwellintheforest why you don't make it try with easier one a game or a book or something

[@aishwaryadeep8815]

Wait I want a studios Ghibli movie on this

[@_.soymilk]

@@itdwellintheforest omg studio ghibli art + bonsai + some mystery or magic 😩 Im so sad it doesn’t exist damn

[@auliarahman7820]

Google keep recommend me this video. And guess what? Iam satisfied.

[@masonmason6260]

Google doesn't recommend videos. KZbin does

[@papajeff5486]

Honored to know of such a person. I have three daughters, I look for heroes for my daughters all their lives. Here is one, Bonsai Master Chiako Yamamoto. Thank you so much. Texas

[@hello_everybody5249]

After watching the video i had a tear fell from my eyes because she mention a thing about his grandfathers. Its great to see People who cherish their parents, grandparents, ancestors heirloom. Pasensya na kung may mali man sa sinabi ko. Im just an emotional guy thats all

[@gammadelray1225]

I’d give anything to just spend a month with this woman. Listening to her stories, her wisdom, her lessons... and maybe, just maybe.. a part of her wisdom would rub off on me. And It would make me into a completely different person, with a greater understanding and appreciation for the world.

[@cj222100]

I wonder who the first person was to do this, what made them one day think hey, let's take an ordinary tree, dwarf it, & shape it over time.

[@PeacefulTigerCreek]

probably someone similar to the first person that said hey, let's take an ordinary wolf, dwarf it, and shape it over time into grotesque little creatures with smashed faces and stubby legs hahahaha

[@lone2234]

@@PeacefulTigerCreek zoology and herbalogy is a different branch of biology mdude. Do not compare animals with plants. Must I remind you that a full grown plant can grow from any meristem system while you cant cut an animal leg and grow another animal?

[@PeacefulTigerCreek]

@@lone2234 bro im just saying humans like mini versions of things

[@lone2234]

@@PeacefulTigerCreek oof lots of sorry dude... I took it the wring way No hard feelings?

[@Elon_Trump]

@EurekaEureka an art form this old would have to emerge from someone who did not need to worry about the daily chores required to make life sustainable.

[@benparkinson8314]

Full length doc about only lady bonsai master in Japan?! Hint hint BBC dont let time pass this opportunity by... Hint hint BBC

[@MRSketch09]

That one Bonsai tree was epic. The on that survived 3 emperors... holy crap.

[@zack4423]

It made me emotional when she said it reminded her of her pass, her grandfather. All this time, all the effort and dedication put into the bonsai blows my mind. Memories are with it too.

[@DR.ELEKTRIK]

Amazing! That Bonsai planted over a century ago is priceless needless to say! I can see why she's so devoted to it and I admire that a lot!

[@jrrtokin9497]

This woman needs an entire documentary on her and her art.

[@eduardovlog]

She devoted her life growing, maintaining and loving the different bosai, its amazing some of the Bonsai they can survived like 100 years pass thru one generations to another. Thanks for sharing.

[@zeezas1241]

"Everlasting devotion without the prospect of completion..." a beautiful way to live

[@Sicaoisdead]

This is absolutely breathtaking. I never knew Bonsai's were like this.

[@waqarghulam3548]

I think this art or hobby for some is the best tool in fighting depression and anxiety and teaches patience and decision making. I have too much admiration and respect for this lady

[@onorasa9691]

your words make me overwhelming too. she has strong spirituality inside. by watching this video make me calm down and patient again to my plant. thank u

[@nsta6408]

It’s just mind blowing when we know some dedicate their entire lives and generations in their passion. Loved this video and God bless her

[@ngong696]

Amazing video. Watching someone talking about their passion is contagious. I hope she can pass on her knowledge to others

[@williamw3485]

350 dislikes? Wow! Neither of these people could begin the process of creating a beautiful bonsai. This woman is amazing.

[@sarvjeetthakur3846]

She is keeping the memories of her elders with that tree!

[@kojimayuhay]

Had to hold a tear drop inside when she started talking about her relationship with that century old bonsai.

[@mosshark]

My utmost admiration and respect for this woman's discipline, patience and dedication to her craft.

[@phantumTom]

Wow, this was a great video to watch. Aunty maintains very beautiful trees. That bonzai that her grandfather originally started is absolutely gorgeous

[@aklimaislam3337]

This video touched my heart.

[@BonsaiTalk]

Thats what Bonsai will do to you, for a lifetime :)

[@aklimaislam3337]

@@BonsaiTalk Yes, it gives an eternal peace whenever I see a Bonsai.

[@hankdapper8239]

Did you swollow your phone ?

[@aklimaislam3337]

@@hankdapper8239 Nope! I just wanted you to know that I swallowed it!😂😂💣 And now you know!

[@shiku_Styles]

Yessss

[@lewisgowthorpe8520]

Amazing! I've just planted my first bonsai seeds that my children bought me for fathers day. Hopefully they will grow for years to come.

[@muhammadshajeedabuat3212]

Taking care and maintaining a garden is a great work only an industrious one can qualify. I really appreciate this lady for doing a great job. Probably, she committed most of her time in looking after her father's bonsai than herself and her family.

[@satacombre]

I litteraly cry in front of my phone, watching this video. I don’t know why, but this bonsais and this women seem to have exactly the perfect balance. As a french, i can’t imagine do this familial job but i hope she has a son or a daughter who will keep the life of these beautiful piece of art. This little trees remind me that the nature is the only one who saw the world from the beginning and she’ll always be better than the human being. But sometimes, she seems to decide that some humans may be good enough to share them her beauty and her power, even if she is reduce to a little part of herself. I also hope that when this beauty will finally grow, it will be because the humanity will gone. PS : Sorry fo the grammar mistakes. Like i said, I’m french and i’m learning so I often do some errors. I also hope you understood my thoughts. Thank you.

[@gangplankkk]

That was beautiful

[@havenhutchison4671]

yes all of that is so true, and also, your spelling is very good :D

[@vikramchavan1513]

Fortunately I m glad that I watched this beautiful video This is love of human towards nature with undefeated patience....

[@Rohandutt]

THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY CALL “FAMILY TREE”

[@notadoctorshh6544]

well done

[@willb9762]

I’m so glad that they put subtitles instead of doing an English voiceover; I could listen to her speaking all day.

[@TheArne24]

Mein allerhöchsten Respekt und absolute Anmerkung für die Frau. Unbeschreiblich....

[@samuelito3828]

" Thank you from the bottom of my roots for taking care of me all these long years " , said a Bonsai tree🌲 to the old lady👵 . Hats off 👒Master from Algeria 🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿

[@weaouw]

This is incredible. She is incredible. As an incredibly impatient person, this seems impossible to me, but to see her do it, and make it seem so easy, is *incredible..* I'm still so young, I don't think I could start doing something like growing one of my own now (successfully at least), but I do hope some day I'll be able to, cause it would be amazing to pass the tree forward, after I can't care for it anymore. The thought of it living for centuries in the hands of so many different people is amazing to think about... Bonsai growing is *i n c r e d i b l e.*

[@Smoke-by-the-Shadow]

I always appreciated Bonsai Trees as a living art, but now I see a much more beautiful meaning to it. A Bonsai Tree can connect you to the past and future.

[@hitxrth]

Her polite voice makes the video 100x relaxing.

[@Keliiyamashita]

This hobby seriously looks intimidating! Art and nature at its finest!

[@alexmart3931]

I wish this video was longer with her explaining more stuff. Great video.

[@Slade951]

Need an anime about the grandchild who moved back to home town after receiving a green house from a dead grandparent. Basically animal crossing....

[@filipmac5577]

stop

[@alfredschlicht2662]

Harvest Moon

[@tomo4977]

@@alfredschlicht2662 and similarly Stardew Valley hah

[@natchanishibashi7258]

But not all Japanese are attracted to giants.... I’m sorry but what happened before the start of the video?? That sentence has made me very curious about what was going on. 🤔😅😂

[@msdeora22]

Godzilla reference probably

[@maxi9445]

I think that that is the bait to make you watch more BBC. And that is not a bad thing

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

Same. I need to know lol

[@2friendstoking]

"not all Japanese are attracted to giant tentacles..."

[@masonheipel]

Must have been about giant trees

[@koreanature]

My best friend, There's never a boring moment when watching your channel. Love how engaging everything is.

[@dre9484]

Wow that century old Bonsai left me speechless! I hope it’s cared for as long as possible!

[@braselton94]

She has an amazing and calming voice.

[@nurazianieabdullah7951]

She's lovely.. 😊And her bonsai is very beautiful.

[@sl9wdive]

I feel very calm watching this video

[@dalecannon6769]

such a humbling video,life as it should be!! a much slower pace,peace of mind

[@mahiwhakaara172]

Wow what a wonderful experience of this Kuia (elder woman in Maori) expertise, ngamihi (thank you to Chiako...)

[@hamzaokutan7434]

Just love this video every time I watch it it's like the very first time. I my self am a bonsai enthusiast and I have two bonsai trees. This video just helps me remember why I'm doing this and reignites my bonsai spirit 😁

[@nhahoanle]

It's an amazing documentary. I feel so relaxed when creating bonsai. It's a ritual.

[@panthera9151]

This lady spent so much time and effort to master her craft and continue her cultural heritage, meanwhile I got a bonsai from Lidl and I'm just glad it haven't died yet.

[@khushboopidiyar618]

It's simply beautiful and soul satisfying to watch her work. Thank you KZbin for this video.

[@AJY6396]

Japan’s aesthetic and passion for nature, culture and innovation is one of the most amazing things we can witness in our planet. Their serenity and harmony with nature is a timeless classic that proves the evolution of human nature is not all destructive and can be in-sync to achieve a better greener future

[@janiglez9165]

Siempre Me han Gustado Toda variedad de árboles!!! Sobré Todo los Bonsái!!! Son Hermosos y requieren de un gran cuidado!!! La señora ama los bonsái Es increíble los años de cuidado!!! Saludos Desdé México!!!

[@LoverofAllThingsGood]

This is extraordinary ...Garden goals! 😍👌🏾

[@TS-tv2ik]

She is so beautiful!! Got my first bonsai today. Thank you!🧡

[@warrenstemphly5756]

And?

[@sumitbali9194]

Her dedication is mind blowing

[@nzhealthyliving5535]

She sounds so in tune with nature and the world around us, We need more people like her willing to pass on knowledge

[@simone222]

We had a neighbour who fancied bonsai. Mum asked him in a teasing way if she could have one, but he politely declined. A couple of years later, he passed away and his bonsais were just left to wither by his family. It's such a sad sight seeing those dried up bonsais every evening my dog and I pass by their house for an evening walk.

[@coolnaeemdOoO]

Wow they are so beautiful

[@MuhammadEgypt]

But not all Japanese are attracted to giants. I wonder what the narrator was referring to by that saying.

[@flames1133]

Godzilla

[@David-yi2be]

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@dezzythegpig7915]

Mohamed Farouk I guess Godzilla. 😂

[@zoeyl4d939]

Kaiju, titan, ultraman, gundam.. And so on

[@monstersuniversity226]

BBC it is. Because their men's have a very little one

[@amateurambience]

the year count up is really powerful! love it

[@nicolette3436]

This work looks so satisfying

[@Koellenburg]

wow... .this 100 year old bonsai is really impressive :o

[@11alliLo]

My dad bought his sister a 25yr old bonsai tree that cost him a lot of $$... she killed it in a month 😥

[@KosmicAura]

11alliLo ;(

[@Reub3]

lol lesson learned. Never buy people expensive gifts.

[@Mr.Gundam7]

They are expensive. I bought one for $100 9 years ago and is growing beautiful. I have my family when i die i want them to continue this ritual nature. Im 28 by the way.

[@potatosalad3097]

11alliLo Unfortunate. Maybe it would’ve been better if she was interested in gardening or just taking care of something in general.

[@victoremisho9432]

@@Mr.Gundam7 Can't wait to get my first bonsai tree... I've loved them since I was a child... I'm 22 btw

[@Coltranized]

OMG, she's as beautiful as her work.

[@Laren1]

I’m speechless!! Absolutely Beautiful

[@cutiepie-nf6kb]

Her devotion n dedication to the bonsai is awe inspiring....

[@029Mhelz]

Cutting old roots, in order to make way for new roots hence preserving its youth and vitality. The philosophy of bonsai trees lol

[@Reub3]

"Vigor". Not "youth" and "vitality". Those two things are completely different from vigor.

[@Helveteshit]

@@Reub3 Technically, trees can regain their youth tho? You can take a cutting of a tree and grow it... then re-attach it to itself. And you've suddenly extended the lifespan of that particular tree. So, tree got the ingredient for immortality. I mean, there is a tree in US that has survived for over 10.000 years. To the point it looks like a forest.

[@rich_da_prophet6424]

Extraordinary! 🌲🌳🌴🌱

[@linleybaruch738]

When you've watched so much anime that you don't even realize you are reading the subtitles...

[@ayshee.2b386]

My most fav wisdomful comment

[@taebear1137]

she could do asmr, her voice and the sounds of plants are amazing

[@bromeliadcollectiongallery2264]

Gardening is an unending hobby and passion, such a great addiction and stress reliever indeed!

[@alanflors]

This technique requires a level of spirituality I would like to achieve some day.

[@devandevan1403]

1:57 if that were my cat she would eat the whole bonsai tree and ruin 25 years of work in 5 minutes 😂

[@xjuice1554]

If that was*

[@wideworld114]

No, he/she is right. "If that were my cat." You shouldn't use "was" because of using "if". It's called subjunctive. I suggest you to look it up.

[@christophera3330]

@@xjuice1554 Idiot

[@kylejohnson8462]

0:37 that door looked huge until it was opened

[@ThomasAntoniusOlsenJr.333]

Amazing and anyone who would dislike such an amazing craft is a shallow and soulless individual with no eye nor taste for greatness!

[@To-mos]

A timeless art that outlives the artist.

[@paulbin]

Beautiful

[@ScrewLuckyCharms]

Namjoon’s apparently taking bonsai lessons and this video suddenly shows up in my feed 🤔 _must be a sign to get a bonsai tree I guess_ 🥴 lol

[@babyzorilla]

I want more time at this magical place. Ctrl alt Extend video. Hmm didn't work.

[@yasminroberts9841]

Me too....

[@quasimobius]

My best childhood memories involve trees.

[@andrasbraten2475]

Her voice is so soothing

[@the_1999_kid]

The dedication she puts in the work is amazing.

[@robertsiddique2948]

I wish I could be able to have the same dedication for my plants without being impatient to see my bonsai result

[@Monolop]

Aaaa now im inspired to buy one and keep one

[@whatever63644]

I'm waiting for you, Justin Y.

[@kaarukun1651]

lol

[@Mark467]

Lol

[@msergio0293]

Hahaha

[@internetaddiction2933]

Johnathan Le who is justin Y

[@AJJJJJJJJJJJJ]

a youtube commentor that comments on every video

[@andrew28anne]

Such a beautiful video

[@hollanderson]

Always loved bonsai trees and have known they were made with tremendous effort and dedication. But jesus the 1 year to 25 year transition really gave me perspective. Respect.