Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

John Naka

Role / Field:

Master bonsai artist who popularized the art form using native American species.

Born:

1914-08-16

Died:

2004-05-19

Century / Era:

1914s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

John Yoshio Naka (Japanese: 仲 義雄, August 16, 1914 – May 19, 2004) was an American horticulturist, teacher, author, and master bonsai cultivator. Naka was born on August 16, 1914 in Fort Lupton, Colorado. He was born a Nisei Japanese-American, but at age 8 moved back to his parents' home country, where he extensively studied the art of bonsai due to his grandfather's influence. He returned to the United States near Boulder, Colorado in 1935, and then in late 1946 settled in Los Angeles, California with his wife Alice and their three sons, Eugene, Robert, and Richard.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Naka worked extensively with trees that were native to Southern California, rather than traditionally favored Japanese species, and helped popularize bonsai in the United States. In Orange County, Naka and four friends founded a bonsai club in November 1950, which is known today as the California Bonsai Society. He became a very important force in American bonsai art in the 1950s–60s. He was a driving force in the spread of bonsai appreciation and the practice of bonsai art in the West and elsewhere. Naka traveled and taught extensively around the world, at conventions and clubs, but refused to hold classes...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1914 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1914
• August 16 (08-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 16
• 2004 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2004
• May 19 (05-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 19

Frequently Asked Questions about John Naka