Benign Neglect features sixty photographs of bonsai that were cultivated by Issei (first generation) and Kibei (born in the U.S., educated in Japan, and later returned to the U.S.) Japanese Americans. These bonsai were started after the Japanese Americans returned from WWII American concentration camps. Some of the plants were likely started from seeds.

Dennis Makishima, a bonsai and aesthetic pruning master, inherited the bonsai after the initial creators of the bonsai passed away. He took care of them for over thirty years, trying to honor the style envisioned by the original practitioners. By the time Dennis received these historic bonsai, many were in poor condition. He dealt with dead branches, forms that were far from ideal, and some that were just barely alive. Dennis resuscitated them and called them “old fashion style” in contrast to the “contemporary style,” which is more common today.

Aside from the living descendants of the Issei and Kibei generations, the 60-70 year old bonsai are likely all that remain alive from that period. In 2022, Dennis retired and donated his entire bonsai collection. The bonsai have likely dispersed all over the state and country, flourishing, just like so many other aspects of Japanese American culture.

Takeshi Moro // Associate Professor & Dept Chair
Santa Clara University // Art & Art History Department
 www.takeshimoro.com

Exhibition at Presidio, San Francisco
September 16th – October 22nd, 2023 

Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
640 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94129

Open on weekends from Noon to 5 pm
General Admission is $10, Veterans and children under 12 are freeVery limited parking; consider arriving via Muni 30

Conversation and Book Signing
w/ Dennis Makishima and Kenny Murakami
September 24, 1:30pm

For tickets (free)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/benign-neglect-tickets-698183203757
pass: takeshi