When you commit to an apprenticeship with a Japanese bonsai master, there are both verbal and unspoken pacts made. The statement "I will keep a 150 pound bonsai hovering level over a very breakable antique pot for a while" never crossed my lips. Thereis no way to fully prepare for the apprentice experience as each sensei has their own teaching style, strengths, and quirks. One common thread about apprenticeship is this: being a bonsai "deshi" is not easy by any means and if your heart isn't in it, then don't bother. Apprenticeship is not your average foreigner's experience when compared to going to college here or teaching English. Days off are infrequent and usually spent traveling to temples, gardens, and other cultural sites; this generally makes me even more tired. My life here is centered around two things: respect for my teacher and the day-to-day operation of Kouka-en. That's it. The conduct of a bonsai deshi should be based around making sure these two things always come before your wantsand needs.
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