INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION 2026
We at ‘JAPAN DORAKU’ operate under the theme ‘Creating a Bright Future through the Circulation of People and Money’, working to resolve various social issues, including the preservation of traditions and primary industries, as well as environmental challenges.
At a time when global challenges such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity are becoming increasingly severe, there is a pressing need to achieve a balance between the environment and the economy.
Starting with this initiative, we are partnering with Nature Positive Japan Co., Ltd. (NPJ) to go beyond the mere conservation and restoration of the natural environment. We will implement sustainable systems within society that connect the ‘people, resources, technology and capital’ held by local communities and businesses, thereby enriching both nature and the economy.
‘JAPAN DORAKU’ provides a venue where you can experience this ‘cycle’ first-hand.
This year, we are once again holding the second instalment of this project at Nijo-jo Castle, a World Heritage Site in Kyoto. We invite you to come and experience new value that connects nature, the economy and the future of the region, whilst immersing yourself in tradition and culture.
Dates: Saturday, December 19 & Sunday,
December 20, 2026
INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION 2026
INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™
EXHIBITION 2026
― The future of bonsai begins at Nijo-jo Castle in Kyoto. ―
‘Bonsai’—a traditional Japanese art form of which Japan is proud on the world stage.
We aim to carry this culture, nurtured over many long years, into the next era and out into the world.
As a new step towards the future, the ‘International Regenerative Bonsai Exhibition’ is now opening.
Set against the backdrop of Nijo-jo Castle, a World Heritage Site that symbolises Japan’s history and culture.
Here, artists and creators from Japan and abroad, alongside companies, cultural figures and the young people who will lead the next generation, will gather to showcase an unprecedented new form of bonsai culture to the world.
The ‘INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION’ is a festival marking the dawn of a new chapter in cultural history yet to be written.
Definition of RE BONSAI™
RE BONSAI™ is a cultural and artistic expression in which bonsai that have lived for many years in a pot and eventually reached the end of their natural life are not simply discarded as ‘dead plants’. Instead, the time, history, memories and the sentiments of the people associated with the plant are carried forward; new value and life are breathed into it, and it is transformed into a form of contemporary art.
Why JAPANDORAKU is organising the ‘INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION’
What JAPANDORAKU holds dear is
‘inheriting, re-examining in the present, and passing on to the future.’
Bonsai is a Japanese cultural tradition that has been nurtured over decades and even centuries.
It embodies not only the life of the plant, but also the feelings of those who have nurtured it, its history, the passage of time, and the aesthetic sensibilities cherished by the Japanese people.
Even when a plant’s life comes to an end, the time, memories and stories etched within it do not cease to exist.
To inherit that value and transform it into new works through contemporary sensibilities and techniques—
that is what Regenerative Bonsai -RE BONSAI™- is all about.
Through RE BONSAI™, JAPANDORAKU not only preserves tradition but also connects artists, craftspeople, businesses, local communities and the next generation to create new culture and value.
By fostering a cycle of people, aspirations, skills and the economy, we pass on Japanese culture to the next generation and to the world.
The INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION is a project that gives shape to the ‘future of Japanese culture’ envisioned by JAPANDORAKU.
Event Overview
Artist Category
Please bring a work you have prepared in advance to the venue (*), where it will be exhibited and judged over the course of two days.
| Eligibility | Open to individuals and organisations alike (professionals and amateurs welcome; prior bonsai experience not required); no restrictions on nationality; we welcome entries from overseas. |
| Entry limit | Up to one entry per person (or per organisation). |
| Entry fee | 80,000 yen (including tax) |
*If the artist is unable to attend in person, we also accept entries for the exhibition and judging by post.
Please contact us for further details.
Application Guidelines
INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION 2026
Theme: ‘Challenge and Innovation’
It is not a question of ‘whether you can create a bonsai’, but rather ‘whether you can relate to the concept of regeneration’——.
We are delighted to announce the ‘INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION 2026’ at Nijo Castle, where tradition and new aesthetics intersect.
Age, occupation and prior bonsai experience are not a factor. We look forward to seeing your challenges and innovative expressions.
Entry Requirements
- Size: Height 50 cm or more, but less than 100 cm
- All trunks and leaves must be made from natural plants
- Entries must use ‘objects that were originally bonsai’ with roots (*Items that are not bonsai, such as driftwood, are not permitted)
- Entries must be planted in a pot
- Entries must have a sustainable structure capable of withstanding transport to the venue
Prizes and Additional Awards
| Grand Prize (1st Place) | Cash prize of 300,000 yen + the right to hold a limited-time corporate exhibition |
| Top Prizes (1st–3rd place) | Feature in ‘GOETHE’ magazine; The right to sell the work for 300,000 yen (via IRBO) |
*If a sale is not concluded, the work will be returned (a 10% handling fee applies)
General Category
| Eligibility | Aged 10 and over (for safety reasons regarding the tools used) *No restrictions on occupation, bonsai experience or nationalityEntry |
| fee (including materials) | Aged 18 and over: 30,000 yen (including tax) Under 18: 15,000 yen (including tax) *Once your application is complete, we will send you a payment form; please complete the payment procedure. |
| Creation of the piece | On the day of the event, participants must create their piece using only the materials provided by the organisers. |
Competition Details
This is a public competition in which participants create a ‘RE BONSAI™’ on the spot using materials provided at the venue on the day.
It is an open competition in which celebrities and comedians also participate under the same conditions.
Prizes and Additional Awards
| Grand Prix | Prize money of 50,000 yen |
| Other awards | Runner-up, ART Award, JAPANDORAKU Award, Unique Award, Special Award and many more |
| Participation/Selection Benefits | Winners will receive a ‘SEILIN&Co. × INTERNATIONAL RE BONSAI™ EXHIBITION’ collaboration tote bag. Works selected by the judges will be featured on the official Instagram accounts of the JAPANDORAKU and IRBO. |
JAPANDORAKU2026 PROGRAM
COMING SOON