Club Sensei
Our Kai is fortunate to have one Sensei and three additional knowledgeable teachers with whom we work:
Johnny Uchida-Kai Sensei
Yoneo Uchida, known as Johnny to his friends and colleagues, was born in Kagoshima, Japan and graduated from Ichiki Nogei Koko (Ichiki Agricultural High School). He came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor Contract and worked at various fruit farms in California. After he completed his labor contract in 1959, he was hired by the Domoto Nursery in Hayward as a nursery laborer. It was there that he became interested in bonsai.
Johnny joined the Fuji Bonsai Club in 1962 and began studying the art of bonsai. In 1969 Johnny helped found the Yamato Bonsai Kai in San Lorenzo, California. His friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa were the first Sensei's of the club.
In 1971 Johnny started his own nursery in Hayward specializing in bonsai. Grove Way Bonsai Nursery continues today, 47 years later, as one of the very few bonsai nurseries still in operation in the Bay Area. His clients count on his expertise and artistic abilities.
With diligence he continued to study techniques of cutting, pruning, wiring, shaping, and potting. In 1976, Johnny became Yamato Bonsai Kai’s instructor, or Sensei. For the last 42 years he has served the club in this position. In honor of his service, the Yamato Bonsai Kai has placed a pedestal in his name at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Collection North in Oakland.
In addition to serving the Yamato Bonsai Kai, Johnny has served as the Sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyu Kai in Sacramento. Many clubs ask Johnny to be the featured demonstrator for their club shows. Johnny has traveled to Alaska, Washington, Texas, Michigan, and throughout California to demonstrate the art of Bonsai as a featured demonstrator. Johnny helped Masahiko Kimura in Detroit, Michigan, with translation and demonstration, and convinced Mr. Kimura to be the featured artist at the Yamato Bonsai Kai’s 33rd Annual Bonsai Exhibition in 2004. In 2005 Johnny was able to arrange for Shinji Suzuki to be the featured artist at the Yamato annual exhibition.
For 30+ years Johnny had conducted evening classes at Adult Schools in Castro Valley, Newark, and San Lorenzo. Johnny earned his teaching credential for the State of California in 1976 and his Life Credential is one of the few vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the State.
Johnny was honored by the Great Japanese Agricultural Society in 2001 “for his distinguished contribution to the development of agriculture and the friendship between Japan and America.” The Governor of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Prince Nobuhito Katsura, and the President of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Eiji Yamagiwa, presented Johnny with the RYOKUHAKUJU-YUKOSHO (or the Medal of Green with a White Line) on November 22, 2001.
Johnny was presented with the Circle of Sensei Award at the GSBF Convention in 2003. This award honors those who have influenced the Bonsai world by being teachers of bonsai art and by their dedications and commitments to bonsai in California.
A visit to Grove Way Bonsai Nursery at 1239 Grove Way, Hayward, is a must for any Bonsai enthusiast who comes to Northern California. The gardens reflect the skills of a true bonsai artist. As a member of the Circle of Sensei, Johnny is recognized as one of the great teachers of bonsai. He continues to share his knowledge, promote the awareness of the art of Bonsai, and serve as a gracious mentor to his many students. His enthusiasm and integrity make him the perfect teacher.
Michael Baker- Assistant
Mike started his Bonsai journey in August of 2000. He and his wife visited a local nursery in his home town of Pleasanton, where he spotted a cascading blue cedar tree that he found some strange fascination for. It had a $60.00 price tag…… that scared him away…..5 days later he received the tree as a birthday gift from his wife along with a prepaid set of classes with a certain Japanese gentleman that owned a Bonsai nursery in Hayward (Sensei Uchida). A $60.00 price does not bother him any longer!!
He took the Bonsai classes offered by Johnny Uchida at San Lorenzo Adult School 15 times over the next 5 years and still considers Johnny as his Sensei. “I will always defer to Johnny” is a common statement Mike uses in the class he now teaches at Castro Valley Adult School. At Johnny’s urging Mike has been teaching an entry level and now an artistic level class since achieving his California teaching credential in 2005. Mike has traveled in Japan under the watchful eye of Tony Hayworth, assisted several well known Bonsai masters including Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki and Boon Manakativipart and continues to actively pursue information from bonsai artists locally and from around the world.
Mike is an active member of Yamato Bonsai Kai and has been since 2000. His real passion in the art is the tree itself. Mike works hard to stay focused on the trees and helping others to learn and enjoy the true art of bonsai. He credits much of his success to his Sensei Uchida without whom the entire journey would not have thrived; to Tony Hayworth his continued bonsai brother and inspirational leader, his students that drive his hunger for knowledge keep him focused on moving forward and his wife to whom he dedicates the serenity of his backyard.
Michael Butler- Assistant
Mike became interested in bonsai several years ago after retiring from the Alameda Count Sheriff's Department. "In 2006 I took my first class at San Lorenzo Adult School under Mike Baker. I began assisting Mike in 2010 after taking his class about 12 times. In the spring of 2011 I began teaching the Bonsai 'Basic' Class now held at the Castro Valley Adult School."
"In 2007, I joined Yamato Bonsai Kai and became the Show Chairman for our annual show in 2010. I have been asked to Chair the show again this year because I either did a good job or no one else wanted the position."
"For the past several years I have been asked by our Sensei, Johnny Uchida, to conduct Bonsai demonstrations at the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church's Annual Bazaar. This has been a highlight in my studies of the art of Bonsai. It has given me a feeling of accomplishment being asked by Sensei Uchida to do these demonstrations."
Johnny Uchida-Kai Sensei
Yoneo Uchida, known as Johnny to his friends and colleagues, was born in Kagoshima, Japan and graduated from Ichiki Nogei Koko (Ichiki Agricultural High School). He came to the United States in 1956 on an Agricultural Labor Contract and worked at various fruit farms in California. After he completed his labor contract in 1959, he was hired by the Domoto Nursery in Hayward as a nursery laborer. It was there that he became interested in bonsai.
Johnny joined the Fuji Bonsai Club in 1962 and began studying the art of bonsai. In 1969 Johnny helped found the Yamato Bonsai Kai in San Lorenzo, California. His friends Mr. Inadomi and Mr. Furuzawa were the first Sensei's of the club.
In 1971 Johnny started his own nursery in Hayward specializing in bonsai. Grove Way Bonsai Nursery continues today, 47 years later, as one of the very few bonsai nurseries still in operation in the Bay Area. His clients count on his expertise and artistic abilities.
With diligence he continued to study techniques of cutting, pruning, wiring, shaping, and potting. In 1976, Johnny became Yamato Bonsai Kai’s instructor, or Sensei. For the last 42 years he has served the club in this position. In honor of his service, the Yamato Bonsai Kai has placed a pedestal in his name at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Collection North in Oakland.
In addition to serving the Yamato Bonsai Kai, Johnny has served as the Sensei of the Bonsai Sekiyu Kai in Sacramento. Many clubs ask Johnny to be the featured demonstrator for their club shows. Johnny has traveled to Alaska, Washington, Texas, Michigan, and throughout California to demonstrate the art of Bonsai as a featured demonstrator. Johnny helped Masahiko Kimura in Detroit, Michigan, with translation and demonstration, and convinced Mr. Kimura to be the featured artist at the Yamato Bonsai Kai’s 33rd Annual Bonsai Exhibition in 2004. In 2005 Johnny was able to arrange for Shinji Suzuki to be the featured artist at the Yamato annual exhibition.
For 30+ years Johnny had conducted evening classes at Adult Schools in Castro Valley, Newark, and San Lorenzo. Johnny earned his teaching credential for the State of California in 1976 and his Life Credential is one of the few vocational credentials issued for Bonsai instruction in the State.
Johnny was honored by the Great Japanese Agricultural Society in 2001 “for his distinguished contribution to the development of agriculture and the friendship between Japan and America.” The Governor of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Prince Nobuhito Katsura, and the President of the Great Japanese Agricultural Society, Eiji Yamagiwa, presented Johnny with the RYOKUHAKUJU-YUKOSHO (or the Medal of Green with a White Line) on November 22, 2001.
Johnny was presented with the Circle of Sensei Award at the GSBF Convention in 2003. This award honors those who have influenced the Bonsai world by being teachers of bonsai art and by their dedications and commitments to bonsai in California.
A visit to Grove Way Bonsai Nursery at 1239 Grove Way, Hayward, is a must for any Bonsai enthusiast who comes to Northern California. The gardens reflect the skills of a true bonsai artist. As a member of the Circle of Sensei, Johnny is recognized as one of the great teachers of bonsai. He continues to share his knowledge, promote the awareness of the art of Bonsai, and serve as a gracious mentor to his many students. His enthusiasm and integrity make him the perfect teacher.
Michael Baker- Assistant
Mike started his Bonsai journey in August of 2000. He and his wife visited a local nursery in his home town of Pleasanton, where he spotted a cascading blue cedar tree that he found some strange fascination for. It had a $60.00 price tag…… that scared him away…..5 days later he received the tree as a birthday gift from his wife along with a prepaid set of classes with a certain Japanese gentleman that owned a Bonsai nursery in Hayward (Sensei Uchida). A $60.00 price does not bother him any longer!!
He took the Bonsai classes offered by Johnny Uchida at San Lorenzo Adult School 15 times over the next 5 years and still considers Johnny as his Sensei. “I will always defer to Johnny” is a common statement Mike uses in the class he now teaches at Castro Valley Adult School. At Johnny’s urging Mike has been teaching an entry level and now an artistic level class since achieving his California teaching credential in 2005. Mike has traveled in Japan under the watchful eye of Tony Hayworth, assisted several well known Bonsai masters including Masahiko Kimura, Shinji Suzuki and Boon Manakativipart and continues to actively pursue information from bonsai artists locally and from around the world.
Mike is an active member of Yamato Bonsai Kai and has been since 2000. His real passion in the art is the tree itself. Mike works hard to stay focused on the trees and helping others to learn and enjoy the true art of bonsai. He credits much of his success to his Sensei Uchida without whom the entire journey would not have thrived; to Tony Hayworth his continued bonsai brother and inspirational leader, his students that drive his hunger for knowledge keep him focused on moving forward and his wife to whom he dedicates the serenity of his backyard.
Michael Butler- Assistant
Mike became interested in bonsai several years ago after retiring from the Alameda Count Sheriff's Department. "In 2006 I took my first class at San Lorenzo Adult School under Mike Baker. I began assisting Mike in 2010 after taking his class about 12 times. In the spring of 2011 I began teaching the Bonsai 'Basic' Class now held at the Castro Valley Adult School."
"In 2007, I joined Yamato Bonsai Kai and became the Show Chairman for our annual show in 2010. I have been asked to Chair the show again this year because I either did a good job or no one else wanted the position."
"For the past several years I have been asked by our Sensei, Johnny Uchida, to conduct Bonsai demonstrations at the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church's Annual Bazaar. This has been a highlight in my studies of the art of Bonsai. It has given me a feeling of accomplishment being asked by Sensei Uchida to do these demonstrations."
