愛知園創業1896年　　Aichien est. 1896

愛知園初代、田中鋤次郎（写真上部）は愛知郡常盤村大字篠原（現在の名古屋市中川区）で、長男としてうまれ、農家としては３代目であった。当時は長男が家督を継ぐのが当たり前の世の中であったが、彼は盆栽屋になるため１７歳にして実家を出て、愛知園を創業した。（１８９６年）

Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka started Aichien Bonsai Nursery in 1896 and was the first born son of Nagoya farmers (pictured above standing up).  Since he was the first born son of the family, he was destined to take over the farm and continue the family business as a farmer himself.  Apparently this didn’t sit too well with Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka so he decided to rebel against this father’s wishes and became a Bonsai artist instead.  At the age of 17, he left his home and started Aichien in 1896 by himself.  The first thing he did was plant 1000 Ume (Japanese flowering apricot) seeds.

初代　鋤次郎は１７才のときに、千本あまりの梅を実生した。この上の写真（１９９５年）はそのときの梅の一本で、現在も愛知園に現存しています。１００年を超えて樹齢が確実な数少ない盆栽の一本であるといえます。（樹齢１１５才）

愛知園は初代鋤次郎から二代目幸四郎によって継がれます。

This photo was taken in 1995, and is one of the original Ume seeds that Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka planted in 1896.  It is still here today at Aichien.  It is one of the few trees that can be confirmed to be exactly 120 years old.

Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka eventually started a family and the nursery was continued by his son Mr. Koushiro Tanaka.

１９９５年当時の田中　幸四郎

Here is a photo of Mr. Koushiro Tanaka in 1995.

初代鋤次郎と二代幸四郎は共に数多くの盆栽の作出に情熱を傾けました。第二次世界大戦中、食べ物や飲み物が不足する中盆栽を維持するには非常に困難な時期でありました。そのような中、自宅も焼失し、少し離れた作場にあった盆栽以外のすべてを失いました。戦後、作場にあった仕事場から、すべてを再構築することに明け暮れました。

愛知園は二代幸四郎から三代清光によって継がれます。

Mr. Koushiro Tanaka took over the business and continued to refine and develop many bonsai.  During World War II, Nagoya was a major target for US bombs and the house where the family lived was hit by a bomb and destroyed by the fire that ensued.  No one in the family was hurt in the bombings and the nursery portion survived the war.  After the war ended, the family rebuilt the house and continued the business.  It was tough times at Aichien but with hard work, they were able to survive.   Mr. Koushiou Tanaka had a family and the nursery was then passed on to his son, Mr. Kiyomitsu Tanaka.

三代目　田中　清光

Here is photo of Mr. Kiyomitsu Tanaka

三代目田中　清光は二代幸四郎とともに高度経済成長の中、盆栽の作出に努めた。

清光は三人の娘に恵まれましたが、男の子を願っていました。そんななか初代鋤次郎が１９７１年に他界、その翌年清光の長男として淳一郎が生まれた。或る者は、鋤次郎の生まれ変わりだと。

As Kiyomitsu Tanaka continued the business, he had a family and too was looking to pass the business down.  At the time, he had three daughters and it looked like there was not going to be a son to pass the business down to. He and his wife decided to try one more time for a son.  In 1971 Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka (the founder) passed away.  In 1972 Mr. Junichiro Tanaka was born.  Many in the family said that Mr. Sukijiro Tanaka was re-born in Mr. Junichiro Tanaka to continue the family business.

現在の愛知園園主　田中　淳一郎

Here is a current picture of Mr. Junichiro Tanaka, the current owner of Aichien.

田中淳一郎は愛知園四代目として、日々新しい技術や創造を通して、良い樹を作り上げ盆栽文化の発展に寄与する所存です。

Mr. Junichiro Tanaka as continued the family business and it is going strong.  With the philosophy of creating Bonsai and experimenting with different and new techniques, the nursery will continue to produce great trees.

最初の写真は１９３７年に撮られた赤松の写真です。盆栽として基本は作り上げられていますが、１９９６年、四代目淳一郎はその赤松を裏から見直し、枝棚を作り替えました。下の写真は現在の写真です。

このように盆栽は創造者のもとにおいて、自在に姿を変える終わりのない生きた芸術といえます。

The first picture of this Red Pine was taken back in 1937.  The tree was a product of Aichien.  For most of the tree’s bonsai life, it looked much like it did back in 1937.  In 1996, Mr. Junichiro Tanaka decided to change the tree design and improve the tree.  He changed the back of the tree to be the front and grew out a longer main branch on the bottom left.   The bottom picture is of the tree today.  This Japanese Red Pine is a testament to the creative eye of Mr. Junichiro Tanaka and the ability to always improve Bonsai no matter how established it is.

現在淳一郎は三人の息子に恵まれました。彼は長男の愛起が盆栽家業を継いでくれればと願っています。なぜなら三代目清光が２００５年に他界、翌年愛起が生まれました。まるで永遠に続く家業かのように。

Mr. Junichiro Tanaka now has a family and three young boys.  He hopes that his oldest, Aiki will grow up to continue the nursery and become a Bonsai Artist himself.  In 2005, Mr. Kiyomitsu Tanaka passed away and in 2006 Aiki was born.  It almost seems like the family line was destine to continue forever.

愛起と嘉士樹

Here is a picture of Aiki (top) and his younger brother Yoshiki (bottom)