TRADMAN'S BONSAI × SUWADA: Steel That Couldn't Become Bonsai Shears Becomes a Bonsai Artwork

Matsubaya Co., Ltd. (TRADMAN'S BONSAI) announces the launch of the metal bonsai artwork 'BONSAI KUROMATSU' in collaboration with 'SAL by SUWADA Blacksmith Works,' an art project by Suwada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

This collaborative piece commemorates Suwada's 100th anniversary since its founding.

Crafted exclusively from domestic tool steel generated during the bonsai shears manufacturing process, the artwork fuses a century of blade-making craftsmanship and philosophy with TRADMAN'S BONSAI's vision of contemporary bonsai culture.

Steel that was meant to become bonsai shears now takes on new life as a bonsai itself.

The work expresses reverence for materials, the uniquely Japanese concept of 'kuyo' (spiritual offering), and the aesthetic of 'wabi-sabi' in a single artistic form.

Development Background

Giving New Purpose to Steel That Couldn't Become Bonsai Shears

Suwada Manufacturing is committed to quality-first manufacturing. Only domestic tool steel meeting strict quality standards is used in products, yet many high-quality materials are excluded during the process. 'SAL by SUWADA Blacksmith Works' is an art project launched to give new value to such materials. Rather than treating these materials as mere waste, the project views the act of inheriting their value and breathing new life into them as a form of 'kuyo' (offering), and continues to create artworks based on this philosophy. 'BONSAI KUROMATSU' applies this concept by merging it with the culture of bonsai.

Why 'Bonsai'?

For over 60 years, Suwada has manufactured bonsai shears for professional bonsai artists. Today, it offers over 60 types of bonsai shears, supporting the creative work of TRADMAN'S BONSAI and many other bonsai artists. All materials used in this artwork are steel generated during the bonsai shears production process. Materials that were originally meant to nurture bonsai now transform into the bonsai form itself. This narrative could only be realized by Suwada, a company with decades of dedication to bonsai culture.

Concept: 'Wabi-Sabi (Rust)'

The concept of 'BONSAI KUROMATSU' is 'wabi-sabi,' a uniquely Japanese aesthetic. Bonsai expresses the beauty of 'sabi' through the bark texture and form shaped over many years. In this artwork, the process of steel oxidizing and slowly rusting over time is itself an integral part of the piece. Polished leaves symbolize vitality, while the trunk made of raw steel changes its appearance over the years. The moment of completion is not the final form; the artwork matures over time alongside its owner, a defining characteristic of this piece.

Product Overview

Title: BONSAI KUROMATSU Planning & Supervision: TRADMAN'S BONSAI Production: SAL by SUWADA Blacksmith Works Material: Domestic tool steel from bonsai shears manufacturing Concept: Wabi-Sabi (Rust)

Announcement

'BONSAI KUROMATSU' will be unveiled for the first time on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at TRADMAN'S TOKYO. The event will feature an exhibition of the artwork, an introduction to its background and concept, and media interviews and photography.

About SAL by SUWADA Blacksmith Works

SAL by SUWADA Blacksmith Works is an art project by Suwada Manufacturing Co., Ltd. It breathes new life into high-quality tool steel waste from the manufacturing process, expressing reverence for materials and the spirit of craftsmanship through art.

About TRADMAN'S BONSAI

Founded in 2015 as TRADMAN'S BONSAI (later incorporated as Matsubaya Co., Ltd. in 2016), the group is driven by the mission to share Japan's traditional bonsai culture with the world. While preserving tradition, it reinterprets the essence of bonsai—'omotenashi' (hospitality) and 'rinotasei' (altruism)—by fusing it with street culture, fashion, and art, continuously innovating Japanese tradition. TRADMAN'S BONSAI redefines 'Japan's coolness' through bonsai and creates groundbreaking value.