Sakurako Toyoda was born in Tokyo and now resides in Los Angeles, where she continues to weave together the richness of her Japanese heritage with the vibrant energy of California life.
From a young age, she was immersed in the worlds of art, fashion, and music. Her classical training in music nurtured a deep sense of rhythm, discipline, and harmony — qualities that now flow naturally into her artistry.
Surrounded by beauty and tradition, Sakurako developed a deep appreciation for nature and flowers — not only for their visual elegance, but for the sense of peace and vitality they bring into a space. This sensitivity to both art and nature became the foundation of her creative work.
Guided by this passion, she studied Craft Bonsai under Master Professor Etsuko Aoki, one of Japan’s most respected figures in the field. Under Aoki’s mentorship, Sakurako refined her technique while embracing the deeper philosophy of patience, balance, and harmony that defines bonsai.
Today, Sakurako is a Japanese Government–certified Craft Bonsai Artist and a member of the Japan Artcraft Bonsai Artist Association (日本クラフト盆栽作家協会). Her creations reflect the perfect balance of tradition and modernity — blending the quiet beauty of bonsai with contemporary design.
Through her brand, SakuraKoji, she shares this philosophy with the world: to bring forth new blossoms while honoring timeless roots.
Her bonsai and floral works are not merely decorative pieces — they are living expressions of nature’s poetry, inviting renewal, balance, and tranquility into any space
About the Artist
Looking forward to working with you.
- Sakurako Toyoda
What is Craft Bonsai?
Bonsai has long been admired for its quiet beauty, but cultivating a living bonsai requires great patience and care. To grow one, branches must be trimmed, trunks wired, and daily attention given to sunlight, watering, and temperature. Without such dedication, even the most beautiful tree can wither.
Many people dream of experiencing bonsai but hesitate to begin, unsure if they can commit to its demanding care.
Craft Bonsai offers a new way to experience this timeless art.
Instead of nurturing a living tree, artists shape bonsai using materials such as paper, clay, and wire, preserving the refined forms, balance, and symbolism of bonsai while making it accessible to anyone, anywhere.
With Craft Bonsai, the spirit of traditional bonsai remains: a harmony of patience, renewal, and respect for nature, expressed through art that can be appreciated for generations.
Sakurakoji × Fujishima Ikkan
The story of this collaboration begins long before the pieces take shape.
In 1921, in the quiet landscapes of Toyama, the Fujishima family began a woodcraft lineage built on patience, discipline, and a deep reverence for nature. For generations, their artisans have carved ancient timber—trees that have witnessed centuries—into forms that embody both strength and serenity.
My own journey connected with theirs through a single, unforgettable moment.
The first time I held one of these storied pieces of wood, I felt an extraordinary force within it—a quiet power, a depth of life that words could not fully hold. The encounter stayed with me. Its presence grew inside me, and over time, it led me naturally toward the creation of craft bonsai: a way of honoring nature, time, and the lives that shape both.
Years later, the path circles back.
Our worlds meet again, not by chance, but through a shared devotion to materials that carry history and to expressions born from human hands.
Together, Sakurakoji and the Fujishima Ikkan tradition form a bridge between Japan and Los Angeles—two places, two sensibilities, and two crafts that illuminate one another.
This collaboration is not merely an artwork.
It is a continuation of stories held in wood, and of the people who listen closely enough to bring those stories to life.
A harmony of time, nature, and artistry—quiet, enduring, and alive.
このコラボレーションの物語は、作品の形が生まれるずっと前から始まっていました。
一九二一年、富山の静かな里山で、藤島家の木工の伝統は歩みを始めました。
自然への敬意、忍耐、そして研ぎ澄まされた感性。
そのすべてを基盤として、代々の職人たちは、数百年を生きた古木に向き合い、その内に宿る強さと静けさを、永く残る造形へと刻み続けてきました。
私自身の旅路がその伝統と交わったのは、たったひとつの忘れがたい瞬間からでした。
初めてこの古木を手にしたとき、木の奥に潜む力と深い生命の息づかいを、言葉にできないほど強く感じたのです。
その出会いは私の心に残り続け、やがて静かに育ち、自然と私をクラフト盆栽の世界へと導いてくれました。
それは、時と自然、人の手がつむぐ物語を形にする私なりの方法となりました。
そして今、時を経て再び道が交差します。
偶然ではなく、素材が持つ歴史と、それを汲み取る人の手への深い敬意が導いた再会です。
Sakurakoji と藤島一貫の伝統がひとつになるとき、日本とロサンゼルスという二つの土地と感性がつながり、互いを照らし合う新たな表現が生まれます。
このコラボレーションは、単なる作品ではありません。
それは、古木に宿る物語の続きを紡ぐ行為であり、その声に耳を澄ます者たちの手によって静かに命を吹き込まれるものです。
時と自然、そして人の技が調和する場所—。
そこから生まれる美しさは、静かで、確かで、今も生きています。
Honoring Nature, Craft, and Heritage
The House of Sakurakoji is proud to introduce Sakurakoji × Fujishima Ikkan, a curated collection that brings the quiet refinement of traditional Japanese woodwork into harmony with the botanical world of Sakurakoji—craft bonsai, plantscapes, and artisanal goods inspired by beauty, stillness, and the rhythm of nature.
The Fujishima workshop’s artistry is built on:
Generational knowledge passed down since 1921
Reclaimed and regional hardwoods selected for their grain, texture, and individuality
Hand-shaped, oil-finished forms that emphasize presence over ornament
A dedication to materials that age gracefully, deepening in character through use and time
Every tray, bowl, vessel, and sculptural form embodies the traditional ideals of Japanese craftsmanship: restraint, refinement, and the belief that true beauty emerges from what is natural and unforced.
This partnership reflects values that both Sakurakoji and Fujishima Ikkan hold at their core:
Harmony with Nature
Just as bonsai evolves with time, wood too transforms—darkening, softening, and carrying the imprint of the lives around it.
Respect for Tradition
Both art forms rely on inherited techniques, passed through generations of caretakers who protect and refine their craft.
Functional Artistry
Whether through a handcrafted wooden vessel or a carefully shaped bonsai, these pieces elevate daily life with intention and quiet grace.
Through this collaboration, we bring forward a collection that feels at home among bonsai, ceramics, floral arrangements, and Japanese craft—a world where every object holds history, and every design invites stillness.