“ Brilliant education program. I love the way you all interact, makes me feel like I’m in the room. ”
David, Australia
Mirai Academy
Mirai Academy teaches you how to create and care for your bonsai trees. Our comprehensive best-in-class educational platform and personalized bonsai app combine into one membership to teach anyone from beginner to the most advanced bonsai professional how to design, grow, and understand the art of bonsai.
Start Learning Today
grow your skills.
Instruction personalized to your specific needs and skill level.
Design. Grow. Understand.
Design. Grow. Understand.
Mirai Academy is the result of years of 1 on 1 instruction and the input of thousands of students. This is the educational tool we always wanted, answering the how and why of the art of bonsai.
Mirai Mobile is our innovative app that tells you what to do and when.
Mirai Live is our in-depth online library of graduate level bonsai education.
Mirai Mobile
Key features for a successful practice.
My Trees
Academy
Calendar
Track the progress of all of your trees in your garden and show off your collection to friends and family with just a few taps in the Mirai Mobile App.
Tree Detail Page
Display what current and upcoming recommended work you have for each tree.
Activity History
Log new activities for a detailed history of actions you’ve completed and when.
Personalized Gallery
Upload images after each activity to store the progression of your tree in each tree’s individual gallery.
The Academy is a curriculum of basic and advanced bonsai knowledge answering pivotal questions and explaining the “why” behind calendar activities for your tree.
Recommended Courses
View courses by season, species, trees in your collection, or by courses you’ve enrolled in. Recommended courses continue to guide your bonsai education.
Syllabus
Each course page provides details covered in the course, duration, and the teaching format.
Course Evaluation
At the end of each course test your knowledge with a course evaluation to ensure you are ready to apply the knowledge you learned to your bonsai practice.
Species specific calendars provide step-by-step instructional videos telling you what to do with the bonsai in your collection throughout the year with timing specific to your location anywhere in the world.
Species or Tree View
View the calendar of activities by species, or customize your calendar to see current and upcoming work recommended for trees in your collection.
List View
The list view allows you to quickly view the upcoming activities with a short description to help you better prepare for the season ahead.
Activity
Selecting an activity provides a short description of work and step-by-step video to expand your understanding. All trees requiring this action are shown to make logging its completion effortless.
Mirai Live
Your on-demand library of bonsai education combined with our community-driven forum allows you to connect with thousands of enthusiasts across 52 countries.
Library
Discover over 600+ videos, featuring 800+ hours of bonsai education and 114 different tree species worked. Ryan Neil and 16 additional world-renowned bonsai professionals explore hundreds of major techniques to elevate your bonsai practice.
Forum
Design, grow, and build your skills with our extensive community of bonsai enthusiasts. Ask questions, share information, show your trees, and seek the guidance of our global community. From complete novices to elite professionals, contribute to Mirai’s e
Beginners
Robust discussions on fundamental topics. Newcomers ask, advanced members offer core knowledge.
Design
All things design-related, from bonsai theory to inspirational influences. Get feedback, share process, push the bonsai form.
Horticulture
A library of horticultural information specific to the practice of bonsai — using science to maximize the health of trees.
Toolbox
Tools, equipment, supplies, garden construction, gear, handiwork — a place for “shop talk" and misc. bonsai conversations.
Resources
Updates about all things Mirai-related: F.A.Q., Mirai Live topic index, technical troubleshooting and scheduling info.
Instructors
Ryan Neil
As an apprentice to the world renowned Japanese bonsai master Masahiko Kimura, Ryan was one of the first westerners to complete a full apprenticeship in Japan. Following his horticultural education and formal training, Ryan has dedicated himself to using bonsai to raise awareness of conservation across Europe and North America and continues to be a foremost authority on the art of bonsai in the western world.
Young Choe
Young’s formal training in kusamono comes under the tutelage of Master Yamane of Japan. Her expanded education and work with the seed bank and other international institutions at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. make her an incredibly well trained authority on native plants in North America and the foremost authority in the art of kusamono in the West.
Todd Schlafer
A musician and graphic designer by trade, Todd comes by his artistry and intrinsic understanding of design intuitively. Transferring his determination and mastery of art to the bonsai endeavor, he has become the most successful North American trained bonsai professional currently active, and an expert on Rocky Mountain native species as bonsai.
Ryan Neil
As an apprentice to the world renowned Japanese bonsai master Masahiko Kimura, Ryan was one of the first westerners to complete a full apprenticeship in Japan. Following his horticultural education and formal training, Ryan has dedicated himself to using bonsai to raise awareness of conservation across Europe and North America and continues to be a foremost authority on the art of bonsai in the western world.
Young Choe
Young’s formal training in kusamono comes under the tutelage of Master Yamane of Japan. Her expanded education and work with the seed bank and other international institutions at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. make her an incredibly well trained authority on native plants in North America and the foremost authority in the art of kusamono in the West.
Todd Schlafer
A musician and graphic designer by trade, Todd comes by his artistry and intrinsic understanding of design intuitively. Transferring his determination and mastery of art to the bonsai endeavor, he has become the most successful North American trained bonsai professional currently active, and an expert on Rocky Mountain native species as bonsai.