Koji Hiramatsu belongs to the 4th generation of the owners of the Hiramatsu Shunsho-En bonsai garden. He learned the art and science of bonsai from his father. He is a specialist in shohin, but in his garden we can also find a magnificent collection of larger bonsai like black pines. He is a member of the Japan Bonsai Cooperative and of the Japan Shohin Bonsai Cooperative. He is the managing director of the All Japan Shohin Bonsai Association, for which he is also an official demonstrator. Koji Hiramatsu has given several demonstrations and workshops in the USA, India, China, Australia and also in Holland and France. He was a headliner at the 7th World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention and at the Asia-Pacific Bonsai & Suiseki Convention and Exhibition in 2011 when it was held for the first time in Japan. He was the chairman of the Takamatsu bonsai convention in 2014.

Mauro Stemberger was born 1978 in Feltre, Italy, and works as bonsai artist all over the world. 
The passion for bonsai and the love to share and teach it, made him to open bonsai schools in four of the five continents. Mauro published two books ‘ BONSAIDREAM I & II ‘ in 2018 and 2024. In the summer of 2024 he opened the Italian Bonsai Dream museum in Feltre near Venice. It contains a collection of over 200 finished top class trees awarded in the most important National and International shows. It is considered as one of the best bonsai collections outside Japan. He is always looking to meet new bonsai enthusiasts from all over the world during the Intensive classes in Italy.