My name is Andrej Dojčinovič, I’m 26, and I’m originally from Slovakia. My fascination with bonsai began at a very young age. At 14, I bought my first tree. A small, inexpensive bonsai from a hardware store, originally meant to decorate a terrarium for my pet snake. I cared for it as best I could, even with no real knowledge beyond watering and pruning. Though it eventually died, that little tree planted the seed of a lifelong passion.

It wasn’t until I was 21 that bonsai truly became part of my life. After watching a YouTube video, something clicked, and from that moment, bonsai was all I could think about. I got my first proper tree and began researching and practicing every day. Very quickly, I built a collection and realized this wasn’t just a hobby, it was my calling.

Faced with two paths, staying in Slovakia and learning slowly on my own, or going to Japan to apprentice full-time, I chose the second. I began my apprenticeship at Aichien Bonsai Garden, known for its deep commitment to classical bonsai principles: refined branch structure, natural mature form, proper taper, and powerful nebari.

Now, in my fourth year of apprenticeship, I know I made the right decision. My goal is to bring the tradition and quality of true Japanese bonsai overseas, to educate, inspire, and make high-level bonsai accessible to enthusiasts around the world.