The Bonsai trunk is the most important part of a bonsai. It is the body of the tree. This is the first part that catches the eye of a viewer. It is essential in bonsai, to have a large tapering trunk. In my experience all trunks have a potential, it is only time and the skill of the artist that dictates the outcome. In the next topics I will discuss the following:

• What to do with a thin bonsai trunk?
• How to make your trunk taper?
• Why taper?
• Why should the trunk lean forward?
• Why the trunk dictates what style you can create?