With the tree in it's winter image the branch ramification is more evident. The pictures above indicate how much secondary and tertiary twigs have been formed off the primary branches in just one growing season since the tree was purchased.
Whilst the tree is void of it's leaves it is also easier to get on with other jobs such as de-wiring and in January 2005 all the wiring was removed.

February 2005
At the beginning of February 2005 our Artistic Bonsai Circle group was having a visit from Lee Verhorevoort as a consultant for the day and the tree was taken along to the meeting for some advice.
During the day we pruned back a lot of last years branches back to other buds that were closer to the trunk line. Also some of the older thicker branch stubs were cut back and sealed.

In addition to the pruning some branches were wired and adjusted in position. It was also suggested that the tree ought to be re-potted soon to check on the root development as it was not known when the tree had last been re-potted in Japan .