This is an Itoigawa Shimpaku that I have had for a number of years. Mike Hagedorn styled the tree a couple of years ago and repositioned the top to give the base a more acute angle to the ground. I really like what he did. This tree was growing strongly and I was hoping to show this year, however it was attacked by spider mites while I was on the road in June- we had a major hot dry spell, and it lost a couple of medium sized branches and just looked ratty. So, I took the wire off, cleaned it up a bit and then rewired it while watching the PGA tournament.
I didn't take a before picture, sorry, but it was growing straight up and looked pretty bad. Anyway, it is Chuchin size and now is at least ready to grow back and get recovered, maybe next year to show. I now that the front view gives a sense of spare foliage, the top view- the front is at the bottom of the picture- should give a good sense of density.
John