Chris, I guess I don't understand what you are asking. The tree was styled many times over the years, it has been styled by professionals on most if not all of those times. Trees like this can be improved dramatically by someone who has experience working on similar trees. If I had attempted this work, it would have been at least a week and would have been too conservative. Akio took off branches that I would have left (incorrectly) for the long term health and development of this tree. In the US, there is an often held opinion that only the owner of a tree should work on it, that if one doesn't do all the work on a tree that it isn't "theirs" and should somehow be of lesser value. I have a large number of trees that I do all the wok on and nobody else works on them (yet), however, if possible, high end trees can often benefit dramatically from the assistance of a professional. Unlike an Automobile, this tree should gain value over the next several years and getting tune ups from a professional can dramatically help.
In Japan the professionals typically don't own the very best trees, they are owned by their clients, some of whom leave their trees at the master's nursery, others have the professional travel to their home. I was very fortunate in that Akio, a professional who has had trees win at Kokufu and has had at least one tree in the top pair at Sakufu-ten, was vacationing in the US and willing to take some time and work on this tree. Trees like this are investments and deserve the very best that they can get. When I show this tree its history will accompany it, it has been styled by a number of fine folks- the late Mr. Kamiya, Boon and Tom Kelly, and Akio (plus those I can never know). When this tree moves on to its next home (they do tend to outlive us) itis my goal that it will be improved even more and will make a good return on my investment.
Hope this makes sense,
John
