What types of soils are found in Japan?

Question

What types of soils are found in Japan?

Answer 1

Akadama and Kanuma have been used for centuries in Japan.  This is one of the reasons you see such beautiful bonsai in Japan.  The bonsai masters use these soils, which are a type of pumice only found in Japan, especially for their prized specimen bonsai.

  

There are many reasons why akadama and kanuma are used.  They both retain the right amount of moisture, nutrients and air for a healthy and thriving bonsai.  Both promote fine feeder root development because of the special nature of the soft pumice they are.  Trees only need less than one third of their root system for growth and nutrient uptake, the balance is used to secure them in the soil so that the winds will not blow them over.  In bonsai, you only need the fine feeder roots actually.  Most Western derived bonsai soils do not promote the fine fibrous feeder root system that akadama and kanuma do.

Answer 2

Akadama and Kanuma soils which are a type of pumice and are used for Bonsai.

Kuroboku soil which is black and rich in humus.