By the wishes of his mother , at age 15 he started spending his time as an apprentice under the bonsai master Motosuke Hamano of Toju - en Bonsai Garden .
His father died when Masahiko was 11 .
By the wishes of Masahiko 's mother , at age 15 Masahiko started spending his time as an apprentice under the bonsai master Motosuke Hamano of Toju - en Bonsai Garden .
His father died when Masahiko was 11 .