Hey Good People! The pruning of Japanese Maples is an artistic practice, often referred to as aesthetic pruning or Niwaki (meaning 'garden tree'), that elevates the tree from a garden shrub to a living, sculptural work of art. This highly selective approach goes far beyond routine maintenance by intentionally guiding the tree's architecture to reveal its graceful, elegant form, particularly the branching structure. The technique shares an affinity with bonsai styling principles, focusing on crea