I recommend The Journal of Japanese Gardening. It has pruning articles in almost every issue.

Here is a link that might be useful: JOJG.

Hi
It isn't timely,but some of you might want to know it.
Pruning is "sentei" in Japanese. Under big word of pruning, thining ,sharing and include "nenshi". nenshi is one of method that twisting new growth to controle new growth of fruit tree such as apple. Giveing mild damage/mild stress to newly developing twigs will help to produce more fruits.

What you are asking is Sukashi/ thining . Many of pruing of trees and shurbe in Japanese garden are thinning. Without using growth controle chemical, removeing many leave slow down growth and maintain natural look. It is very important to maintain good propotion of size of garden and size of trees beside many other benefits of pruning.

mike y

Thinning (sukashi), shearing (karikomi) and twisting (nenshi)... Is there a category for root pruning, too?

Hi all
Cady
Japanese gardeners in Japan, they use "Enpi" which is like spade/shavel, shape like poucher's spade of England made. Japanese enpi's steel is thiner,hard and light. Befoe root prune,they shapen spade, sharp enough to cut off your toe. Root prune is good way to control growth without chemicals . I use growth regulator offten to contole unwanted fruits of tree,make more fruits,dence growth or simply control new growth.

Some garden has irrigation pipes, lighing wire, phone and cable wires all over the garden. If I worked long enough to know all under ground wires, irrigation,water ,gas pipes then I root prune. (One more codition, If customer wiiling to pay ^ ^. ). Some treee lose it's beauty if pruned. Type of tree or shurb,size of garden and thickness of custoer's wallet will dectate root pruning.

mike y