Looks really good. So are you taking your usual approach and not removing all the buds just the terminal and a couple others? Did you give the more drastic approach a try?
I've been watching to much youtube, lol yeah I have 7 amaerican beech so I've been forced really understand the species.
I like the angled slab and once it gets worked it will look better. I like this one just because it outside the box and I think it's important to push design then the standard Japanese design for every tree.