So I guess I need your help again.
The pine is healthy (still in the training pot as I still don't have a piece of ground to plant it), and yes, the buds low down are getting stronger.
Next step: It is now fighting for apical privileges as the main trunk and the almost as thick first branch both want to be the leaders.
Following
@0soyoung 's advice, I think of the trunk as a sacrifice, letting it grow free.
But the branch, if let free, will contribute to the thickening of the lower trunk, isn't it so?
So I end up with two sacrifice branches, instead of one as
@Adair M suggests.
1-) Should I let the two grow as sacrifice ?
2-) Should I chop the branch down?
3-) Should I chop the trunk down?
I have decided it will work as a shohin but not still sure I couldn't use the branch somehow.
FRONT as now.
BACK as now:
LOWER growth: