HI, New Mexico Bonsai,
It' is 13" from the rim to top of the needles, so yes just a bit taller. (however I think the needle reduction program will bring it down about an inch and yes the pot is nearly 3" which it does not need)
And Yes, When you look at the genre of what is not 'in style' with bonsai, the sumo heavy trunk with a "Pomeranian" canopy with non-visible branch system is much the norm and preferred*.
Certainly this little fella with more age will develop a heavier proportional nebari and trunk but again, it's a process of time.
* I recall about 30yrs ago at the Midwest show, Ivan Watters, God rest his soul, a fine bonsai instructor and vendor had bought a few shohin size sumo pieces from overseas for big dollars....yes they're very interesting. They were in-ground grown for years and massive truck chops along with grafts to create that crown, but that is all commercial.
I'm a 'hobbyist' who took a serious study in this Art and frankly I just don't give a damn. I do appreciate the sumo's and sure they're a delight to have but heck when I started I was a broke college grad who would look to find seedlings .....of which I put a few in the ground to grow fat trunks but not to be come sumo style. Below is one....nearly 50yrs in the making.
Sure it needs some further development with possibly shortening the left hand side branch a tad...and obviously other details around the crown etc. However the general proportions are falling into place from the initial design way back in the early 70's. I bought three in paper cups one year seedlings for 50c and planted them in my dad's back acreage still have two, as my itchy fingers killed the fattest trunk*nearly 6" dia) about forty years ago by stuffing it into a way to small of a pot! Lesson: patience please and damn it, don't chop too much of the tap at one time!!
is created, excepting yamadori. Here's a few views along the way. The nebari is smaller than it 'should' be according to general 'best' proportions. Yet as a small 'tree in a pot' it is what it is for now....
