In 2008, Michael Ryan Bell began digging into his bonsai journey; by 2010, he bought his first quality container. In his attempt to acquire information about this pot and others, he discovered a lack of information available in English. This catapulted him on his quest to create an pot artisan database featuring artist profiles and biographies to raise awareness to people in the bonsai community of the standards of appreciation, awareness, and selection of quality bonsai containers. At this time, there are more bonsai-specific pottery artist marks on the japanesebonsaipots.net database than any single publication, available in different languages and still growing. His knowledge and passion has allowed him to lectured at the National Bonsai Exhibitions in America and the United Kingdom, the Golden State Bonsai convention as a co-headliner, and nearly 100 clubs and organizations, and also serves on the board for the American Bonsai Society.