Most people who have been in bonsai for a while have accumulated a suitcase full of tools, many of which are for specialized uses and are only occasionally used.  All of which is nice, particularly if you have deep pockets, but let’s look at the barest minimumm of tools that you really need.

An essential tool is a pair of bonsai scissors for trimming small branches.  Bonsai scissors have pointed blades which make the trimming easier in dense foliage.

A second essential tool is a pair of wire cutters.  Those designed for bonsai have blunt ends which allow cutting wire close to branches, but cheap hardware store wire cutters can get the job done, although not always gracefully. Pliers are helpful in applying wire as well as removing wire, but again, hardware tools will work nearly as well as expensive pliers designed for bonsai.

The last and probably least critical item in your minimalist tool kit is diagonal cutters designed for bonsai.  These will allow you to trim larger branches than your scissors will comfortably handle, and to cut branches close to the trunk of your tree. You will find that these are very useful, and you will want to add them to your minimalist tool kit early in your career as a bonsai artist.

Tools expressly for bonsai can range from moderately expensive to outrageously expensive. You will find that the least expensive tools will work nearly as well as the high end tools. If you are just starting out, these are the tools that you should buy.  When you become an accomplished bonsai artist you can always replace them with pricier models which have some advantages such as staying sharp longer and being shaped to make the work a bit easier.