Bonsai Barber places players in the role of a barber who must groom and style the foliage of their plant, fruit and vegetable customers in similar manner to the art of bonsai pruning. Using the Wii Remote, the player uses tools such as scissors for cutting, hair clippers for precision cutting, combs to bend twigs, hairspray to re-grow foliage, and pots of paint to change hair color. Players work on the requests of up to five customers per day and try to achieve a professional five star rated cut for each, unlocking new haircuts each day. Players will unlock medals and gifts for performing well, with the insensitive to return the next day to continue obtaining those rewards. If you miss appointments with the in-game patrons, you will get notified in your Wii Message Board; an additional incentive to return to the game the next day and continue cutting hair. Players could send photos of their completed stylings to friends via WiiConnect24.^[1]

Bonsai Barber was developed by Zoonami. Three prototypes of the game were developed on and off by a team of two people before the game moved into full development. In total, development for Bonsai Barber stretched over a period of two and a quarter years.^[2] The game was released in North America on the WiiWare service on March 30, 2009.^[3]

Bonsai Barber received generally positive reviews from critics.^[9] IGN commended the tight, responsive controls and the quirky nature of the game, but also called it a pricey one trick pony.^[10] Official Nintendo Magazine loved the concept and the humor and called it "an enjoyable, idiosyncratic experience".^[11]