Hey guys

I've attached what i hope are my best photos yet of my goyomatsu, I'm seeking advice on what to do in preparation for spring!

I guess i aught to clear out some needles? I see some dead ones in the photos that i had previously missed, so I'll take those away, but what about the rest?

It looks very crowded up top!

For the record, at the moment this bonsai is in the midst of a multiyear growing out plan, I'm not looking to restrict growth yet, but i do want it to gain size, so I'm not planning on pruning much new growth.

This is two trees in one pot, with crossing trunks just below the canopies, kind of like dueling dragons?

Yep though for me I'm just trying to eventually capture a natural phenomenon along a mountain peak~ fair few years off, that~

But how about some advice on those seemingly crowded needles?

I'm no expert with pines, but I would think that you would want to leave all the needles for now to let them grow as much as possible. Removing needles will reduce their ability to feed themselves. Once this has gotten closer to a 'finished' state, and less in the training phase (as if that ever ends), you might think about needle reduction.

A full grown tree has all those needles right on top of each other and does just fine.

Thanks mate, that's exactly the kind of info i was looking for. I see mature bonsai with heavily reduced needles, but had a hard time finding info for my immature one(s) so thank you!