Kazuyuki Ishihara – The Genius of Japanese Landscape Design

Japanese Style in Landscape Design

Flowers and plants, during their blooming period, bring life and energy to both the exterior and interior decor of a living space. They are a source of joy or may carry hidden stories. Floral compositions in landscape design, combined with other elements of the Japanese style, create a unique atmosphere and allow people to savor the beautiful moments of life.

Japanese Landscape Garden

No truly Japanese home can be imagined without flowers, and outside, without even a small decorative garden.

The traditions of cultivating flowers and gardens in Japan have deep historical roots and are closely linked to the religious and cultural beliefs of the Japanese people. Flowers are offered to the gods on family altars – places of ancestor worship. A Japanese landscape garden is a miniature piece of wild nature, a simplified model of the cosmos.

This attitude toward plants and landscape design explains the highest level of mastery with which the Japanese create their gardens. Creating a real Japanese garden is no easy task, requiring not only specialized knowledge in landscape design but also in botany.

Today, Japanese landscape designers are highly sought-after specialists worldwide. Many major companies in architecture or the landscape business seek their advice or services.

The company Ideologist actively collaborates with masters of Japanese landscape design and offers its clients a wide range of services related to landscaping, creating unique landscapes, and garden designs.

Landscape Designer Kazuyuki Ishihara

Today, we would like to introduce you to Kazuyuki Ishihara. He is currently one of the most recognizable and iconic landscape artists in Japan and a prominent figure in the world of landscape design.

The master was born in 1958 in Nagasaki. From an early age, young Kazuyuki grew up surrounded by greenery and flowers, to which he developed a deep attachment. This connection determined his choice of career. At the age of 22, the master began studying the art of floral arrangement at Ikenobo, the famous and prestigious school of ikebana in Japan, where he formed his identity as a floral artist. Lacking the funds to open his own shop, Kazuyuki Ishihara began selling flowers at the age of 29. He used a unique sales method – a kind of street performance: in just a minute, he created unique flower bouquets that could captivate even the most discerning customer. Word of his skill spread, and he gained such popularity that he was able to open his own stores when the time came. The master opened the “Manabi” shop – an authentic Japanese garden and flower store. Starting with a small flower stall in Nagasaki, Kazuyuki quickly became the top-selling florist in Japan.

Over time, his flower business grew into a garden and landscape design bureau. In 2006, the master participated in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London, where he won a gold medal. Breaking all stereotypes with his incredible style and attention to detail, Mr. Ishihara quickly became a Chelsea legend.

Trends in Japanese Landscape Design

For the next three years, he was the only gold medalist at the show. He also won numerous awards at other landscape design exhibitions around the world.

 Today, Kazuyuki is known as the owner and founder of the Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory, with a portfolio that includes the landscaping design of Haneda International Airport, Aeon shopping centers, the Westin Ebisu hotel, Ueno Zoo, and the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Petersburg. In addition to his commercial work, the master conducts numerous lectures and workshops for children and professionals.

Using flowers and plants as a medium between the earthly and spiritual worlds, the master has become a transmitter of Japan’s unique perspective on nature. Kazuyuki Ishihara strives to convey to people around the world his vision of the need for peaceful coexistence between humans and nature.

The master’s works are art pieces in the world of floristry and landscape design. Kazuyuki Ishihara has managed to preserve and reproduce the ancient Japanese vision of the relationship between humans and nature.

Photos of Japanese Landscape Design

In his works, the master is open to any experimentation. The combination of plants from different families, the incorporation of other art forms, antique objects, religious symbols, the play of color and shadow, water and air, and the use of contemporary trends in landscape design – all represent just a small fraction of the magical techniques the master employs to create an enchanting world that draws one in to explore its mysteries.

Comparison of Chinese and Japanese Landscape Design Styles

The main distinction between these two styles lies in their purpose. Centuries ago, garden design in China was aimed at stimulating and directing the emperor’s thoughts toward making the right decisions on matters of state. On the other hand, the Japanese garden was designed for solitary communion with nature and oneself, for meditation, introspection, and the pursuit of universal truths.

Key attributes of Chinese landscape design include semi-circular bridges, various animal statuettes, large stones, and stone structures. In contrast, in a Japanese garden, you will find flat bridges without zigzags, small stone or metal lanterns, and small stone and sand compositions symbolizing the ocean and islands.

It is also worth noting:

• In Chinese gardens, there are no restrictions on colors – a wide variety of even the brightest shades are used, which would be unacceptable in Japanese culture, where soft, calm tones are the norm.
• Chinese gardens are significantly larger than Japanese ones.
• Both cultures replicate the natural environment of their respective countries.

A shared element is the obligatory presence of water. If a stream or waterfall is not feasible, in Japanese gardens, water is often replaced by sand, while in Chinese culture, water is included at any cost.

Key Elements of Japanese Landscape Design

There are no random elements in a Japanese garden: all materials and their placement are carefully thought out down to the finest detail. Japanese-style landscape design is a miniature version of the larger natural world, with key attributes such as stones, water, and plants representing mountains, oceans, and trees, respectively.

Stones in Japanese Landscape Design

The central element of a garden in this culture is the stone. Vertical stones of varying heights, arching shapes, steeply sloped stones, as well as horizontal stones, are commonly used. The primary rule here is that the forms must reflect the natural world. Stones are arranged in small, odd-numbered groups, maintaining balance in form, size, and color. Stones of different sizes can symbolize masculine and feminine principles.

Japanese designers avoid stones with unattractive tops or random boulders that don’t fit the overall aesthetic. Beyond decorative purposes, stones are also used to create paths or bridge steps.

Water in Japanese Landscape Design

In this culture, water symbolizes not only bodies of water but also time. That’s why every Japanese garden features flowing water over stone paths, representing the fleeting passage of time. Waterfalls and streams are encouraged, while artificial decorative elements that do not occur in nature (such as fountains or pools) are considered inappropriate. A distinctive feature of a Japanese garden is the tsukubai water basin. Usually made from a solid piece of stone, these basins may be embedded in the ground (in tea ceremony gardens) or stand on a pedestal.

Plants in a Japanese Garden

Plants are an essential element of any garden, but in a Japanese garden, they are more of a secondary feature. They are mainly used to mark the changing seasons, which is why gardeners avoid exotic plants, opting instead for native flora. Trees are the most important; Japanese gardens typically feature four types of trees: broadleaf evergreens, deciduous trees, conifers, and bamboo. Like stones, trees are usually planted in triangular or pyramid-like arrangements to create a sense of asymmetrical balance. The most popular plants include:

• Bamboo (resilience, longevity, spiritual truth);
• Cherry blossom (a symbol of birth, representing a bride, youth, and beauty);
• Pine (symbolizing long life, courage, and steadfastness);
• Sakura (clouds, something mystical, a symbol of Japan);
• Morning glory (the poetry of life);
• Weeping willow (obedience, modesty, and shyness);
• Moss and lichen (maternal kindness, care, and love, as well as protection and reliability);
• Maple (wisdom and knowledge), etc.

Moss is particularly well-suited to Japan’s humid climate. In the Japanese garden of Saiho-ji, also known as the “Moss Temple,” more than a hundred types of moss can be found. Grass lawns only appeared after the start of the Meiji period, as part of Western influence.

Emptiness and Garden Sculptures in Japanese Culture

The primary principle in Japanese landscape design is the presence of emptiness, which is often difficult for Westerners to understand. We tend to perceive emptiness as an unfinished part of a composition. In Japanese culture, however, emptiness is seen as the spirit of truth, which forms the core of the entire garden. Their philosophy holds that nothing can exist without “nothingness.”

Decorative elements are not essential in such gardens. Modern decorations or furniture are inappropriate; even for constructing bridges, rough-cut planks are used. People come to these gardens to escape the noise of the world and forget the conveniences of civilization, merging with nature and finding peace. Decorative statues are used in gardens connected to religious sites, such as Buddhist temples, and are most often made of stone or bronze.

Japanese Landscape Design on a Property

Creating a Japanese garden requires a clear sequence. The first step in shaping the landscape is the placement of stones. Afterward, trees are planted, and shrubs are added last. One important detail to consider when selecting elements is that they should bear the marks of time, like a patina. Thus, a stone covered in lichen is far more desirable than a plain boulder. An old lantern is preferable to a new one, as it carries with it the spirit of the past and the imprint of rain, wind, and sun. The garden should be created according to the principle of proportionality, reflecting a natural landscape as seen from a bird’s-eye view.

Presentation of Japanese Landscape Design by Ideologist

Ideologist, working with the best landscape workshops in Japan, is ready to design landscape projects for its clients in collaboration with Japanese masters, considering all customer wishes and preferences, while providing quality support at every stage of implementation. Japanese specialists can create not only a Japanese garden but also contemporary minimalist greenery, suitable for any space.

We offer our clients custom projects in:

• Landscaping
• Landscape design
• Interior decoration with floral arrangements
• Home garden cultivation