Product Description

Japanese gardening is the art of arranging plants, rocks, lanterns, and basins in an open or, as here, an enclosed space. According to the aesthetic principles long prevailing in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, even two rocks arranged in a tiny, enclosed space can be considered a garden. This type of garden is called a tsuboniwa, and Kyoto has long being considered its birthplace and home. So it is not surprising that photographer Katsuhiko Mizuno, wishing to capture the best of such small gardens, should turn to Kyoto and its palaces, temples, shrines, and townhouses.

The highlight of the book is the 100 photographs of these tsuboniwa -- snow overlying sand patterns; autumnal maple leaves; flowering cherry trees; lanterns, basins, fences; gardens featuring wisteria, azalea, hydrangea, Indian lilac, camellia, and daphne. Each photo is accompanied by an informative caption pointing out the outstanding characteristics of the garden in question.

An appendix gives Mizuno's instructions for creating a tsuboniwa, based on his personal experience. His account of the underlying concepts, design, choice of plants, and practical procedures will prove an invaluable reference for all garden creators, from amateur to professional.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92079 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 136 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9784770028747
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
...a collection of beautifully framed and thoughtful shots that capture all aspects of tsuboniwa. -- The Daily Yomiuri

Packed with shots of great views and materials, like bamboo, ferns, pebbles and all sorts of plants. -- Home Beautiful

Photographs of a master-designer's timeless work that are well worth studying. -- Age

This is the garden as art, and simply looking at these gardens is a calming experience. -- Bloomsbury Review

About the Author
Katsuhiko Mizuno, born in Kyoto in 1941, graduated from Doshisha University and the Tokyo College of Photography. His camera has been focused on 1,200-year-old Kyoto since 1969, including its scenery, gardens, and architecture. In 2000 he renovated a Kyoto townhouse said to date from the latter half of the Edo period (1603-1867), converting it into a museum housing his photographic works. He is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society and the Japan Society for Arts and History of Photography. Of his many published books in Japanese and English, this is number 101.

Customer Reviews

Beyond the basics, Japanese Garden Book
I've been through a lot of Japanese gardening books, and many of been a little repetitive, covering the basic design elements and what not. Mizuno has put together a great "Intermediate" read once you've had enough of the basics. The pictures are some of the best available of authentic Japanese gardens, and the captions are short and to the point but with just enough plant identifications to be useful to someone in their planning stage.

Perhaps the best feature of this book is the introductory discussion on the "Omoteya style" town home (traditional Japanese merchant class town home). The text suggest there is a conservation movement to this vanishing style of Japanese home that mirrors the affection American's are beginning to culture towards the Bungalow. As the Omoteya styled homes share similar dimensions with the American city lot (diagrams are provided with the text), this book is a fabulous resource to urban dwellers looking to incorporate the Japanese garden concept to their grassy postage stamp.

Great Examples
Wonderful book with great photos and examples, some from different angles which are very useful to understand the actual lay out of these great Japanese gardens. Could use more in dept explanation of technical characteristics, but non the less wonderful.

about as good as it gets without being there
This is a beautiful book. I'm giving it 5 stars even though I was actually hoping for a little more reading material and insight - the imagery is wonderful.