Study on Japanese Garden Abroad: Definition and Method of Design: Exploration beyond Defining Japanese Garden

By Mr. Koichi Kobayashi

Today the role of public and private Japanese gardens, especially in North America has expanded beyond landscaping and recreation; they are used in commercial settings, for weddings and events, for cultural programs for professional medical therapy and more. There are over 500 Japanese Gardens existing today throughout the world mainly in North America and in Europe. Some of these date well back over a hundred years in history. There are many gardens facing extinction and major changes as it has been taking place in Japan as well. There are due to historical, social and mainly fiscal reasons. But there are a good many Japanese Gardens abroad thriving even today's uncertain time.I am, however, observing recurrent problems gardens facing changes in a name of making the gardens adapting to modern requirements and sustainability which could be contrary o the soul of Japanese garden and problems in creation of gardens which astray from the soul of Japanese garden in my understanding. Many questions have to be answered in countering these problems. These may include: (1) what is Japanese garden (in Japan)? and What is Japanese garden abroad? (2) How has Japanese Garden viewed and appreciated by people abroad? (3) Can you define "What is Japanese Garden?" for creating a new Japanese garden in a simple and clear manner for gardens outside of Japan? Or is that possible, productive and meaningful? Without heavy reliance on understanding of symbolism? (4) What is an emerging value for Japanese garden in Japan and abroad? (5) What could be the design process most suited for gardens outside of Japan? (6) What is the future of Japanese Garden abroad? This thesis is written on a complex world of Japanese garden with the following objectives as simple and clear manner as possible and as graphically as possible: (1.) Develop definition of Japanese garden abroad based on previous work and supplemented by a series of surveys and analysis. Purpose of this definition is to state in a clear and plain manner. (2.) Review the existing gardens in the North America employing common criteria to verify whether the definition of developed above is valid. (3.) Identify emerging field of Japanese garden abroad to test applicability of the definition.(4.) Develop design method applicable to the North America. Design method employed on a number of existing gardens will be reviewed prior to finalizing the proposed design message including design process, principles and methods.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1792177437
• ISBN13: 9781792177439
• Release Date: January 2019
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 138 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"