A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN (a J!-ENT Book Review)
December 6, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“A fantastic book for inspiration and also a reference for ideas to incorporate a Japanese touch for your garden. This revised edition features more photography, illustrations and content.”
The image above is courtesy of Kodansha America
TITLE: A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN
AUTHOR: Kiyoshi Seike, Masanobu Kudo, David H. Engel, Photographs by Sadao Hibi
PUBLISHED BY Kodansha International
PAGE COUNT: 100 Pages
A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN
With this book, you can bring a touch of Oriental magic into your own backyard. All the basic components of a Japanese garden and their functions are explained and illustrated: stepping stones, paving stones, stone lanterns, signs and statues; streams, waterfalls, and ponds; bamboo fences, gates and walls. Written by eminent authorities on architectural design, botany and landscape design, this popular book has now been fully revised and expanded.
I love looking at Japanese gardens. There is a feeling of peace and serenity when I look at the garden and the lush green backgrounds to just the placement of rocks. I’ve always been interested on the ideas and the reasoning behind it and about a decade ago, I found a fantastic book titled “A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN”.
Fast forward a decade later and now we have a revised version of that book. This new revision features:
- 192 all-new photographs and a stylish new design
- Twice the color pages with even more gardens to inspire you
- 126 detailed line drawings
The book is broken down to two sections: “The Gardens” and “The Elements”.
“The Gardens” featured on the courtyard garden, the stone garden and the tree and water garden.
The courtyard garden segment featured beautiful photography showcasing the home and the way plants, rocks and placement were featured. And also giving an illustration of the composition of the stones and the pathways. I thought that this was well done.
But the one that will always be pleasing to the human eye are stone gardens. Appreciation towards minimalism and I found this segment alone just beautiful and really empowering.
The tree and water garden of course, is just amazing. Breathtaking. Of course, having an actual waterfall as part of your garden is probably more fitting for the rich and famous but nevertheless, very beautiful to look at and one can find themselves just standing on a bridge or just sitting and watching the water interact with the greenery and the rocks. Simply beautiful.
But once you reach the section on “The Elements”. This section is where all the information for landscapers or those wanting information on Japanese gardens will be interested in. It’s an important chapter because it explains how communication is made from a Japanese garden to the person viewing it.
From the reasoning behind placements of rocks, arrangement of stones, plants, water, bamboo gates, lanterns, etc. and the theory behind it.
The chapter on rocks and stepping stones was a good example that many will like to read because it goes into the theory of placement and just almost like art, how the rocks can give a feeling of having more of a garden and the empowerment felt from them.
The book goes into stone lanterns and how they became a part of Japanese gardens because of the tea ceremonies. The chapter goes into explaining the different lanterns available and their use. And also, stone Buddha’s or lamp posts.
Another chapter goes into water basins and the construction of them. And of course, followed by water-based segments that go into streams and waterfalls.
A section that has been expanded upon is the use of bamboo constructions such as fences, gates and walls.
And the section is then followed by the selection of plants that are used for color and seasonal change.
The book ends with hand-made techniques, an appendices and Japanese gardens one can visit in the United States, the UK and Ireland.
The book is full of information, beautiful photography and just overall, helpful for those wanting to build their own Japanese garden or just simply has a passion for them.
Over a decade ago, I purchased “A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN”. With my passion for Japanese culture, I wanted to have a touch of Japanese flair for my home.
Granted, I was only a college student at the time and having only limited income, I used the book as a reference and for visual ideas. I would use the books diagrams and sketch out where I wanted the plants to go. Where I wanted the rock placements to be located. Then picking out plants that would not only be suitable for our very hot climate and cold climate but plants that would provide color. (Please note that this photo was after the winter, the start of Spring and the bermuda grass was starting to come up and fill parts of my garden).
I would pick out Japanese lanterns and lamps to add to the composition and over Spring, I was able to come up with something that I was proud of (considering my limitations). I was able to create something different in my front yard and eventually, having neighbors and people nearby my home giving me compliments of the work that I was able to create.
I have no landscaping skills (as you can probably tell) but I realize that by using the book and learning about rock placement and using the photos as a visual reference and trying to find plants or similar plants as featured in the book, perhaps I could bring some part of Japan to my own American yard.
So, I can tell you first hand that this book is a great reference for ideas and for those who just love the serenity of Japanese gardens and the ideas and reasons behind it. This revised edition has more photography, more content and illustrations over the original and for those who are wanting to experiment or add a touch of Japan to your garden, “A JAPANESE TOUCH FOR YOUR GARDEN” is definitely for you. Highly recommended!
THE AKIBA: A Manga Guide to Akihabara (a J!-ENT Book Review)
October 19, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
Photos from “The Akiba @2008 Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd.”
“WOW! I am absolutely impressed by this guide of Akihabara! Not only does it provide you with pictures and information of popular maid cafes, video game stores, cosplay, electronics, figurines, retail stores, dojin-shi, restaurants and more… there is actually a fun, enjoyable manga storyline that provides information about Akihabara that I can simply proclaim this book as one, if not, the best printed reference in English for those who are interested in visiting or knowing about the Akiba! Highly recommended!”
BOOK: THE AKIBA: A Manga Guide to Akihabara
AUTHORS: Story and Art by Makoto Nakajima
COMPANY: Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd.
PAGE COUNT: 98 pages
There are plenty of books in English for those interested in traveling to Japan but for people who are interested in visiting the city of Akihabara (the electric city in Tokyo known for its otaku-driven stores from maid cafes, anime figurines, dojinshi, cosplay, video games, etc.), finding a resource in English with detailed information is not that easy.
Also, for many travel books, there is always your standard mention of the city but what about a book on Akihabara written by otaku for otaku’s?
Well, “THE AKIBA: A Manga Guide to Akihabara” is not only an excellent resource, it’s one of the most enjoyable books from Japan distributed in the US courtesy of Kodansha America, that I really just am impressed by it’s information but also how it’s written in a way to not only keep the reader interested, intrigued but definitely a book that can encourage travel to the city. It’s that fun!
The book is broken into two parts. The first part is the manga and the second part is the actual guide to Akihabara.
Photos from “The Akiba @2008 Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd.”
The manga is a very enjoyable storyline about a couple in Tokyo. Hiroshi and Yoko. One day, Hiroshi said that he will be stopping in Akiba (short for Akihabara) after work. The next morning, Yoko starts to worry because not only has her boyfriend not come back from work, she finds out that he stopped working over a month ago. This is not like him and she starts to worry.
She notices that he left behind his cell phone and also received a text message from a person named Okada who said that he will meet him at Raji-kan in front of Ayanami. Who is Okada? What is Raji-kan? Why is he going to Akihabara?
This leads the trendy Yoko to the city of Akihabara. A person who really never looked at the city all that much but has heard about the culture from newspapers and magazines.
This leads Yoko to the Raji-kan (or Radio Hall) building. The interesting part of this manga is that it also shows actual pictures (in grayscale) of various things from Akihabara. The magazines that are passed out by women in cosplay to the stores in buildings that Yoko is visiting. Also, some maps as well of where things are located.
So, while searching for her boyfriend, she runs into Okada-san, a rental display case manager (for figurines) at a hobby shop but is also a hardcore otaku (and cosplayer) who loves the way of life in Akihabara.
Okada gives her information of why he was to meet Hiroshi but Yoko through running around Akihabara for the day, really doesn’t understand Akihabara all that much and asks Okada for his help. The two go on a journey to find Hiroshi and Yoko begins to understand that her boyfriend is not what she thought he would be. That despite his cool look, he is an otaku that frequents Akihabara quite a bit.
Through their adventures, will Yoko accept the otaku lifestyle and the way things are in Akihabara? Will she find Hiroshi? Also, does Okada start to have feelings for Yoko (or the sense of having a woman by his side in Akihabara). You’ll have to read to find out!
The manga was just so fun to read and I just found it so informative of the various shops featured, that I was very happy to see manga used as a educational book (even explaining a little of the history of how Akihabara became the way it is) to an informative reference book with maps and information on shops featured in the actual manga storyline.
Without spoiling the storyline, all I can say is that the adventures of Yoko and Okada in their search for Hiroshi was very enjoyable and I have no doubt in my mind, those who are interested in Akihabara will learn from this manga, and of course, this book in general.
Photos from “The Akiba @2008 Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd.”
The second part of the book features the “Shop & Restaurant Guide to Akiba” and this section is in full color. Not only do you get the history of the Akiba but nearly 30-pages of detailed information on maid cafes, large retail stores, restaurants, PC stores, figures, games, dojin-shi, audio equipment, cosplay, arcades and other stores.
With the book arranged by Otaba (Otaba is a social networking service community of the otaku, by the otaku and for the otaku), I would imagine that the shops selected are the best in Akiba and what is recommended. So, you get a photo, information and also the address, phone number and store or shop hours as well.
The book is about 8.5 x 10, so the book is large and not small. The manga art was pretty cool and the whole “Genshiken”-like (title of a popular anime series about otaku, some who are cool otaku and a girlfriend who is more trendy but loves her boyfriend even though he is an otaku) storyline definitely made me interested.
But it’s just the overall concept and how well it was executed in order for a reader not to be just drawn in by the storyline but to see photos and maps incorporated to the manga storyline that made it even better.
And of course, the shop and restaurant guide is just the icing in the cake when it comes to this book. Very informative and it truly is a well-done reference book for the type of shops and restaurants that would attract otaku.
I’ve owned many Japanese travel books and even have interactive CD’s and audio books that are educational but “THE AKIBA: A Manga Guide to Akihabara” is definitely one of the best out there! Granted, it focuses primarily on Akihabara but for many otaku, that’s the only city that they probably want to focus on and spend their hard earned money on.
I wouldn’t be surprised if people bought two copies, one to keep at home as a reference and one to keep with themselves while visiting the various shops and restaurants in Akihabara.
All in all, an excellent reference with an enjoyable manga storyline that I highly recommend!
