Abstract

The author has overseen garden maintenance and management for many years as the Kyoto City Cultural Properties Protection Division’s only professional engineer specializing in gardens. Tracing 1,000 years of history of famous Kyoto sites, such as Tenryū-ji Temple and Nijō Castle, this book presents a new consideration of gardens with a focus on how they are used. A true view of gardens unavailable in guidebooks.

Reviews
“I was surprised by this book.” ―Toshiko Watanabe, poet
“The source of this book’s charm and persuasiveness is the actual experience and concrete knowledge of the protection of cultural property gardens” ―Makoto Sato, ancient historian
“A garden may look like a natural form, but it is a place where people’s desires and spirits are strongly expressed.” ―Junko Sakai, essayist

Awards
16th Japanese Garden Society Award

Author’s Information

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1975, raised in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Completed the master's course at Kyoto University of Art and Design. Completed the doctoral course at the Graduate School of Human Sciences at Osaka University. Doctor of Human Sciences. Currently working at Kyoto City Hall.
He specializes in the study of garden history, structure, repair, maintenance, and craftsmanship, as well as phenomenological qualitative research. His publications include "Imperial Literature, Architecture, and Gardens" (co-author, Chikurinsha, 2007) and "Kyoto Jisso-in Monzeki" (co-author, Shibunkaku Publishing, 2016).