Kazuyuki Ishihara is a Japanese garden designer, who has won multiple medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. His design philosophy transcends the traditional boundaries of landscape architecture, incorporating elements of ecology, environment and luxury lifestyle into their projects. His projects often feature a rich variety of plant species, promoting biodiversity and creating a haven for local wildlife.
Ishihara’s Sanctuary garden at last year’s RHS Chelsea was called MOROTO no IE, sponsored by G-Lion Group. The garden is described as Ishihara’s “ultimate domestic garden” and was designed to blend the beauty of nature with happy family life.
Ishihara made his first appearance at Chelsea 20 years ago, with a show garden called Gen, or Source, for which he won a Silver Gilt medal. Since then he has exhibited a further 14 times, notching up 12 coveted Gold medals and four Best in Show awards.
The garden aims to create a calm and restful retreat, emphasising the use of numerous green shades and varied textures. Ishihara’s design philosophy focuses on creating gardens of peace, influenced by his background as a second-generation atomic bomb survivor from Nagasaki. While the garden received a Silver-gilt medal, it continues to showcase Ishihara’s signature style and his commitment to bringing Japanese garden aesthetics to the international stage
Acers featured strongly in the 2024 Chelsea garden, as well as a waterfall, which is a trademark of Ishihara’s gardens. I also strongly admired the green wall, as well as the use of moss – and finally the vivid purple Iris sibirica ‘Tropic Night’ really caught my eye.
The way he’s included rocks and moss around a waterfall make the garden feel like a hidden oasis that you’ve stumbled upon on a day trip – it really is a beautifully stunning garden.
As a designer, Ishihara is obsessed with the finer details and he is an ultimate master of his craft. I look forward to seeing his future garden designs.
