Who is Kazuyuki Ishihara?
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.
A master at Chelsea
At last year’s RHS Chelsea, Ishihara created the Sanctuary Garden MOROTO no IE, sponsored by the G-Lion Group. He designed this “ultimate domestic garden” to blend the beauty of nature with the warmth of 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.
He includes rocks and moss around a waterfall in a way that makes the garden feel like a hidden oasis you might stumble upon during a day trip—it’s truly a beautifully stunning space.
As a designer, Ishihara obsesses over every fine detail and masters his craft with remarkable skill. I can’t wait to see the gardens he creates in the future.