KOBAYASHI KENJI ATELIER

Koujitsu-Garden

Kobayashi Kenji Atelier operates at two rooms of an apartment "Koujitsu-Sou". This wooden railroad apartment was built over 30years ago. It is older than common apartment so there is a larger space than those around "Koujitsu-sou". The spare space lends as a parking lot. But general residents of railroad apartment don't have their own car. So there is no car.
The beginning of "Koujitsu-garden" are "Vinca minor" planted by the design room entrance with unassuming modesty and "Kerria" planted at the corner of parking lot. Though it is called the parking lot, the good soils was left at the corner after that space was paved with crushed stones.
So there was Nandina, Cotton rosemallow and Hydrangea in there from the very start. I watched the run of events about what kind of weed and wildflowers sprout and grow up during about one year... As a result, I recognized that there are awfully bad Narcissuses, Scented geraniums, Tawny daylilies and tends of kinds of weed on that space. Since then, the paved ground was eroded by tentacles of "Vinca minor" and mine. And "Koujitsu-garden" began to move, slowly.
Up to today, the car of the hooligan who has broken his leg had been left couple of month so that blocked a valuable sunny place. And five cars had parked at there for the construction of an apartment during it. The garden and I overcame a lot of trials. But on the other hand, we got a supporter "Painter F" who had moved in next door, Realtor boss who management the apartment is also interested in the garden, moreover, we got an encouragement to us from lady neighbors. I kept making the garden and put aside my work.
I wonder how much earth is saved if all parking lots become green lung. Then, I thought it fits my idea that I rent a parking lot as my garden, once or twice. I won't move from this apartment anytime soon. But I don't want to pay much money for my garden because nobody knows when this old apartment will be pull down.
I maintain my garden by the 8,000yen budget for a year. I multiply the plants their kinds are possible to dispose easily. And I always choose such plants to not be troubled with those when I move from here.
Even in a small garden, if the number of the plants increases, the animals increases in number,too. If the number of living things increases that makes many stories. Also, meeting and the discovery increase. I imposed restraints myself from only event in the garden and only the scenery which I can see from the garden.I kept putting the photograph and the essay on my website with my restraints, and three years passed.
Whenever winter comes, I'm attacked by serious shortage of material. Though it was thought that I will stop it. But It's always sure that spring comes. I will continue a little more. I take a picture of the garden made by designer. It had never full view of the garden because that is few stands out. But If I bent over, a lot of small sceneries can be discovered. If I turned over the leaf, I can meet an unexpected event. I really enjoy it.
It is enough to explain about five senses that only soil, water some sensible stones and many plants are chosen, carefully. Then, the birds, bugs and wind grows the plants beyond human power. That is why I would really like to make the garden.

March 31,2006　Gardener from "Koujitsu-garden"
P.S. There is no the English translation of the essay yet, Sorry.