ADGJapan2006:An Aquascaper's Impressions - Aquascaping

jsenske · 10-02-2006, 05:18 PM

Been meaning to get to posting some images from our Japan trip for few weeks now and am finally getting around to dealing at least a few of the hundreds I took.
Obviously the trip was incredible. Japan was amazing and a is true aquascapers inspirational mecca.
The Nature Aquarium Party was just awesome and let me tell you-- Amano really knows how to throw down! (A party that is). We feasted numerous times and all the attendees were treated like royalty. Many feasts, many gifts...just incredible. It is trip I highly recommend to everyone. We will be back next year for sure.
I wanted to post a few images in this first series that are more from an aquascapers perspective, not so much the usual tourist type shots (which I simply do not take anyway). This first set includes some of the gardens, temples, retial stores, Amano's house, and ADA gallery. Do enjoy. More to come (time permitting).

As the sign says...

Looking for the "aquascape" in the scenery at every turn.

A little "touristy", sure.

This was upstairs in a sort of studio/display area in a ship in Tokyo called AquaMeister. It was my favorite in terms of showing a high volume of really strong aquascapes. These were pretty typical around Japan, though. The availabilty of great products and resources I think expedites the time and experience of the Japanese hobbyist. Tihs is where I urge U.S. hobbyists to keep pushing for more plants and better quality from their retailers!

This was in another Tokyo shop.

This is about 1/4 of the total plant offerings in this one small shop.

WOWZERS!!

On to Amano's house. This was the walk up through his neighborhood in Niigata.

Arriving at the front door...

Amano presenting and giving a little history and philosophy on his personal tank. He had just done a big thinning and said is was only about 60% grown back.

A serious tank requires some serious equipment.

Amano's "backyard". It was a vacant lot 7 short years ago, before he land (or aqua?)scaped it. It was not the best time of day to shoot it though.

Enter the gallery...
One of my favorites:

Seeing these tanks in person was a dream and fantasy come true for me. Incredible.

Cool little nanos everywhere.

Some wonderful immersed growth Bolbitis.

Beauty abounds in many forms at the ADA Gallery. I was blown away by these Bonsai.

Secret rock stash! Can you imagine?!

Till next time...

Steven_Chong · 10-02-2006, 05:28 PM

Hey Jeff, it looks like you guys really managed to enjoy your trip!

Amano's gallery/office/house is really in the middle of no-where ain't it!? When I went to Niigata this summer, I swear there's no way I would have found it in the middle of that rice-paddy town! Luckily, I ran into one of Amano's nephews who drove me to the gallery.

The shops in Tokyo really are cool-- I feel like such a geek for actually recognizing which LFs they were taken from. lol That tank from aquaforest with the utricularia is pretty cool!

It looks like you guys also made your way down to Kyoto-- I actually went to that temple with that sign!! Damn, can't remember the name of it, but I do remember the huge, HUGE pond there, and the rock garden. My relatives took me, and it was nice.

Lots of photos from kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) too I see. I hope you also made your way over to ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). Ginkakuji isn't as well known-- but really it's way more beautiful-- overwhelmingly beautiful. When they say the garden designer was a genius, they really meant it. One of the most beautiful places on earth IMO.

Cool photos Jeff, thanks for sharing!