Kimura Style Gardening

Kimio Kimura designed the Japanese Gardens of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District over a period of 30 years, and continues to tend the garden. Kimura was born in Japan, and migrated to the United States to attend University. At the prompting of his father, Kimura studied economic and international business for his undergrad degree; Kimura switched to Landscape Architecture for his Masters Degree at University of California, Berkeley.

Kimura uses physical objects to demonstrate dynamic
groupings of rocks and plants.

On the first Saturday of the month, Kimura gives an informal lecture about his Japanese gardening ideas, which he calls Kimura style. The basic garden elements are water, stone and plants. He demonstrates how to achieve dynamic balance by grouping two or three components in different combinations – varying texture, placement, and height. He also describes the importance of each gardening element as an individual, and its contribution to the overall garden.

Here Kimura uses objects to help students
visualize the distinctive layered look
of a pruned tree.

I learned a lot from Kimio Kimura, and plan to return to learn more. It is inspiring to learn from a master, and Kimura encourages students to ask questions. He is writing a multi-volume book that describes and illustrates his design principles.