Kenrokuen Park

The garden was created by the ruling Maeda family over three centuries beginning in 1676 with a landscape garden called Renchitei. This garden was destroyed by fire in 1759, but was restored in 1774, and in 1822 the garden acquired its current name Kenrokuen. This name is sometimes translated as “garden of six elements”. Actually it refers to a classical Chinese poem that spoke of the six contrasting features for a truly outstanding garden. These essential elements are: extensive space and quiet seclusion, human artistry and old fashioned elegance, lowing water and very distant

views. According to the poem it is almost impossible to create a garden that holds all six elements in common. However, if you take a stroll through Kenrokuen, you can actually find them all.

The garden boasts Japan’s oldest fountain which is powered by natural water pressure and happily combines two of the six traditional elements in one: human artistry and flowing water.

The natural rise and fall of the garden pathways will take you to both secluded resting points, and then suddenly open out to expansive views, like that over the Kasumigaike pond.

Happily the trees of Kenrokuen are better cared for these days. In winter the pine trees in the garden are protected with ropes that are tied in a cone shaped arrangement to prevent heavy snowfalls from breaking the branches. These protective ropes are called yukitsuri and are a famous winter sight of Kenrokuen .

The big pond called “Kasumigaike” was compared to an open sea, and an island, on which an ageless hermit with miraculous power was believed to live, was constructed in the pond in hope of the long life and eternal prosperity of the lord. Kenrokuen, which means “having six factors”, was given the name because of the six attributes that bring out the perfect landscape of the garden: spaciousness, tranquility, artifice, antiquity, water cources, and magnificent view from the garden.

There is a stone lantern designed in the image of the Japanese koto (harp) by the pond, which becomes the symbol of Kenrokuen Garden. There is a fountain created using the natural pressure of water flowing from the higher pond. Full of flowers and trees, such as plum and cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas and irises early in summer, and colorful red and yellow leaves in autumn.

Koi fish have a very long and colourful (literally) history. The vibrant varieties seen in many ponds today have descended from the common solid black carp. Now, not only are they culturally symbolic, but they are a hobby for millions of people around the world. Let’s take a step back in time and find out how these ornamental fish became so significant.

Black carp, or Magoi, were originally brought into Japan from China when the Chinese invaded Japan around 200 BC.

The Japanese are known for being the first in koi history to breed fish that had naturally occurring mutations, which as a result introduced colour to the species.

Rice farmers in Japan used to keep koi fish as a food source when they were originally introduced to the country, and could be found in the country’s rice paddies. When the farmers began to notice the mutations that were happening due to crossbreeding, they began to selectively breed the koi themselves for the carp’s appealing colourful scales. This is thought to have begun in the early 1800’s and led to the earliest varieties, such as the Narumi Asagi.

The earliest breed produced by chance was Magoi with red bellies. From this red-bellied Magoi came across from a Magoi and Higoi; we know them as Benigoi. This eventually led to producing Hi and Ki Bekkos with their black markings.

The pale blue-based Asagi came to produce the white-based koi. White-sided asagi, or Taki Asagi, were used to eventually produce the first Kohaku, and then Goshiki, with Goromo after that.

Taki-asagi Koi played a role in producing white carp with red spots. These were the first coloured carp to be called Kohaku, which are the most popular koi kept today.