Bamboo Fences
Isao Yoshikawa , Osamu Suzuki

Bamboo has always played an important role in Japanese daily life, and the versatile plant has been used for numerous purposes ranging from food, garden design, and furniture to cooking utensils. Among its applications in the garden and home is its use as a raw material for fences and partitions. Indeed, in Japan bamboo fence building has become an art form, and endless varieties of bamboo fences exist, from simple picket designs to elaborate fences woven with Bamboo branches. This wide range of fence designs has its origin partly in the full development of the tea ceremony during the sixteenth century, when elegant bamboo fences became important elements of tea ceremony gardens. Bamboo partitions were also used in Zen temples, and from there spread to ordinary homes. Many fence styles are named for the temple in which the first of their kind was build.

Bamboo Fences provides a detailed look at the complex art of bamboo fence design in Japan, presenting these unique structures in over 250 photographs and line drawings. From the widely used "four-eyed fence" (yotsume-gaki) and the fine "raincoat fence" (mino-gaki) to the expensive "spicebush fence" (kuromoji-gaki), these exquisite designs impress with their simple beauty, providing plenty of inspiration for your own bamboo fence.

Author Isao Yoshikawa gives a brief overview of the history of bamboo fence building in Japan and classifies the different designs by type. A glossary provides explanation of Japanese fence names and structural terms.

Isao Yoshikawa graduated from the Architecture Department of Shibaura Technical University. He established the Japan Garden Research Association in 1963 and is honorary president of the Suzhou Society for study of Landscape and Gardens, and of the Hangzhou Society for study of Landscape and Gardens, both in China. Major books he has authored include Gardens in Kyoto (1981), An Illustrated Dictionary of Bamboo Fence and Rock Arrangement (1994), Japanese Garden Architects (1993), and Making a Small Garden (1996).

Osamu Suzuki is Osamu Suzuki is a photographer based in Japan.


Isao Yoshikawa graduated from the Architecture Department of Shibaura Technical University. He established the Japan Garden Research Association in 1963 and is honorary president of the Suzhou Society for study of Landscape and Gardens, and of the Hangzhou Society for study of Landscape and Gardens, both in China. Major books he has authored include Bamboo fences (Ariake Shobo, 1977), Style of Famous Garden in Japan (Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha. 1978), Details of Garden Design (Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha. 1978), Pasing Stones and Stepping Stones (Ariake Shobo, 1979), Gardens in Kyoto (Kodansha, 1981), An Illustrated Dictionary of Bamboo Fence and Rock Arrangement (Kenchiku Shiryo Kenkyusha, 1 9R4), Japanese Garden Architects (Japan Garden Research Association. 1993), and Making a Small Garden (Boutique-sha Co.. 1996).

Osamu Suzuki is a photographer based in Japan.
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Editorial Reviews

Serene Surroundings, Martha Stewart Living:
"Simply gazing at the photographs may inspire some tranquillity of your own." (May, 2009)

Design Boom:
"Bamboo's abundance and extreme durability has made it a natural choice as a raw material for fences and partitions. 'bamboo fences' provides a detailed survey of the art of fence design in japan, from those used in your garden to larger scale wall structures. The history of bamboo and its use is supported by 250 images which showcase the versatility and material aesthetics of the wood. more than twenty different fence designs described, all classified by type, from the common 'four-eyed fence' (yotsume-gaki) to the expensive 'spicebush fence' (kuromoji-gake), giving a good overview of the craft. there is also a glossary which has explanations of japanese fence names and structural terms, as well as technical drawings of the designs to better understand their complexity." (June, 2009)

Live Books:
"The photographs by Suzuki perfectly illustrate the work." — Darius Himes (July 1st, 2009)

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