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Suikintei-Garten in Takasaki
In the campus of Takasaki Art Center College (Nakayama, near Takasaki) there is a
Japanese garden called Suikintei. It took height years to set it up. The garden was
modelled according to the Japanese paintings by Rinpafuu (a famous painter from Edo
period). It is a magnificent garden, with its winding paths. This is the last masterpiece by
Fujii Kisaburo, an artist who lived the four periods of Meiji, Taisho, Showa and the
actual Heisei, and he put the last energy of his life in this work. In this garden one can
find the two Tea Ceremony Rooms Jishoan and Sokyoan; Jishoan was made by Ogi
Rodo (who was the master of Fujii Kisaburo, and a famous architect). Among all
masterpieces by Fujii Kisaburo this garden with its two Tea Ceremony Rooms and its
"Suikinkutsu" (two earthenware pots buried in the ground, which produce sounds when
hit by water drops) is particularly outstanding. We have always been putting up the forest
philosophy into education at , so we actually practice this philosophy in this place of
education by growing trees and flowers. The Suikintei is a great achievement, but this is
the work of many volunteers, who gave their time and money. The two Tea Ceremony
Rooms Jishoan and Sokyoan, are built according the Japanese styles (for TeaCeremony
Rooms) Sanjodaime and Nijonakaitadaime respectively. A little river flows close to the
Rooms, and a place for washing hands (Tsukubai) is set near the Rooms. You can hear
the sound of the Suikinkutsu while you are washing your hands there
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