Photo journalist and author Stephen Mansfield will talk about his background and why he has developed a particular interest in Japanese gardens, mentioning relevant previous experiences, publications, the genesis and evolution of the book, The Modern Japanese Garden (Thames & Hudson, 2025) in the pre-publication stage.
He will explain how the book features iconic and representative gardens from around Japan, including those of prominent museums and public buildings, plus many newly completed examples at the vanguard of Japanese garden design today, with an analysis of key works of interest through detailed individual garden profiles. He will briefly touch on the relationship between nature and modernity, and how this is represented in the gardens featured in the book. Divided between pre- and post-1945 Japanese garden design, he will examine some of the post-war shifts in attitudes towards contemporary gardens as they move from status symbols and expressions of political influence to spaces resembling art installations, environments for healing and meditation. Chapters content will be introduced, and the reasoning behind their inclusion explained alongside slide images.
Mansfield will explain the function of short Interludes in the book in refreshing and invigorating the main text and introducing extra sub-topics outside its scope. He will expand on the presence in the book of a number of essays by prominent industry experts from within and outside Japan: garden designers, scholars, writers and architects, including Kengo Kuma and Shunmyo Masuno. The talk will be supplemented with a small number of short reading samples from the text.
Stephen Mansfield is a British photojournalist and author, based in Japan and specializing in Japanese garden design. Stephen’s work has appeared across various magazines, newspapers and journals world-wide, including The Geographical, CNN Travel, Critical Asian Studies and Nikkei Asia. He is the author of twenty books, including the critical history Tokyo: A Biography. His work has been translated into French, German, Polish and Chinese.
Doors open at 5:45 pm with a casual “meet the author/cocktail time” from 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served from 6:30 pm and the talk begins at 7:15 pm.
The menu is Seafood Japanese-style Salad, Chicken Breast Cordon Bleu Style, Bread, Dessert, Coffee or Tea. A vegetarian option is available. Please inform the club of food restrictions when reserving (front@fccj.or.jp). Price: 3,000 yen for members; 4,000 yen for non-members.
Beverages can be purchased at the venue at just 550 yen per drink (non-members can purchase drink tickets at Reception).
Online attendance (Zoom) is available by reservation at 550 yen per person.
The member reservation deadline is 2 pm May 26.
Non-members must reserve and pay by Thursday, May 21.
No cancellations after Saturday, May 23.
(The talk will be in English)
Library, Archives & Workroom Committee