About Us

Meet the heads behind Real Japanese Gardens. Keizo Hayano, a Japanese garden designer with 20 years experience under his belt. He studied the fine arts in Kyoto and loves small intimate gardens that heal the soul.

Anika Ogusu is a German gardener with a deep interest in Japanese gardens and culture. She looks at things from every possible angle and tries to find new perspectives.

Anika Ogusu

I was raised in the garden of my grandmother and the woods around our house. When I got interest in Japan in my teenage years, I combined my two loves and started to collect everything about Japanese gardens. After my school graduation, I studied Japanese culture for about 3 years at university before I chose to become a gardener. I was trained in the Botanical Garden Hamburg and after my graduation in 2008 I worked there till I went to Japan in 2012 to expand my knowledge about Japanese gardens. Since then I have been taking every chance to visit gardens in Japan and soak up every little detail that seems interesting to me.

2003-2006 entered the course for Japanese studies at the University of Hamburg
2006-2008 started the gardener training in the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg
2008 graduated as gardener with specialization in perennials
2008-2011 gardener for tropic and subtropic crops and in charge for breeding beneficial organism for pest control in Botanical Garden Hamburg
2011-2012 gardener in charge for the “perennial valley” in Botanical Garden Hamburg
2012-2014 Japanese gardening training near Tokyo
2014- Garden Designer at Garden Design Shop Niwashyu and in charge for Real Japanese Gardens
2019- Garden Guide for Tokyo Garden Tours

Autumn leaves in the garden of Hōgon-in temple — Gardens Anika likes

Keizo Hayano (早野恵三)

I loved drawing since I was a child. In my teenage years I would use my free time to visit an atelier after school to improve my painting skills. I chose to study oil painting at the Kyoto University of Fine Arts, where I began to become interested in architecture and design. After graduating, I worked as kawara workman, laying roof tiles on traditional Japanese houses. This is where I first got in touch with Japanese gardens. It didn’t take long until I switched professions and entered the world of exterior and garden design.

My work style

Since ancient times, Japanese live in close bonds with their neighbors and nature. In my work, I want to cherish the traditions of Japan and adapt them to modern Japanese life. I want to evoke the Wabi-Sabi feeling in my fellow human beings and create places that comfort the soul.

1972 born in Ibaraki-City, Osaka
1991 entered the oil painting course at the Kyoto Seika University
1993 started working in the house building industry
1994 collected experience as roof tiler for traditional Japanese town houses, temples and shrines
1995-2004 worked as exterior and garden designer in a landscape company in Osaka and the Kinki area
2004-2009 promotion to chief designer in Tokyo and the Kanto region
2009 founded Exterior and Garden Design Studio Niwashyu

Japanese Garden Design Company Niwashyu Keizo Hayano

Jomyo-ji Temple in Kamakura by Real Japanese Gardens — Gardens Hayano likes

Check out Hayano’s garden design company Niwashyu

Licenses and Certificates

First-Class landscape gardening work operation and management engineer
Second-Class engineer operation and management engineer
Second-Class building operation and management engineer
Assistant Surveyor
Member of the Japan Association of Professional Garden Designers

Awards

2005 Award of Excellence – Garden Design Contest by the Association for “Garden Thinking”
2006 Award of Excellence – 13th Garden Space Construction Contest (Takasho co., ltd.)
2007 Nomination – 30th Exterior Construction Contest – Entrance Gate Category (Toyoexterior co., ltd.)
2008 Gold – 4th Makeland Construction Photography Contest – Before-After Category (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2009 Award of Excellence – 14th Garden Space Construction Contest (Takasho co., ltd.)
2009 Gold – 5th Makeland Construction Photography Contest – Before-After Category (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2010 Silver – 6th Makeland Construction Photography Contest – Before-After Category (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2010 Bronze – 33th Exterior Construction Contest – Exterior Renovation Category (Toyoexterior co., ltd.)
2010 Gold – 1st Tokyo International Flower and Garden Show – City Garden Category (Collaboration with Masami Garden co., ltd.)
2011 Bronze – 1st Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Eco-Life Category (YKK ap co., ltd.)
2011 Bronze – 1st LIXIL Exterior Construction Contest – Garden Category (Lixil co., ltd.)
2012 Silver – 8th Makeland Construction Photography Contest – Night Scene Category (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2012 Silver 8th Makeland Construction Photography Contest – Garden Plan Category (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2012 Silver – 2nd Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Garden Material Category (YKKap co.,ltd.)
2012 Nomination – 2nd LIXIL Exterior Construction Contest – Exterior Renovation Category (Lixil co., ltd.)
2013 Silver – 3rd Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Exterior Renovation Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2013 Grand Prize – 3rd Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Family Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2014 Bronze – 10th Makeland Construction Photography Contest (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2014 Nomination – 10th Makeland Construction Photography Contest (Tokoname epcos co., ltd.)
2014 Silver – 4th Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Exterior Renovation Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2014 Bronze – 4th Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Entrance Gate – Garage Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2014 Nomination – 4th Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Family Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2014 Nomination – 4th LIXIL Exterior Construction Contest – Entrance Gate – Garage Category (Lixil co., ltd.)
2014 Fighting bravely – 22th TOYO Construction Photography Contest – Wall Material Category (Toyo kogyo co., ltd.)
2015 Bronze – 5th Exterior Design Construction Photography Contest – Window – Garden Category (YKKap co., ltd.)
2015 Bronze – 23th Garden Space Construction Contest – Japanese style Creation Category (Takasho co., ltd.)
2016 Honorable Mention – 6th Exterior Design Construction Photo Contest “Exterior Renovation Category” (YKK AP Corporation)
2017 Silver – 24th 2017 Spatial Design Contest “Art Wall / Exsak Category” (Shikoku Kasei Industry Co., Ltd.)
2018 Special Award – 14th Makeland Construction Photo Contest (Tokoname Epco Co., Ltd.)
2018 Silver – 8th Exterior Design Construction Photo Contest “Garden Category” (YKK AP Corporation)
2018 Honorable Mention – 8th Exterior Design Construction Photo Contest “Gate / Garage Surroundings Category” (YKK AP Corporation)
2018 Bronze – 26th Garden Space Construction Example Contest “Renovation Garden & Exterior Category” (Takasho Co., Ltd.)
2019 Honorable Mention – 26th TOYO National Construction Photo Contest “Paving Material Category” (Toyo Industry Co., Ltd.)
2019 Best Style Award – 9th Exterior Style Photo Contest “Façade Category” (YKK AP Corporation)
2020 Honorable Mention – TOYO National Construction Photo Contest “Wall Material Category” (Hosted by Toyo Industry Co., Ltd.)
2020 Honorable Mention – 10th LIXIL Exterior Contest 2020 “Façade Category” (LIXIL Corporation)
2021 Honorable Mention – 28th TOYO National Construction Photo Contest “Item Category” (Toyo Industry Co., Ltd.)
2022 Special Award – 30th Garden Space Construction Example Contest “Renovation Garden & Exterior Category” (Takasho Co., Ltd.)
2022 Excellence Award – 18th Makeland Construction Photo Contest “Lighting Category” (Make Corporation)

The awards for 2023, 2024, 2025 will follow.

Mr. Hayano is also working on overseas projects of Japanese Gardens. If you are interested, please get in touch.

Jenny Feuerpeil

is the co-founder and previous editor-in-chief of Real Japanese Gardens. Jenny is not working for Real Japanese Gardens anymore but you will find some of the older eBooks were written by her.