Mini Trucks in Japan Are Being Transformed Into Enchanting Tiny Gardens

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Fukuharu Landscaping

Every year, the Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors hosts the Kei Truck Garden Contest, a quirky competition that turns tiny trucks into moveable gardens. The annual event attracts landscape artists all over the country, inviting them to pair their knack for gardening with a need for speed.

Praised for its practical size and maneuverability, the miniature Kei truck fittingly has roots in Japan's construction and agriculture industries. Though typically used to transport materials to and from work sites, the vehicle has recently been reimagined as the foundation for these enchanting pop-up gardens.

Year after year, the eye-catching entries of the contest highlight the distinctive beauty of the Japanese garden. While most participants stick to traditional design elements, like pebble paths, sliding screen doors, and tranquil water fixtures, others have a more modern and minimalist look.

No matter the aesthetic approach, however, each exquisite creation proves that a flat bed can be a flower bed with a green thumb and a colorful imagination.

During the annual Kei Truck Garden Contest, talented landscapers turn the beds of their trucks into ornate Japanese gardens.

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Kansai Ueki Co., Ltd.

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Dry Landscaping Co., Ltd.

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Takahashi Landscaping Co., Ltd.

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Sancho Garden

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Nishikawa Landscaping

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Matsuda Landscape Construction

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Showa Landscaping Civil Engineering

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Kei's

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Osaka Landscaping Civil Engineering Co., Ltd.

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Tanaka Landscaping Co., Ltd. Civil Engineering

Kei Truck Garden Contest Garden Truck

Created by Takenaka Garden

Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors: Website | Facebook
h/t: [Spoon & Tamago]

All images via the Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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