In 1997 , Jake Hobson travelled to Japan , ab initio draw by the cherry peak season .
There , he discovered a profound appreciation for Japanese gardens and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree upkeep – so after spending meter learning traditional tree aid technique , Jake returned to England and introduced Japanese gardening tools to westerly garden through his line , Niwaki .
Today , Niwaki offers a curated orbit of calibre gardening tools invigorate by Jake ’s experience in Japan , which he shares in this article .
What initially drew you to Japan in 1997, and how did your interest in the cherry blossom season, ‘hanami’, evolve into a passion for gardens and trees?
“ I was an art student studying sculpture at the Slade and I was living with a bunch of friends , one of whom had a lady friend from Japan , ” shares Jake .
“ The agency she talk about Japan made me curious , so I practice for a travel award from UCL tosee the cherry blossomfor societal rather than botanical reasons . I discovered the gardens ( which I get it on nothing about ) and their amazing tree .
“ That conduce to a twelvemonth teaching English outside Tokyo and then to work at a tree diagram nursery in Osaka . ”
What were the most valuable lessons you learned about tree training and pruning whilst there?
“ It took a while to really sympathize and most of what I was introduced to in Japan did n’t really make signified for several age until I ’d got back home and started doing thing myself , ” he explain .
“ That was when I realised that the rum shapes of Niwakiin Japanese gardensdidn’t encounter naturally because of the case of tree diagram , but were artificial .
“ I think plant had to be namedjaponicato look like that , but the eureka moment was when I showed some photograph of Dorset to the knob of the nursery and he pointed to the Scots pines in the background , and said , ‘ matsu , onaji ’ ( ‘ pines – the same ’ ) .
“ I argued that they see completely different to his greenhouse trees and he made a gesture of edit out scissor hold with his fingers . Only then did I realise that it ’s not so much about the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree itself , it ’s what you do to it . ”
What inspired you to start Niwaki, and how did you come to realise that Japanese gardening tools could be just as effective in Western gardens?
“ Back in the UK , I start pruning for customer and worked at Architectural Plants in Sussex . I was using tools I ’d work back with me , as well as two tripod ladders my brother - in - law had ship from Japan .
“ These were most likely the very first atomic number 13 tripod ladder in the UK , and people remark . The ladder were specially useful for hedge work and tall topiary , especially in borders .
“ I was doing a lot of box clipping at the metre , so the shears and one - handed clippers soon attracted care , as well as the secateurs I used . ”
What’s the most rewarding part of your journey with Niwaki so far?
“ I consider I get the most delight from hearing from happy customers around the macrocosm who give thanks us for making the noesis , techniques and tools available , ” portion out Jake .
What advice would you give to someone looking to incorporate Japanese gardening techniques and tools into their own Western garden?
“ If you ’re thinking of adding Nipponese elements to your own garden , think about what attracts you to Japanese garden and the impact it will have , ” he apprise .
“ in person , I forefend Japanese ornamentation such as lantern , bridge , paths and fence , and prefer rationalize , not to make my garden look deliberately Nipponese , but as a manner to create a sense of landscape and to bind the garden together . ”
Do you have any particular career highlights that you would like to share?
“ I ’ve been lucky enough to be on television with Carol Klein on Life in a Cottage Garden and Monty Don on Gardeners ’ domain , and it ’s gravid fun haphazardly catching a re - run on daytime TV !
“ I ’ve also worked in some amazing private garden and met some extraordinary the great unwashed in the industry .
“ As the Niwaki job has grow , I ’ve been very lofty of how the team has uprise , and I ’m particularly proud of our shop in Chiltern Street , London , which just celebrated its two - class day of remembrance . ”
Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations coming up that you are looking forward to?
“ As always there are lots of task and collaborations coming up , ” hints Jake.-
“ Most of which we ca n’t talk about just yet , but they include newfangled products , collaboration with exciting partners and travel , all to come in 2024 . ”
