The Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors hosts the annual Kei Truck Garden Contest, a competition that transforms tiny trucks into mobile gardens.
The event is graced by numerous landscape contractors all over Japan, where they arrive on-site with their small trucks and then spend several hours turning the cargo bed into a beautiful garden.
Kei trucks are mini pickup trucks that originated in Japan. Throughout Asia, Kei trucks are widely used in agriculture, construction, deliveries, and even firefighting. But in Japan, these practical tiny trucks can serve more than just a mere mode of transportation.
Vying to win the competition, participants try to showcase their imagination, creativity and gardening skills through their mini trucks.
Participants of the Kei Truck Garden Contest arrived on site with their own Kei trucks. And then they spend several hours constructing and designing the garden on the truck’s cargo bed. These mini pickup trucks provide a suitable space where landscape artists can build small-scale gardens with eye-catching features.
Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors: Website | Facebook
During the annual Kei Truck Garden Contest, talented landscapers turn the beds of their trucks into ornate Japanese gardens.
Created by Kansai Ueki Co., Ltd.
It’s no secret that Japanese gardens are the most beautiful in the world. That’s why most of the entries paraded traditional Japanese-style gardens with pebble paths, water fixtures, and sliding screen doors. Other entries also employed large rocks, miniature huts, bamboo stalks, man-made ponds, and even tea sets. Of course, layers of green grass and colorful flowers are integral elements of the Kei gardens.
Being known for their world-class gardens, the landscaping displays in these truck beds do not disappoint.
There are a few limitations when designing a truck. Everything from aquariums to seating areas are permitted.
Created by Takahashi Landscaping Co., Ltd.
The set up only takes a few hours for each company to construct on site.
Judges score the entries based on planning, expression, design, execution, and environment.
Created by Nishikawa Landscaping
Many of these tiny trucks would make for an excellent food truck or mobile bar.
Created by Showa Landscaping Civil Engineering
The idea is actually pretty brilliant from a marketing standpoint. This is excellent advertising for the landscaping company. Their ability to turn such a silly looking mini truck into a dedicated botanical garden is quite impressive.
Unfortunately the trucks can not drive on open roads with the landscaping set up so you will not see one passing you anytime soon.
Japan certainly has some strange and questionable traditions but they really nailed it with this one. Nothing screams Japan more than a Kei truck with a botanical garden in the back. I would love to see mobility incorporated into the design, it would be interesting if everything was more secure and somehow made road legal. Then again, it might cause a few accidents from distracted drivers so maybe that isn’t a good idea.
Created by Osaka Landscaping Civil Engineering Co., Ltd.
Created by Takenaka Garden
