This channel focuses on Japanese aesthetics, nature, Japanese gardens and culture. A Shizen Style is about designing a lifestyle of bringing nature into our modern lives. Joshua 'Gensetsu' Smith, PhD aims to foster an appreciation for human creativity and nature.
"Shizen" is Japanese for "nature, natural, and spontaneous." Their concept for this term includes the creative human elements we bring to nature as well.
This human and nature connection is highlighted on this channel through things like Japanese gardening, Japan travel, Japanese culture and my shakuhachi bamboo flute playing. Think of Shizen Style as a guide to fostering a contemporary lifestyle of living naturally.
I talk about wabi-sabi (acceptance of transience and imperfection) and other aesthetic and design principles that help you develop your own Shizen Style.
Hi buddy, I'm curious if you put any effort into making the bubbles smaller ? Thanks for the great video. I have alot of difficulty getting even small bubbles like you have on most of your charred planks. I've been doing it fo ryears and noticed that the smaller bubbles are way more resistant to cracking. Have any suggestions ?
Hmmn, are you using a cedar? I've never went out of my way to get them smaller, I just think the longer you let it burn the more bubbles you'l end up with. Sorry, not sur ehow to control the size though.
Love this, like all of your vids, Josh. Question, at 8:03 "odd numbers like 3, 6, and 9" - is 6 really ok, like 2 groupings of 3, or did you mean 3, 5, and 9? Thanks always.
Glad you like the videos. Wow! That's the first time I noticed that. Congrats on your detailed listening! I think you're right, in my mind I was picturing 2 groups of 3. So I probably should have just stuck with 5, would be more correct and less confusing. I've seen 2 groups of 3, but still they weren't the same symmetrical triangle layouts.
Bonjour Joshua Gensetsu! Has always, great video! I find it difficult to capture the beauty of dew with my camera. Maybe it's because of my rather rudimentary equipment. I fail to grasp the the finesse of it. Have any tips for me? Your video convinced me to try again. On the philosophical side...well...lately I feel that time and trials are like the sun evaporating the dew of my fragile existence.🥀🍁 Thanks again!
Bonjour! I'm glad the video moved you to get out there and try a little bit. Sometimes scenes can be overwhelming so I like to go to a very shallow depth of field at first. Try for f/1.4 or as low as your lens will go. This will help you eliminate all of the extra noise and distractions surrounding the dew drop. Try to focus on one dew drop at first. Then slowly go to f4 or f5.6...if you want to add more supporting characters into your scene. Have fun!
Great video I’m adding some rocks to the Japanese garden I’m making going to get 3 Watched this for help thank you I’m working my way through your videos
Just finish painting my brick house went with sherwin williams Cyberspace color dark charcoal Love it !! Im on long Island ny , are you in Adirondack? Great job by the way 👏
I'm somewhat partial to the Japanese Bellflower along with some contained bamboo as well as 2-3 different varieties of Japanese Maples. I Have some azaleas but don't consider them full enough to set in my overall main plan but at a outer area planting because of it's commonality in our area Of the Mid-Atlantic. Because Moss is difficult to get now i have been playing with the idea of brighter shade greens of Artificial turf to reduce maintenance.
Just going through videos about Japanese gardens. Found your videos and these have been very helpful! Backyard we have a small pond with carved water fall rock and trying to enhance it to Japanese style with surroundings. Front yard we have BIG beautiful rock with couple of low Mugo pines around it. Trying to figure out to thin out them like bonsai-style and add maybe sand/gravel around them. Trying to figure how to keep weeds out and achieve an easy maintenance for those two spots....
Glad you found the channel! Sounds like a nice space. On the website we have the membership if you'd like to upload pics of your space and discuss it. Have a great day.
Mixing.a few different grades of turkey grit is usually the best option but it can be hard to come by. Farm supply stores like Tractor Supply often have some but you might need to talk to them to see if you can get it in bulk.
Wow another fantastic insight from your expert knowledge Josh i loved it , I am in the UK and i'm currently building a Japanese garden . Your video work has provided so much inspiration and vision , trinkets of information that has helped me add placement , Ma , right choice of materials and spiritual guidance . I always make notes and i will be subscribing to your membership community, great work .
Thank You for your dedication to share your knowledge of Japanese Gardens. The explanations of details and trivia for all the Gardens aspects adds to the appreciation of the total experience. I love making Japanese Gardens around our house for our " "Shinrin - Yoku ", and these are the elements make them all complete. BTW, Josh, my Shizen Style Coffee MUG arrived yesterday. Thank You...... 🙂
This channel is amazing and i love your information. I stumbled over it after going down the rabbithole of obsession with Japanese Gardens from playing a videogame (Ghost of Tsushima) of all things 😂 But i had always enjoyed and appreciated them, regularly visit the ones local to me, and even had engagement photos taken at one because to me it is quite literally the MOST beautiful landscaping in this entire area. But that idea sort of always just existed inside of me as a feeling i didn't have the words to deacribe. And your channel and teachings about the different philosophies that the gardens are designed around really helped me make sense of it. I think what i appreciate the most about the Japanese Garden is that unlike American gardens that cut out nature entirely and replace it with artificial decoration and unnatural flowers that are very "loud", it feels like Japanese Gardens sort of "bend" nature, leaning more into the essence of what was already at home there, but then cultivating it and shaping it to something that feels intentional but without trying so hard as to be pretentious or ostentatious. It feels like being a steward of nature to give it shape witu purpose, rather than just replacing it with lots of colors. And for me, that balance of nature and order feels so soothing and fulfilling. Now I'm constantly contemplating how to shape the nature of the property i live on in that way to achieve this feeling every time i step outside. Theres a LOT to work with. Including decades old bamboo groves. But it will be gradual work. And i'll be checking this channel often for wisdom and inspiration. ❤
Hi, Joshua! Great video! I wonder on which pillar would you place origami, calligraphy and Ikebana? (or Ekebana?) I just love to play with washi papers, ink and flowers. I've studied minimalism art during my study in interior design (was a long time ago...). Found Bauhaus a little bit "cold". Find japanese aesthetics warmer and more natural. "Domo" for your answer...greetings from Québec!👋🀄💛
Ooooh, that's a difficult one. I don't think any particular one would fit. I can see wabi-sabi fitting ikebana nicely in autumn, but Ma plays a very important role in the space between the flowers, branches etc. I think Ma is also really important for calligraphy as well. I also love playing with washi Japanese paper.
Do you ever see a few strings spanning across a short section of the foot bridge? I saw one in a video on FB and wondered if it had a purpose or was put there in whimsy. People had to maneuver to walk through it.
Minimalism as a modern concept comes from the Bauhaus movement in Geneva. Traditionally though; Japan used to practice minimalism in the form of acetism and Zen Buddhism. This is a far cry from modern Japan which is the very antithisis of any form of minimalsim. Current day Japan is all about hyper capitalism/consumerism. Japanese minimalism is a modern day myth perpetuated and exclusive to Japan's old money, super elite who build these minimalist structures as architectural follies. No one actually lives like this in reality.
To say Japanese minimalism is a modern day myth is a bit extreme. It depends on what you choose to look at. Japan can be a place of polar opposites, with busy streets in Shinjuku and quiet Shinto shrines nestled into suburban neighborhoods. Japanese minimalism is everywhere in design and fashion. Bogler was a leager in ceramic design at the Bauhaus and he referenced having Japanese role models in his designs. Even today Japanese craftsmanship, pottery, calligraphy...all usually still have some minimalist influence. Minimalism in taste and architecture flourished with the aristocracy, so yes there is a relationship to elitism. But those values have now spread throughout society. Yes, people do still live like that. In the countryside most homes have minimalist large tatami rooms with a view of the garden, a rice field, or the mountains. This may not be the same space as a 30 floor condo in downtown Osaka, but they do exist. Our family enjoys this space when we are in Fukui.
I would say that it's even part of Japanese culture to borrow from other cultures and then transform it to the needs and aesthetics of Japanese taste. Ramen, traditional Japanese music, some Japanese garden styles etc.
@@ShizenStyle Ya I get it. I do think it’s other nations too. The Chinese for one. Also the US. People think we invented the personal automobile, but it was invented in Germany. In my view it’s not necessarily a crime. And ya it’s virtually unstoppable.
7:42 I see a face on the left side lower with what appears a partial thick sold necklace...I love the affect of these videos. I do hope you will do more. Right now, it's warm here, yet watching this video seemed to bring some coolness in my experience. Thank you.
@@ShizenStyle I have a picture at home and noone sees the images I see in it. Wondering if you've found the same thing in many images? ( after you finish an image) Thank you for responding.
Definitely! I notice things later when editing that I didn't see or focus on at the time of shooting. It's like seeing the place for the first time, again.
Great video. I'm doing research on a painting that I need to do of a garden. This really helped to give me a better understanding of the elements of garden design, rather than just painting what I thought looked cool. Just subbed. keep going man.
