Japan has a tradition of recreating nature in miniature, bonsai being the most famous art. In bonkei, landscapes are built on a tray using sand, rocks, moss and other materials on a base of soil. Artist arranges the scene to be seen from a certain angle, using perspective techniques to create a dynamic, realistic view. Another tray art, bonseki, uses only white sand and stones. Specialized tools shape the sand to express the subtleties of flowing water and other elements of nature. The beauty of the Japanese landscape is interpreted in miniature, in a uniquely Japanese style.
VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN