Landscapes of Play: A Collection of Imaginative Spaces in Japan is a self-published book exploring Japan’s unique and influential approach to outdoor play design, beginning with Mitsuru Senda’s pioneering of the “play apparatus” concept of the 1960s and extending to more contemporary play environments at the Showa Memorial Park in Tokyo. Through a combination of photography, research and personal reflections, it documents how these environments invite children and adults to play in ways that transcend conventional designs.

The book also features a conversation with Norihiro Kanekiyo from Takano Landscape Planning —the office responsible for several of the projects in the book— which offers deep insight into their design approach to play and the role of nature in the conceptualization of these spaces. More importantly, it reflects on how the socio-cultural values and design trends around play have evolved over the past decades in both Asian and North American contexts, providing readers with a broader perspective to understand play spaces as social infrastructure for building healthier and more connected communities.

Designed by Lucia Blanco