Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and raised in the rural town of Moroyama, Saitama. His design roots lie in his childhood spent surrounded by Satoyama landscapes—where humans and nature coexist alongside firefly-inhabited streams and terraced rice paddies. This deep-seated connection to the land forms the foundation of his spatial vision today.
After earning a Master of Science and Engineering in Agro-chemistry from Keio University Graduate School, he began his career in international trade at a global trading company. Living and working abroad, he became acutely aware of the scarcity and vital importance of greenery in urban environments. Driven by a desire to bring nature back into daily life, he pursued the study of landscape design at Kyoto University of the Arts while continuing his career.
To master the essence of traditional Japanese gardening, he underwent rigorous training as a landscape craftsman at Kanetsuna Landscape Architecture Office. He further expanded his professional scope at Fuji Ueki Co., Ltd., where he managed the design and construction of diverse projects, from large-scale public parks to historic temples and shrines. Seeking to refine his sense of space and Japanese aesthetics, he also practiced Sogetsu-ryu Ikebana, eventually attaining the rank of Master.
In 2019, he established Ryoji Nakayama Landscape Design, a firm dedicated to an integrated approach that spans from design and construction to ecological maintenance. By synthesizing his scientific background in agro-chemistry and soil science with ecological sustainability, he revitalizes the very foundation of the land to create “breathing” ecosystems. His gardens—crafted primarily with native species suited to the local climate—evoke the vibrancy of a woodland thicket, offering a landscape that feels alive and grows alongside its inhabitants.
An avid mountain trekker throughout the year, he continues his fieldwork to observe the intricate mechanisms of natural plant communities firsthand. By translating these raw natural expressions into the modern living environment, he strives to create green spaces that offer a “comfortable illusion”—where one can find quiet richness and feel truly at home within the embrace of nature.
