Kei Truck Gardening Contests.
Kei Trucks, or Kei Tora (軽トラ, pronounced “kay torah” and translated “light truck”) are compact, practical and very functional utility vehicles. They are ubiquitous in Japan, common in other Asian countries and growing in popularity in the United States. These trucks are used in construction, agriculture, delivery, etc. because they are able to navigate and park in narrow roads and tight city neighborhoods. By law in Japan, dimensions cannot exceed 3.4m (just over 11 feet) in length and 1.48m (just under 5 feet) in width, and the max engine size is 660cc (.66 liters). These trucks are capable of carrying 750+ lbs.
The Kei Truck is dwarfed by standard size US pickup trucks:
In a uniquely Japanese twist, these trucks are used in amazing landscaping competitions in Japan. Every year the Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors hosts multiple Kei Truck Gardening Contests across the country. The first contest was held in Toyama Prefecture in 2011 to stimulate interest in landscape gardening. Currently there are multiple events held across Japan.
The contests seem to have minimal rules other than utilizing the bed of Kei Tora for the displays. Creativity is the objective! Entries are ranked based on planning, expression, design, execution and environment. The displays are remarkable.
The following images are from the 2024 Kei Truck Gardening Competition in Osaka.
Image Credits:
- All contest images: Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors Osaka Branch
- Blue Kei Truck: Kei-Trucks America
- Comparison Image: Tokyo Carz