The first written guide on Japanese landscaping, the Sakuteiki, describes creating gardens as: Ishi wo taten koto (石を立てん事). This translates to setting stones upright, a description that greatly emphasizes the importance of these elements within the Japanese garden.

Traditionally applying ornamental rocks, Niwaishi (庭石) in Japanese, forms the basis of practically every Japanese garden. The setting of stones is always the first step, after which the garden is formed together with all the other elements surrounding it.

An authentic Japanese garden needs to evoke a certain natural essence. Rocks and stones play a significant role regarding this principle as they are pure elements, taken straight from nature.

Kikkou Seki stones (亀甲石) are very famous for their application in Japanese gardens. They are known for their unique patterns created by cracks in the rock. Kikkou is Japanese for turtle shell, which shares a strong resemblance with the appearance of the rock type.

Specifications
- Depth = 80.71 inch
- Width = 53.94 inch
- Height = 40.55 inch

- Origin: Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, Japan
- Material: Kikkou Seki Stone (亀甲石)