The first written guide to Japanese landscape architecture, the Sakuteiki, describes landscaping as: Ishi wo taten koto (石を立てん事). This translates into the erection of stones, a description that strongly emphasizes the importance of these elements within the Japanese garden.

The traditional arrangement of ornamental rocks, Niwaishi (庭石) in Japanese, is the basis of almost every Japanese garden. Placing stones is always the first step, after which the garden is formed along with all the other elements around it.

An authentic Japanese garden should evoke a certain natural essence. Rocks and stones play an important role in relation to this principle, as they are pure elements, taken directly from nature.

Yōganseki is the name for Japanese lava rock. A traditional principle of Japanese landscaping is that elements from nature should be carried into the garden. Japan has over a hundred active volcanoes across the country. It is therefore not surprising that lava rocks can be seen quite regularly in the Japanese garden.

Specifications:
- Depth = 33.46 inches
- Width = 27.95 inches
- Height = 22.05 inches

- Origin: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Material: Yōganseki stone (溶岩石) - Japanese lava stone