[TheStoriesOfTop7] Tree spirit - Takayuki Fukada / Japan - IAPLC 2018

The 3rd place (Silver Prize) in the world ranking was awarded to "Tree Spirit" by Mr. Takayuki Fukada. Mr. Fukada won the Grand Prix in IAPLC two years in a row in 2015 and 2016, which is a feat that no one accomplished in the history of IAPLC. Practically no flaw was found in the layout. Every part of the aquascape was thought through and constructed well. The use of a reddish plant to create an accent and Anubias Milky with white leaves in the center area was superb and quite effective in the aquascape. Не was not trapped by past layout designs, and his attitude to chal- lenge for an original expression, while keeping in mind the habitat condition for the fish, comes through this layout. Plants in the Anu- bias family, which are well-known African aquatic plants, are used primarily in this aquascape. He must have done this knowing that not many layouts among the past IAPLC entries used plants in the Anubias family effectively. African Moon Tetra, which he selected considering its connection to African aquatic plant Anubias, gives this layout a distinctive character. A top layouter's distinctive think- ing seems to show through this layout.

IAPLC 2018 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0003 - Silver Prize

Tree spirit

Author: Takayuki Fukada / Japan

Aquarium Size/W150×D60×H55 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Anubias sp. "Gabon"

Anubias congensis

Anubias congensis sp. "Mini"

Anubias barteri var. nana

Anubias barteri var. nana "Petite"

Anubias minima

Anubias barteri var.glabra

Anubias barteri var. nana "Pangolino”

Anubias barteri var. nana "Milky"

Anubias barteri var. nana "White"

Rotala rotundifolia "Green"

Rotala sp. "Sunset"

Rotala sp. Hra

Hemianthus micranthemoides

Micranthemum sp.

Glossostigma elatinoides

Fontinalis antipyretica

Vesicularia sp.

Vesicularia ferriei

Riccardia chamedryfolia

Aegagropila linnaei

Fish & Invertebrates

Phenacogrammus caudomaculatus

Otocinclus sp.

Crossocheilus oblongus

Ancistrus sp.

Caridina multidentata

AWARDS

World Ranking 0003 Silver Prize IAPLC 2018

Comments

It is needless to say that the day that contest result notification arrives is a special day for the IAPLC contestants. I always wait for this day with solemn feelings, but this year I got a letter earlier than I expected, so I was not ready and a bit perplexed. After a ritual holding the envelope up to the light, I determined to open it, and fondly remembered the moment before seeing the result a bit, "oh, this feeling." I decided not to participate in the IAPLC last year, and spent time to look at aquatic layouts of each country including the contests outside of Japan. I have gained my experience there and had a chance to speculate on the future direction of aquatic plant layout, and at the same time, I felt keenly that I must continue creating layouts, as an artist. This year in the return battle, the excitement that I felt at the moment of opening the envelope, as previously mentioned, was enough to realize that I had returned to this world. The result is "all right," but more than that, it makes me happy to be able to return to the contest and join the same circle of friends from all over the world. Every year, this contest offers us aquatic plant lovers a platform to compete through our creative expressions and to get together, have fun and share our experiences at the Nature Aquarium Party. This contest has been and will continue to be regarded as the cornerstone for all other competitions. I would like to thank the contest steering committee and the judges, who have made all this possible