The Gifu International Academy of Horticulture was established for the purpose of creating
highly skilled professionals in the fields of flowers and greenery.
We offer students a specialized curriculum focused around practical training, and many of our
graduates are playing an active role in related fields, such as cultivating, selling and distributing
flowers, landscape gardening, and the maintenance of parks and gardens. We also aim to offer
students an opportunity to acquire practical skills as well as to deepen their knowledge in various
fields such as the cultivation and decoration of flowers, landscape gardening and greening, and the
environment in general. Our curriculum is focused on practical training oriented programs that
can meet the needs of our society.
The world has been changing where people tend to set a higher value on the human and the inner
self rather than the material. Today, the planet is suffering from a crisis, and we have to face up to
environmental problems. Given the critical situation, the element of “flowers and greenery” in daily
life has become more important than ever before. Flowers are often called the “food for our hearts”,
as flowers and greenery can enrich our lives and bring us joy and happiness. Our mission is to
foster in our students a productive sensitivity and a flexible way of thinking. Our door is open for
anyone who has a great deal of passion and interest in flowers and greenery.
A practical and training oriented curriculum
Students deepen their theory based knowledge in classroom lectures, while they enhance their
hands-on knowledge and skills with practical training.
Moreover, our internship program enables students to obtain social skills and a sense of
professionalism by experiencing problems that arise on the ground.
Personalized Small Group Tuition
We have many experienced full time teachers and supervisors working with small groups. There
are also special and advanced classes run by guest speakers who are active and influential in the
field of horticulture.
Class teachers take care of students in various ways. Teachers support students in order to give
them a healthy and fruitful life at the academy.
Course system
We offer a wide variety of flexible programs according to the needs of our changing society, such
as accepting people in their twenties or even older who would like to return to education.
Meister Course
■Course: Flower Cultivation
Floral Design
Landscape Gardening and Greening
■Applicant eligibility: Applicants should have graduated from high school, or should have an
equivalent academic attainment.
■Period: 2 years
■Degree: Diploma
■Enrollment limit: 40 students (20 per year)
Students gain a comprehensive education through classes taken from 3 different courses, Flower
Cultivation, Floral Design and Landscape Gardening and Greening, in order to play an active role in
the flowers and greenery field with the knowledge and skills which they learned at our academy.
*The first semester of Year 1: Students learn about basic knowledge and skills related to flowers
and greenery in a comprehensive and cross-sectional way by taking various classes from each course.
*The second semester of Year 1: Students enhance and deepen their knowledge and skills by
taking classes from their major field.
research/projects.
Then, in their second year, they work on their graduation
Flower Cultivation Course
-Developing Professionals from the Power of Basic Life SkillsThe Flower Cultivation course begins with students
learning, on site, about the skills needed to cultivate
flowers.
Through practical training and lectures,
students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills
needed to cultivate plants, such as controls on the
growing conditions, pest control, the physiological
features of flowers and alimentation.
Moreover,
students are making plans for the number of shipments
to be made, as well as managing the area in which they are cultivating all year round. It is the
students themselves who are carrying out shipments to markets and stalls, enabling them to
understand the needs of consumers and think of what they are growing not simply as plants, but
instead as products. Through all of the methods outlined above we are instilling in students a
comprehensive knowledge of management which they can use in their future careers.
Students studying on this program are making efforts in research related to the fields of
cultivation and distribution through the process summed up in the four words, “Plan”, “Do”, “Check”
and “Act”, the PDCA cycle. While specific themes to be studied are decided on an individual basis,
research related to the cultivation of cut flowers and seedlings requires a lot of time and effort, and is
not achievable by one person acting alone. Thus, we plan to improve students’ vital communication
skills by having them co-operate with each other on collaborative projects at our facility.
In this way, through the cultivation of plants, we are aiming to create productive skilled
members of society who possess the three basic abilities of “progressing forward”, “thinking issues
through” and “working in a team”.
Practical Training in Flower Cultivation and Distribution
Students learn about the basic skills involved in
cultivating garden plants. Starting with sowing seeds and
proceeding to planting, raising seeds, moving plants,
trimming, fertilization, watering, pest control, chemical
control, harvesting, shipping and even as far as deciding on
the price, students can experience in a systematic way the
basic skills involved in raising a plant for commercial sale.
Cultivation and Distribution Project
We have put in place a project based research program
leveraging the skills used in the cultivation and distribution
of garden plants. Students will visit real sites where the
products they have cultivated are being sold and pinpoint
problems being experienced. Subsequently, they will
consider the ways in which these difficulties can be resolved
and execute necessary fixes. Over the one and a half years
from the second semester of the students’ first year, when
they begin the cultivation and distribution project, until
their graduation research or graduation project, we are fostering in our students the skills of
problem solving.
Floral Design Course
-Becoming a florist who can tell a story with flowersWith the frantic pace of modern life, “A life full of
flowers and greenery” has the power to soothe souls and
give people energy and vitality.
The role demanded of
flower designers will grow greatly in the future, beyond
the simple idea of arranging beautiful flowers, but to that
of a true florist with a knowledge base and applicable
skills.
In order to display the flowers in the most beautiful
light possible, the students must have a deep understanding of how to handle them, when, in what
environment, and to what degree they bloom, as well as the individual differences between each type.
Moreover, we teach students about ideas like the types of flowers and color schemes that go well
together as well as balancing them with the situation in creating atmosphere. Inside and outside of
the school, through weddings, funerals and seasonal events students are constantly creating and
honing their skills. Also, through visits to florists, fresh flower markets and gardening centers, live
demonstrations from famous flower designers, participation in contests, preparation for technical
skills testing and the preparation of business plans etc., we are enriching students with a curriculum
catered to their hopes and their future ambitions. Finally, through programs like internships, we
establish and emphasize basic knowledge, skills and experiences, while aiming for students to
acquire the most up to date practical and creative skills.
Practice in Flower Design
Students will use fresh flowers to learn the basics of flower design.
Starting with basic patterns, corsages, wedding and other bouquets, as
well as wrapping etc., students will learn the basic skills needed in a
florist, adding to these a wide variety of skills such as knowledge of the
characteristics of cut flowers and how to water them.
Flower Decoration Practice
Our lives would be dreary if there were no flowers or plants in our
living space. While learning about the correct way to care for plants,
involving the management of moss, hanging baskets and how plants
work when planted together, we will help to propagate the skills of
special design and creation to our students.
Landscape Gardening and Greening Course
-Creating landscaped spaces that are lush and tranquilOn this course students will learn skills and acquire
knowledge about landscape gardening and maintenance in
private residences as well as areas like public parks and on the
sides of roads.
The 21st century is said to be the age of the environment.
In this age, the concept of greenery is indispensible to us in
fulfilling a wide variety of roles in daily life, such as acting as a
barrier to the spreading of fire in times of crisis, and protecting evacuation centers. Greenery also
has the power to soften the effects of urban heat islands, to combat atmospheric pollution and fires,
as well as creating a more beautiful environment for us all. Landscaping and the skills of greening,
which make the best use of this greenery, will be in high demand in a number of fields in the future.
However, it is not just greenery that we need in order to create a better living environment. Due
to the number of theme parks and public parks with flowers as a main feature, we often hear
recognition of the importance of “flowers” even in general society. Through this course, we offer
classes under the themes of “flowers” and “greenery” which aim to foster in students the knowledge,
skills and senses necessary to create lush and tranquil landscaped areas.
Landscaping Execution and Maintenance Practice
Students will acquire the necessary skills involved in the
production and maintenance of private and public gardens.
They will participate in hands on practice in the fields of
bamboo fencing, curb stoning, and the use of stepping stones
and brickwork pavements, as well as the pruning of larger and
smaller sized trees and the maintenance of green areas.
Surveying and Drawing Practice
Students will gain the necessary knowledge and acquire the
necessary skills to carry out surveying and create drawing
necessary for the planning and creation of landscaped spaces.
Through their hands on surveying practice they will acquire the
capacity to use machinery, tools and manage data, as well as
learning about surveying for engineering. Through their
hands on drawing practice they will start by learning about
using tools related to this field, drawing skills, coloring and
landscape design, taking these skills as far as designing a private garden space.
<Entrance ceremony>
The new semester begins with a renewed and refreshed spirit
among students and teachers, together with new students
starting their academy life with hope.
Students prepare the decorations for the ceremony: the
corsages for new students and guests, and the ornaments for the
venue.
<Overseas study tour>
We visited the Netherlands and the U.K. in 2013 to see British
gardens and the major flower show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show,
as well as other places related to the field. Leveraging knowledge
gained from these visits, students carried out research on subjects
that they had decided upon before the trip. The overseas study tour
has given us a precious opportunity to realize the importance of
Japanese horticulture as well as experience the current state of
horticulture overseas.
<School festival>
The school festival, which is organized by students, is called the
“Nanja” festival.
It is named after a “Nanja monja” tree, the
Japanese word for a Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus), the
academy’s symbol. Students serve curry and rice or fried noodles
at the snack booth and mingle with local people by selling and
exhibiting their works: fresh flowers produced by the flower
cultivation course students, flower decorations made by the floral
design course students, and show garden exhibited by the garden
landscape and greening course students.
<Summer festival>
The summer festival is held by students one evening before the
summer holidays.
Teachers and students come together through a BBQ and “nagashi
somen”, the typical Japanese method of noodles sliding into a
bamboo gutter which students design themselves.
<Open campus day>
There is an open campus day when people can experience
demonstration lessons in order to have a better idea about the
academy. Students also assist in many ways to welcome the
visitors.
<Internship program, OJT>
We invest a great deal of effort into the internship program
which allows students to experience and acquire skills on the job.
Students are trained to become professionals by experiencing the
needs of the work environment and making the best of OJT for
their continuous study at the academy.
<Graduation research/project and presentation day>
Presentation day is a special moment for everyone, when
students present the fruits of their studies and efforts, their
graduation research/projects to all teachers and students with
excitement and passion.
<Graduation ceremony>
Congratulations! We are glad to be with all of our students
on this wonderful day. They have spent 2 years at the academy
filled with many wonderful memories, and will start a new life
from tomorrow. We, the students and teachers, would like to
wish them all the best of luck for the future.
Teaching Staff

President (Instruction in the Culture of Gardening– All Courses)
<Yoshihiro Ueda>
*Doctor of Agriculture
Graduate with a Masters degree from the Osaka Prefecture University
Graduate School’s Department of Agricultural Research.
He subsequently went on to serve as an associate professor at the Chiba
University, Department of Horticulture.
He has been researching the
classification of roses and the study of plant breeding and genetics for
many years. His specialist fields include the study of ornamental plants,
the study of plant breeding and the study of gardening culture among
others, however; at our school he is in charge of the later. His works
include “The Encyclopedia of Roses” (published by NHK Publishing, Inc.)
and the “A Specialized Study of Plant Breeding” and “Horticulture” (both
published by Buneido).

The Flower Cultivation Course
<Kazuo Imaida>
*Associate Professor and Doctor of Agriculture
Graduated with a Doctorate from the United Graduate School of
Agricultural Science at Gifu University.
He is currently involved in
research at the Gifu Prefectural Agricultural Technology Center into the
recirculating Ebb & Flow System with potted miniature roses. At our
school he is in charge of the practical study the students participate in for
the distribution of the plants they have cultivated, as well as lecturing in
the fields of soil, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, pests and irrigation
system, among others.
<Takahide Maeda>
*Associate Professor and Doctor of Agriculture
Graduated from a doctoral program at the Graduate School of
Bioagricultural Sciences’ School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya.
In
that graduate school he is researching flower bud formation in the
Japanese Morning Glory.
In the academy he is in charge of leading
practical studies involving the cultivating of plants, such as seeding,
potting and trimming.
Furthermore, in lectures related to the
physiology of plants and the basics of plant breeding he teaches about the
structure of the growing plant and basic knowledge and skills in the field
of plant breeding.

All Courses
<Mamoru Inoue>
*Associate Professor and Doctor of Agriculture
Graduated from a doctoral program at the Graduate School of
Bioagricultural Sciences’ School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya.
Leveraging his experience in the world of plant distribution as a board
member for Fukukaen Flower Distribution Center Ltd., as well as his
positions at Toyoake Kaki Co.,Ltd. as head of the Corporate Planning
Division, as well as well as company manager, he is able to give real life
examples to students in his classes, from everything from the planning
stages to the actual selling. Moreover, he also developed the POS register
catered to use in florists and is currently focusing his research on the use
of data analysis in marketing.
<Tomoshige Sato>
*Associate Professor and Master of Law
Graduated with a Masters degree from the Meijo University Graduate
School of Law. His main responsibilities include supporting students
with finding a employment and advising them on their career options in
the class “Career Design” as well as teaching them about financial
matters from the basics of bookkeeping to how to outline financial
statements in “The Basics of Accounting”.
He is also in charge of
“Enterprise and Management Simulation”, a hands-on course which
instructs students on the practical uses of the study of business
administration.
He is currently involved in the research of “Case Method” a cutting edge principle in the fields of
business management and education. He is also making great efforts in promoting it our own
school (He is an accredited “Case Method Instructor” from the Keio Business School’s Case Method
Teaching Research Office).

Landscape Gardening and Greenery Course
<Takuji Dokai>
*Associate Professor and Master of Agriculture
Graduate with a Masters degree from Hokkaido University’s Graduate
School of Agriculture.
He is qualified as a landscape construction
management engineer and a landscape technician as well as a tree
surgeon. He comes to this post having worked as a skilled worker for
both the prefectural and the national government.
He leads the
practical training in landscape construction management on the
Landscape Gardening and Greenery Course. He also prepares students
for the test of proficiency in landscaping as well as taking a leading role
in other fields related to landscaping. He aims to create students who
can achieve landscape planning and construction management, based on
their knowledge of the unique characteristics of different plants.
<Akira Aida>
*Associate Professor and Doctor of Landscape Architecture
Graduated from a doctoral program at the Tokyo University of
Agriculture,
Graduate
School
of
Agriculture,
Department
of
Agricultural Science. Having worked as an assistant in the landscaping
department of the same university he came to work in our school. He
is the auditor secretary of the Japan Horticultural Wellbeing
Association, a non-profit organization.
He is in charge of the
introduction to landscaping program (dealing with the history of
landscaping as well as gardens from Japan and around the world),
Horticultural Wellbeing and practical placements in relation to this
(Horticultural Wellbeing and Horticulture Volunteering). He is also in
charge Computer Assisted Drafting and a wide variety of fields related to areas of Landscape and
Greenery.

Floral Design Course
<Kumiko Yoshida>
*Associate Professor
Graduated from the Keisen
Jr. College of Horticulture. She is a
qualified florist and green advisor. She has worked in a number of
positions before coming to us: U. Goto Florist Ltd., Manager of
Hakuraku Kaen Co.,Ltd., Head of the Sales Division of Tokoen Ltd.,
(currently trading as Green Wise Co.,Ltd.) and finally acting as
chairperson of the organic horticulture shop Taproot.
Due to her
wealth of experience in the selling of fresh and potted plants, as well as
her experience in setting up floral displays in hotels, department stores,
and for numerous events, she is in charge of a wide range of areas, such
as managing a shop and all aspects of design. She aims to create florists with basic practical skills
and the ability to think on their feet and adapt.
<Toshimitsu Iizuka>
*Assistant Professor and Doctor of Landscape Architecture
Graduated from a doctoral program at the Tokyo University of
Agriculture Graduate School of Agriculture’s Research Department.
After completing doctoral research at the same institution he came to
work at our school. An associate professor of Ikebana, Ikenobo. From his
experience being dispatched by the NPO C.F.D.A. to hold flower design
workshops, he heads the flower design practice, flower design theory and
ikebana, amongst other things, on the Flower Design Course.
He is
aiming to create students who do not just remain skilled flower designers,
but also enter society with enthusiasm and grasp the trends of the times
in order to excel in a number of fields.
Access
<Public Transport>

20 minutes by car from “Mino-Ota Station” on the JR Takayama Line

15 minutes by car from “Kani Station” on the JR Taita Line

10 minutes by car from “Nishi Kani Station” or “Kanigawa Station” on the Meitestu Hiromi
Line

It takes about 45 minutes to get to “Nishikani Station” from Meitetsu Gifu or Meitestu Nagoya
Stations
<By Car>
 25 minutes from the Tajimi IC on the Chuo Expressway
 20 minutes from the Kani or Mitake IC on Tokai Loop Expressway
Inquires
Gifu International Academy of Horticulture
Shio 1094-8, Kani City, Gifu Prefecture, 509-0251
Tel. 0574-60-5250
Fax. 0574-60-5251
E-mail: [email protected]
URL http://www.horticulture.ac.jp/