Illustration collection book of illustrations from Erica Ward's 2024 "Yamanote Bonsai" series.

Paperback, 21 x 24 cm, 32 pages, 30 full-color illustrations

This collection of 30 ink and watercolor illustrations pair the 30 station areas of Tokyo’s Yamanote Line with bonsai, for you to enjoy the alluring aesthetics of both the sculpted trees and the city of Tokyo.

Each station or station area has its different appeal. Some illustrations depict simply the station building itself, while others illustrate the ekimae station-front scene or nearby landmarks. Perhaps traveling through the pages of this book will stir up memories for you of familiar stations, and also lead to new discoveries of ones that are less familiar.

When we admire bonsai we appreciate their physical form, but also the moment in time when we are viewing them, for they will never be exactly the same again. With this metaphor of bonsai and the Yamanote stations, I hope viewers will be inspired to find the beauty in our everyday surroundings, and also stop to appreciate the beauty that is this City in this moment of Time.