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Grand Prize, World Ranking 1
Chow Wai Sun, Hong Kong

The judges said: “The Grand Prize winner’s layout has a panoramic view with a deep perspective, and stones and driftwood are used in an excellent combination. The driftwood placed diagonally from the back left corner to the front gives the layout boldness. The stones placed on the left foreground and the right background provides a strong perspective to this layout. In addition, the balance between the density of plants on the left side and the open space on the right is excellent. The overall composition is also well produced. The gravel spreading from the front right to the stones on the mid ground and aquatic plants meticulously placed among the stones are effectively making up a natural atmosphere. The boldness and grandeur of Mother Nature is evident in this layout.”

Gold Prize, World Ranking 2
Chan Shih Hsien, Taiwan

The judges said: “This is a bold Iwagumi layout using unique stones. The banking technique and the plant arrangement are excellent, and the layout design is well organized. The layout finishes with a strong impression. The texture of stones and Willow Moss (Fantinalis) which is partially covering the stones, and several species of plants arranged around the stones make up a natural feeling and display a unique taste. ”

Silver Prize, World Ranking 3
Cliff Hui, Hong Kong

The judges said: “The “flow” of plants, like a running waterfall, is very impressive. Several kinds of species are skillfully arranged, and they make up a sense of unity in the layout. The colors of plants, stones, and decorative sand match well. The contrast between the densely planted left and right sides and the open space in the upper center is also excellent. ”

Silver Prize, World Ranking 4
Lee Dojae, Korea

The judges said: “The combination of driftwood with Bolbitis and river stones gives the layout a tranquil impression. The color balance of reddish stemmed plants, decorative sand and the meticulous aquatic plants between the stones make this layout impressive. A sense of nature is expressed skillfully through a unique method. ”

Bronze Prize, World Ranking 5
Hironori Handa, Japan

The judges said: “The use of Seiryu Stones with stemmed plants is very impressive. Aquatic plants in the foreground form a gently sloping hill. Stones in the mid ground and a thicket of stemmed plants in the background form a unity in composition. Overlapping bright tiny leaves of stemmed plants and the combination of plants in the foreground create a sensitive impression. ”

Bronze Prize, World Ranking 6
Koji Nakamura, Japan

The judges said: “The composition, making the most of the characteristics of driftwood, and bright stemmed plants are harmonized in this layout. Thick black driftwood gives a heavy impression, but pure-white decorative sand and bright plants in the background redress the balance. Ferns and mosses attached to the driftwood present a natural look. ”

Bronze Prize, World Ranking 7
Chen Huang Jen, Taiwan

The judges said: “Stones and sand are used to create the image of mountain streams originating from a waterfall. Boldly arranged stones set the perspective within the layout. The plant arrangement is well considered, and the layout recreates a landscape of a mountain stream in autumn. The color of autumn leaves is expressed through the use of reddish stemmed plants, and a sense of nature is effectively created by the use of moss and ferns on the stones.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 8
Cheng Chi Fai, Hong Kong

The judges said: “With the stones of a unique texture, the layout presents a landscape like the ones depicted in Shan Shui (a style of Chinese painting). The stemmed plants and decorative sand bring a light touch to the layout.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 9
Ichiro Hamano, Japan

The judges said: “The arrangement of stones is effective and the layout has a well-balanced structure. The reddish stemmed plants in a bed of greens give the layout an accent and a visual impact.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 10
Filipe Oliveira, Portugal

The judges said: “The creator recreates the tree with driftwood and moss, and the river with decorative sand and stones. The composition successfully gives us a broader outlook by drawing a slope in the layout. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 11
Yuji Yoshinaga, Japan

The judges said: “The view of a mountain stream, made of stones and decorative sand, provides a strong sense of perspective. The arrangement of plants, which is mainly formed with the stemmed plants and moss is skillfully done. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 12
Hiroyoshi Honda, Japan

The judges said: “The layout is taking an advantage of the characteristics of Seiryu Stone and is structured in a tactful manner by using stones in mixed sizes. The plants are maintained in a good condition. This is a piece that gives us a sense of refreshment.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 13
A.J. Judy Prajitno Putra, Indonesia

The judges said: “The layout is produced with driftwood and a variety of plants in a large panoramic tank. Each section of the layout provides a different scene; this is a piece of complexity.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 14
Chong Ah Guan, Malaysia

The judges said: “The dynamic composition by the use of driftwood goes well with the arrangement of plants in this layout. The vivid reddish color of stemmed plants, especially, is remarkable and eye-catching. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 15
Apiwat Apiwatsayree, Thailand

The judges said: “Mainly using driftwood and shade plants, the layout is rather composed. Pure-white decorative sand uplifts the overall visual atmosphere and gives us a sense of refreshment.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 16
Fumio Shiga, Japan

The judges said: “The arch of driftwood is effective in drawing the eye to the layout. Ferns and moss, planted onto the driftwood, soften the tone of the composition and artistically present a natural look. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 17
Tetsuya Takahashi, Japan

The judges said: “This is a layout featuring Manten stone and driftwood. Its composition effectively develops a sense of unity by coordinating plants among those layout materials.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 18
Masashi Ono, Japan

The judges said: “The layout presents a strong natural feeling: a dynamic composition of Manten stone with driftwood and the arrangement of ferns.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 19
Seouk Yun Hwan, Korea

The judges said: “The layout stones consist of a very distinguished look. Combined with the driftwood rising up from here and there, they make the composition look startling. The arrangement of plants appears natural and well matches the overall composition.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 20
Takehero Hara, Japan

The judges said: “The set up of driftwood is powerful and eye-catching. The composition becomes moderate by mainly using shade plants such as ferns and Cryptocoryne.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 21
Chang Zheng Jung, Korea

The judges said: “A simple and unified Iwagumi layout. The creator takes a good advantage of the shape of stones and prepares mounds around the stones.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 22
Minoru Yamagishi, Japan

The judges said: “The layout represents a basic layout composition and plant arrangement. A sense of nature is well expressed even in the smallest details. The creator picks the right kind of fish for this layout design.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 23
Hidekazu Tsukiji, Japan

The judges said: “The arrangement of plants is well considered; their colors have a strong visual impact. A stream of water is recreated precisely by pure-white decorative sand and stones.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 24
Akihisa Nagashima, Japan

The judges said: “The layout shows the very basics of Nature Aquarium. The plants are all in a good condition. We can see a highly skilled technique in maintaining the layout. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 25
Antonio Domingues, Portugak

The judges said: “Using a combination of the plants with a delicate appearance, the layout presents a fantastic imagery. The use of driftwood is very unique and frames the creator’s individual view of nature.”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 26
Maurice Cheong, Singapore

The judges said: “The way that fern and moss are growing on the driftwood depicts a sense of nature. Decorative sand, in the foreground, and the stemmed plants, in the back, visually go along with each other. ”

Honour Prize, World Ranking 27
Shingo Fujita, Japan

The judges said: “The creator frameworks the layout with stones and driftwood and applies decorative sand and a variety of plants to it. The layout is well-balanced in terms of composition and visual effect.”