INTERNATIONAL AQUATIC PLANTS LAYOUT CONTEST 2007

Aqua Design Amano Co., Ltd. hosted the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2007, and had 1124 applications from 50 countries. Application from outside Japan exceeded Japanese applicants again. The grand prize winner of the contest 2007 is Mr. Chow Wai Sun of Hong Kong.

WORLD RANKING TOP 27

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Comment from Takashi Amano

I deeply thank to all the entrants of the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2007. Our contest hit 7th anniversary this year and accepted the largest volume of entries ever: the record-breaking 1,142 entries from 50 countries. Beginning this year, we released the TOP 100 finalist’ score on the ADA website. Did you check these scores yet? Just like in the previous contests, judges’ scores were split. But the layouts which equally received the higher scores from each judge won the higher rankings. The grand prize winning layout successfully fulfills the principle of Nature Aquarium; the aquascape is corresponding to a scene from nature and represents the “flows” dynamically in the tank. This is also an aquascape which enhances the beautiful views of swimming fish. Among the top prize winning works, many Iwagumi layouts occupied the higher rankings. Iwagumi, or the rock arrangement, does not allow creator’s cheap tricks, and rocks are the most challenging layout materials. I would say, from this year’s contest results, that “the one conquers the stones, rules the world”. It is so exciting to see the circle of planted aquarium hobbyists of the world will grow even bigger in the next contest, and I look forward to seeing your wonderful works, again. We will, together, expand the contest – the Olympic of the planted aquarium hobby!