On September 28, 2025, ADA SUIKEI Creator Yusuke Homma had a live aquascaping event at Agripet Garden in Padua, Italy, creating a 900mm Nature Aquarium layout in front of an engaged audience.

Padua holds special meaning in ADA’s history. It was here, 23 years ago to the day — September 28, 2003 — that Takashi Amano himself held a layout event at the aquarium shop Viva Aquarium. To return to the same city on the exact same date, more than two decades later, felt like a quiet but powerful connection through time.

Agripet Garden, located about an hour from Venice, is a unique shop specializing in aquatic plants and paludariums, but also features reptiles, birds, and jungle flora. Although the event was capped at 50 attendees, around 70 aquascaping enthusiasts showed up — a clear sign of the deep passion for the Nature Aquarium in Italy. Among them were three individuals who had also attended Amano’s event 23 years earlier. Many brought along their vintage ADA photo books, sharing stories and memories — a moving testament to the lasting impact of Nature Aquarium around the world.

As the event began, some audience members joined in preparing aquatic plants for the layout, creating a relaxed and collaborative mood. While the staff kept an eye on the clock, this was, after all, Italy. Guests waited patiently, enjoying lunch and sipping Spritz, the classic northern Italian aperitif — a scene full of charm and warmth.

Homma’s layout concept drew inspiration from a nature walk he took the day before, exploring the landscapes around Padua. Using a rich variety of aquatic plants, he created a layout that evoked a peaceful underwater world, designed to inspire a sense of environmental awareness for future generations. Through casual conversation and audience feedback, the layout evolved into something truly co-created — a shared experience between the artist and the viewers.

At the end of the event, the owners of Agripet Garden, husband-and-wife team, smiled and said, “Leave the maintenance to us!” We look forward to seeing how the plants grow and how the layout matures in the coming months.