Kaija Saariaho spent the summer of 1993 in Kyoto, Japan. Six Japanese Gardens is a reflection on the gardens she saw during her time there. Movement V is based on the Saiho-ji temple, commonly referred to as “Koke-dera,” meaning “moss temple.” This movement evokes the stillness and tranquility of a verdant, moss-covered forest. A steady ostinato of pure, chromatic bell-tones is contrasted with the more tactile sounds of wood, metal, and stone. These two contrasting lines dance together in increasingly intricate polyrhythms as the movement progresses. The lines eventually simplify and lock together to finish the movement.