Japanese Gardens in the U.S.: Growing from Cultural Outreach to Community Restoration

Japanese Gardens were introduced to the U.S. more than a century ago.  What began as a formal extension of foreign diplomacy quickly evolved into a grassroots effort that focused on sister cities, cultural exchanges and cultural outreach. This popular form of art and gardening is now prevalent in both public and private landscapes. With the increased awareness of our needs for a tranquil environment, the Japanese Garden has gained a renewed purpose in modern times to serve the community as a place for restoring our well-being and a space for meaningful events.Guest speaker Sadafumi Uchiyama, curator at the Portland Japanese Garden, is a third-generation gardener from southern Japan. Devoted to fostering relations between Japanese gardens in Japan and those outside of Japan, Sada served as a secretary of the International Association of Japanese Gardens (IAJG) from 1996 to 2000. Stemming from his involvement with the IAJG and his vast knowledge in the field of Japanese gardens, he was invited to speak at the 5th International Symposium on Japanese Gardens in Tokyo in 2007. Since then, Sada has been working closely with Steve Bloom, CEO of the Portland Japanese Garden, on establishing the North American Japanese Garden Association.To register, please call 919-668-1707.