Investigating the Genuineness of Portland Japanese Garden: A Comprehensive Interview
Situated in Portland’s Washington Park is a grand garden, one of the city’s most valued locations. The Portland Japanese Garden is a remarkable treasure and regarded as the most stunning and genuine Japanese garden outside of Japan. Spanning 12.5 acres, the site is far more than merely a garden; it serves as a venue for visitors to immerse themselves in Japanese culture while savoring and appreciating nature’s splendor.
The Garden stands out because it showcases more than one style—there are five unique designs within its confines. This diversity allows each area to showcase the different techniques of Japanese landscape architecture employed throughout history. Stroll along the meticulously designed paths, gaze upon the manicured stone gardens, and witness the changing foliage with the seasons. Additionally, you can delve into the art of bonsai and discover how artisans have nurtured these miniature trees, shaping them into living art forms.
The Cultural Center, crafted by the acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, opened its doors in 2017 and marked a significant expansion. It symbolizes the future of the Portland Japanese Garden, providing a venue where visitors can engage with traditional Japanese arts through seasonal activities, performances, and demonstrations.
My Modern Met conversed with Will Lerner at the Portland Japanese Garden, who shared its history, how the stunning spaces are preserved, an overview of the Cultural Village, and more. Scroll down for our exclusive interview.
For those who are not acquainted with the Portland Japanese Garden, how would you characterize it?
Portland Japanese Garden is a nonprofit public garden and cultural institution situated in Washington Park. Covering 12.5 acres of land that was once home to the Portland Zoo, it includes five historic garden areas, a Pavilion for art exhibitions and summer markets, and a Cultural Village where most of the organization’s programming occurs, as well as our Umami Café and Gift Shop.
The uniqueness of the Portland Japanese Garden compared to other Japanese gardens, even those in Japan, lies in its presentation of various styles from different eras of Japanese landscape architecture; whereas many gardens typically showcase just one. Moreover, unlike other gardens in North America, its maintenance and design have been directed by a lineage of Japanese gardening experts, including the current garden curator, Hugo Torii. It offers an array of programming such as the aforementioned art exhibitions, summer markets, festival celebrations, demonstrations, and performances of Japanese cultural practices, as well as workshops, seminars, and lectures.
We are honored that several visiting Japanese dignitaries have referred to us as the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, and we take pride in being one of Portland’s crown jewels.
There is truly no wrong time to visit; it is stunning throughout the year as every season brings its own distinct features. However, we often see significant crowds during our fall foliage season (late September/October/early November), when the grounds are illuminated in shades of crimson and gold, creating a breathtaking view. Another peak period is during cherry blossom season (late March to early April), when the intentional arrangement of the trees imparts a delicate and fleeting beauty to the landscape. Inside the Garden, it’s essential to appreciate it in its entirety, as the harmony of the areas makes each individual part feel integral to a greater whole.
How did the Portland Japanese Garden come to existence? Is there a remarkable aspect of its history you would like to share?
The Garden was established in 1963 in the aftermath of World War II with the aim of fostering cross-cultural understanding. Even before the unjust and prejudiced internment of individuals of Japanese descent during the war, our region had shown hostility toward these community members and neighbors. That racism lingered long after the war’s end. Local leaders in cultural organizations, businesses, and government collaborated to transform the abandoned remains of the old Portland Zoo into the vibrant urban haven we cherish today. The ambition was to mend ties with Japan and promote better understanding of a foreign culture through nature.
The endeavor to construct the Garden was fraught with challenges. In addition to the elevated topography surrounded by Douglas firs and western cedars, the initial workers discovered essentially a brownfield: contaminated soil and concrete. Moreover, there remained intense pockets of racist opposition. Our first garden director, Kinya Hira, along with the original landscape designer, Professor Takuma Tono from the Tokyo University of Agriculture, faced hostile acts such as stones hurled at them. Hira would eventually be stabbed on the Garden grounds in a premeditated attack.
Despite these hurdles, the goodwill proved too strong to ignore, and the Garden was completed and opened to the public in 1967. As Hira noted on later visits, a site that had once been an arena for protest had evolved into an integral part of Portland. We are thankful to acknowledge that today we serve an organization credited with being a significant factor in why this area has.