By Will Lerner, Communications Manager for Portland Japanese Garden & Japan Institute
In May, Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden partnered with GREEN×EXPO 2027 (Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama) to host its second annual TEIEN FORUM at The University of Tokyo in Japan. This gathering, titled “Japanese Gardens: Why Go Global?”, explored the international significance of Japanese gardens through conversations and presentations featuring some of the world’s most respected thought leaders in the field.
Japanese Efforts to Restore Gardens Outside of Japan
Part of what has made Portland Japanese Garden regarded as the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan is that it has been carefully and thoughtfully maintained since its inception. Several Japanese gardens were built across the United States in the years following World War II, but not many can claim to have had their landscape overseen by an unbroken lineage of Japanese-born gardening experts. Recognizing that it had a responsibility to help foster the maintenance of Japanese gardens, in 2011, Portland Japanese Garden was a key player in the establishment of the nonprofit North American Japanese Garden Association, or NAJGA. NAJGA helps “ensure the longevity of Japanese gardens across North America” by “fostering new opportunities for learning, connection, and appreciation.”
NAJGA is not alone in these efforts, as was learned from a quick presentation by Ryuichi Wakisaka, Executive Director for the Japan Association for GREEN×EXPO 2027. Wakisaka was the first to speak following an introduction from the second panel’s moderator, Dr. Makoto Suzuki, Professor Emeritus at Principal Tokyo University of Agriculture and a member of Portland Japanese Garden’s International Advisor Board.
Related: Read about the first TEIEN FORUM held in 2024
Wakisaka discussed that prior to his engagement with GREEN×EXPO 2027, he had been part of an effort to restore Japanese gardens outside of Japan. “Without being properly managed, the quality of Japanese gardens is deteriorating and that is not so good,” he noted. “We engaged in a five-year regeneration project for Japanese gardens around the globe. We sent experts, not just designers but practitioners as well, to restore the quality of them.” He would go on to share work done in a few locations, including the U.S., Mexico, and Romania.
Examining Authenticity
One of the enduring questions for Japanese gardens built and maintained outside of Japan has been: Is this authentic? Portland Japanese Garden has been praised over the course of its history for its authenticity due to the thoughtful and lasting care that has been put into its upkeep for more than 60 years and because, as noted previously, it has been overseen by an unbroken lineage of Japanese-born gardening experts. However, “authenticity” can be a challenging descriptor. “Japanese garden” is a blanket term encompassing many kinds of designs and ultimately the way it is perceived is subjective.
Authenticity was the theme of the presentation by Dr. Christian Tagsold, Professor of Modern Japanese Studies at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf and research leader of the Euro-Japanese Garden Association. “[In Europe there are some] historical gardens that were created in the 1900s,” Tagsold noted. “In many cases they were created by Western gardeners and not Japanese. They were looking at publications from various expos and publications and used those to create their gardens. The gardens are representing historical images of Japan as seen by the Westerner.”
However, while such approaches, often necessitated by a lack of resources or connections, may produce something that veers away from credible claims of authenticity does not mean that beauty cannot be achieved. “In this garden, they had never been visited by Japanese gardeners,” Tagsold said, referring to a space built in the Netherlands. “But they have always been created and maintained by European gardeners. And it is a very interesting mix of exoticism and Japonisme. And if we had invited Japanese gardeners, maybe we would have something that would be totally different.”
Tagsold went on to discuss his work with the European Association of Japanese Gardens, a spiritual cousin of NAJGA. “This association was created three years ago,” Tagsold shared. “We are trying to collect the necessary knowledge to create a network of various Japanese gardens where we can exchange information and mutually learn from each other. Through this association it will be possible to strengthen ties with Japan and aim for a deepening of our mutual communication.”
Fostering the Betterment of Japanese Gardens in North America
Following the remarks from Tagsold, two leaders of Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute joined the conversation: Aki Nakanishi, Director of Japan Institute and the Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art, and Education and Hugo Torii, Garden Curator and Director of the Japanese Garden Training Center.
Nakanishi was the first to speak, though he was there representing NAJGA as one its Board Members. “The biggest purpose of NAJGA is to improve the overall maintenance and quality of Japanese gardens,” Nakanishi shared. “There isn’t much dialogue between the government those in the private sector because of the many differences, including stakeholders, operations, and funding. Through NAJGA, we are trying to link the public and private sectors as well as individuals. The connection to Japan is also quite important. Once every two years we conduct a tour of Japan and visit gardens, incorporating interviews with garden experts.”
Torii followed, focusing on how his dual roles with Portland Japanese Garden are education forward. “In order to create sustainable gardens, we need to develop gardeners,” he noted. “The training I received in Kyoto didn’t work in Portland. I had to customize it. We have staff from all over the world who might have a totally different set of values and perspectives. What is good, or bad, or beautiful can be totally different. We have to invest a lot of time into training. It’s not just a lecture or forcing my team to do things the way we do in Kyoto—we encourage them to think with their own minds.”
Looking Ahead
The event concluded with remarks from Jun Saito, Executive Advisor of the Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama (GREEN×EXPO 2027). Nodding to the Osaka Expo that is being held throughout 2025, Saito highlighted some things visitors could expect to see at the GREEN×EXPO 2027 in two years time, noting that nature-based solutions would be a prominent theme and sharing that a new garden will be built as part of this prestigious gathering.
“We have already agreed with GREEN×EXPO 2027 and The University of Tokyo to host TEIEN FORUMs over the next two years. 2026 will be held at the University and in 2027, we’ll be part of the EXPO itself!” Misako Ito, Executive Director of the Garden and Institute’s Japan Office in Tokyo, shares. “We are currently working out plans and look forward to sharing more as details get confirmed.”
“The TEIEN FORUM is more than a symposium,” concludes Nakanishi. “It is a strategic cornerstone in Portland Japanese Garden’s evolving role as a cultural bridge and international thought leader. As the Garden continues to advance conversations about place, sustainability, and heritage, events like this not only elevates its voice across the U.S. – Japan cultural space, but ensures that its work remains relevant to its future in the Pacific Northwest. As we look ahead to 2027 and beyond, one thing is certain: Japanese gardens, as living expressions of beauty and care, are gaining traction not only as artistic legacies but as platforms for dialogue, peace, and shared human flourishing.”
TEIEN FORUM 2025 Participants
Kaitoku-Kan Garden at The University of Tokyo. Attendees of the TEIEN FORUM began their day with a tour here. Photo by Ken Katsurayama.
Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute are profoundly grateful for the impactful and highly admired thought leaders who joined the organizations’ leadership to host this meaningful and insightful day of conversations and learning. They include, in alphabetical order:
- Dr. Yee Kuang Heng, Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo
- Dr. Shao-Lan Hertel, Director of the Museum of East Asian Art, Cologne, Germany
- Dr. Darren Mitchell, Historian & Cultural Heritage Advisor, Board Director, Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, Australia
- Dr. Shunsaku Miyagi, Landscape Architect, Visiting Professor, Harvard University Graduate School of Design (Keynote Speaker)
- Jun Saito, Executive Advisor, Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama (Closing Remarks)
- Dr. Naoko Shimazu, Professor and Deputy Director, Tokyo College, Institute for Advanced Study, The University of Tokyo (Moderator)
- Dr. Makoto Suzuki, Professor Emeritus, Principal Tokyo University of Agriculture, Green Academy & Member, International Advisory Board of Portland Japanese Garden (Moderator)
- Dr. Christian Tagsold, Professor, Modern Japanese Studies, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Research leader of Euro-Japanese Garden Association
- Dr. Atsushi Tsuda, Executive Director & Vice-President, The University of Tokyo (Welcome Remarks)
- Ryuichi Wakisaka, Executive Director, Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama