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Tsubaki and Matsu Membership Levels Offer Exciting New Ways to Support Portland Japanese Garden!

Posted by Portland Japanese Garden on
A wide shot of people walking down a path in a garden.
Garden members enjoying a stroll during our Members’ Day Celebration in May. Photo by Jonathan Ley.

Enhanced Offerings Draw Even Closer Connection to Japanese Culture

Portland Japanese Garden is excited to share two new membership levels now available in 2026: Tsubaki and Matsu. Tsubaki translates to “camellia” and matsu translates to “pine.” These enhanced opportunities to support the Garden are named in honor of plants that hold deep cultural significance in Japan and are among the flora that bestow their beauty on our landscape. This follows the 2025 introduction of our Sakura Society, monikered as such in honor of the quintessential Japanese flower, the sakura, or cherry blossom. Learn more about the inspiration behind these names below!

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Tsubaki (Camellia)

a pink flower
A camellia flower in bloom at Portland Japanese Garden. Photo by Portland Japanese Garden.

Formerly known as the “Patron” level, this tier is now named after the beloved camellia , which surprises and delights many visitors to the Garden because it ’ s one of the rare flowers here that blooms in winter. Tsubaki are highly popular in Japan, and are associated with strength and vibrancy and have been said to ward off evil spirits.

Related: Learn More About the Sakura Society and the Advisory Council Guiding it Forward

Matsu (Pine)

pines around a stone lantern
Pines growing next to our Wet Heron Lantern in the Flat Garden. Photo by Portland Japanese Garden.

There might be no plant that better evokes thoughts of Japan than the pine, from which we draw inspiration to rename what had been known as the “Steward” level. Thought to evoke longevity and vibrancy, pines in Japan are known as auspicious trees, especially in winter as they make up displays of kadomatsu, traditional displays seen here and in Japan around the new year.

Snapshot: Comparing the Tsubaki, Matsu, and Golden Crane Membership Levels

Moon Bridge Memberships Connect the Community to the Garden

The Moon Bridge of Portland Japanese Garden. Photo by Portland Japanese Garden.

In keeping with the organization’s aspiration to bring the ideals of Portland Japanese Garden to the world: art of craft, connection to nature, and experience of peace – the Garden chose to name this membership level “Moon Bridge,” because of what the bridge represents both practically and symbolically to the Portland community and beyond. Moon Bridge Memberships are now available to Oregon and Southwest Washington families receiving public income-related assistance. This includes but is not limited to: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC); Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF); Housing assistance (e.g. Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher, Low Income Energy Assistance); Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and/or Medicaid. To learn more, visit our Moon Bridge Membership Page.