In 2025, Portland Japanese Garden established its Sakura Society, a membership level that welcomes emerging leaders from the ages of 21 to 45 to become patrons of the organization. The Sakura Society offers a deeper connection to the Garden and its mission of Inspiring Harmony and Peace through tailored engagement opportunities with the Garden, art, and cultural experts. Additionally, members network with like-minded peers who are passionate about finding peace, harmony, and beauty through nature, developing friendships based on a shared love of the Garden. One of these special events took place in August on the stunning grounds of Torii Mor Winery in Dundee, a small town in the Willamette Valley 45 minutes south of the Garden.
Torii Mor Winery is one of Portland Japanese Garden’s oldest corporate sponsors and has contributed 100% of the wine served at its member events since 2009. As was shared in The Garden Path in 2017, Torii Mor’s aesthetic and its owner Don Olson’s personal life philosophy are highly influenced by Japanese culture and gardens.
That feeling of peace in nature is immediately felt in the rolling hills of Dundee. Sakura Society members who attended were greeted to a warm day underneath a sky of gentle white clouds. They were immediately welcomed with a glass of wine from Torii Mor’s collection before they headed out into the vineyards for a tour given by Nicolas Trempcourt, Tasting Room Manager and French-born wine expert. Trempcourt led Sakura Society members through rows of grapes growing on the vine, explaining their cultivation. They then saw the room where the grapes are crushed and fermented before heading down into a wine cellar. The outing ended back on Torii Mor’s deck where attendees enjoyed a charcuterie board and an expansive view along with more wine, and an opportunity to connect with their fellow members.
“I’ve enjoyed Torii Mor wine at Garden events, but have never been out to the vineyard, so seeing the property and the Japanese influences was a unique experience for an Oregon winery,” shares Natalie Nishitani, Sakura Society Member. “It was just nice to be outside on a beautiful day, connecting with an intimate group of folks with a similar affinity for Japanese gardens and culture.”
“I loved finally getting to learn more about Torii Mor, after years of having their wine at the Garden events,” agrees Esteban Garza, also a Sakura Society Member. “Tasting their port was definitely a highlight! It was nice getting a tour of the vineyard and facilities from somebody as knowledgeable as Nicholas, who works closely with the winemaker. As a small group, I also enjoyed getting to know the rest of the attendees.”
“I grew up in Portland and came to the Japanese Garden several times as a child, so it’s always been a special place to me,” Nishitani shares, explaining why she and her husband are Sakura Society members. As an adult, my husband and I have been involved in the Portland Japanese Garden for several years now. When he was on the architecture team for the Cultural Village project, I started volunteering with the Haiku Alive program, teaching elementary students about the garden and haiku poetry. My husband is a fourth generation Japanese American, so it’s important to us to be involved in Japanese culture in Portland and contribute to the cultural diversity within the Japanese American community locally. Joining the Sakura Society was another a way for us to support the Garden’s mission and local Japanese American community more broadly.”
“My partner and I have a deep appreciation for Japanese culture, and we already spend a lot of time at the Garden enjoying its beautiful spaces and events,” offers Garza, answering the same question. “Becoming members felt like a natural way to support a place we love while also connecting with other people who share our interests.”
“Portland Japanese Garden believes that, in addition to being a place where people can find a sense of inner peace and cultural immersion, it can also be an avenue to finding community,” offers Hilary Blakemore, Chief Development Officer. “We are excited to welcome the next generation of leaders and provide them an opportunity to build connection through special experiences, especially when it’s with incredibly generous partners like Torii Mor.”
Learn more about the Sakura Society, including how to join, by visiting this page.