Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month 2023

Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable role of the AANHPI community in our nation’s history. Founded in 1963 to heal the wounds of World War II, Portland Japanese Garden is proud to represent this community and exist as a place that can continue to Inspire Harmony and Peace. Learn more about our history.

In recognition and celebration of AANHPI Month, Portland Japanese Garden will be hosting and participating in a few local community events:

Oregon Rises Above Hate

May 6, 2023 / 10am – 3pm at Flanders Festival Street in Old Town, Portland

Oregon Rises Above Hate (ORAH), a collection of community leaders who want to defeat anti-Asian hate by harnessing the power of the entire Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and all Oregonians statewide, will be holding a celebration event at Flanders Festival Street in Old Town.

Portland Japanese Garden will have a booth, where attendees can fold paper cranes with wishes of peace written inside. These cranes will be displayed at the Garden this summer.

“Today, 7% of Oregon is of AANHPI descent and the fastest growing immigrant population. I would like to invite everyone to come together in community and solidarity to celebrate the kick-off of Asian/Pacific Heritage Month,” said Anne Naito-Campbell, organizer of Oregon Rises Above Hate. “This is the third year of Oregon Rises Above Hate, which began with a focus on stopping anti-Asian hate, and we are now proud to offer the community a robust space to celebrate our AANHPI heritage as well as combat prejudice and racism.” Read more about how the AANHPI community is coming together to celebrate each other and highlight issues the community faces here.

Lecture: Finding Solace in the Soil

May 12, 2023 / 2:30pm – 5:00pm at Portland Japanese Garden

Dr. Bonnie J. Clark, a professor at Denver University and Curator for Archeology of the DU Museum of Anthropology will discuss how wrongly incarcerated Japanese Americans transformed the hostile landscape of their Amache, Colorado concentration camp into gardens during World War II.

This talk will be held in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center, followed immediately by a book signing. Dr. Clark’s book will be available for purchase. More information can be read on the Finding Solace in the Soil event page.

Music in the Garden

May 17, 2023 / 1:15pm – 6:15pm at Portland Japanese Garden

In partnership with Oregon Symphony, Portland Japanese Garden will be hosting an afternoon of performances celebrating Asian and Asian American composers, musicians, and culture in six short recitals. This concert will be free to Portland Japanese Garden members and the public (with purchase of general admission) and will feature multiple performances throughout the afternoon.

As part of the celebration, the Oregon Symphony is offering Portland Japanese Garden members and guests a 20% discount off tickets for specific concerts at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. More information can be read on the Music in the Garden event page.


Related: “A Reminder of Peace and Reconciliation,” a Letter from Kinya Hira, Garden Director (1964-69)