On November 30th and December 4th, Japan Institute held its fourth and fifth Peace Symposia in Cape Town and Johannesburg, respectively. Among the many highlights of these free and public events were commissioned poetry readings by Siphokazi Jonas, work that is available to read here.
Since the establishment of its sibling organization Japan Institute in 2022, Portland Japanese Garden has seen its relationship with many vitally important international organizations blossom. Among these is a globally recognized leader in peacemaking: the Nobel Peace Center.
Japan Institute of Portland Japanese Garden partnered with Nobel Peace Center and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for the Peace Symposium, Peacemaking at the Intersection of Culture, Art, and Nature in December 2022 in the United Kingdom. Read a transcription of the opening remarks given by Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Beginning on March 16th, Portland Japanese Garden will debut its first new art exhibition of 2024. Titled Vision of Place, this show running through June 10th, will feature stunning photography from Portland’s sister city of Sapporo and the prefecture it is the capital of: Hokkaido.
A note from Portland Japanese Garden Executive Director Lisa Christy on International Women’s Day.
Often remarked upon for a natural splendor not often seen in major American cities, Portland is also a city of gardens, with an incredible breadth and depth among these public jewels. While planning a vacation this summer, Portland’s vibrant arts, culture, food, and shopping experiences will be excellently paired with visits to these spaces that reconnect you to nature and can even introduce you to the diverse cultural heritages that informed their creation.
On February 3, more than 200 people gathered in the atrium space of Wieden + Kennedy (W+K), an iconic Portland advertising agency with offices around the world along with deep ties with Japan. The excited crowd filed in to attend the newest installment of Living Traditions, a series of conversations and talks that explore some of the most iconic facets of Japanese culture and traditions.
This month, guests to Portland Japanese Garden may have noticed that rehabilitation in the Strolling Pond Garden is underway to help maintain a part of the landscape that has been a site of calmness and serenity for more than 60 years.
Be a part of Garden history! We invite our members to submit entries to the 2025 Calendar Photo Contest. With over 2,000 copies sold each year, our popular calendar explores the Garden through the seasons with photography from our members. To be considered, entries must be postmarked by March 29th, 2024. Winners will be notified by May …