Culture, Art, & Education
Japanese to English and Vice Versa: The Tribulations of Translation
Here we discuss the challenges that arise when translating Japanese words into English.
News & Photos
Culture, Art, & Education
Wabi Sabi and Tea: Exploring the Relationship Between Two of the Most Revered Aspects of Japanese Culture
Previously we explored the history and meaning of “wabi sabi,” a term that has grown in popularity but is deeply nuanced. To learn more, click here. In this article we explore the relationship between tea and wabi sabi, a connection that can’t be overlooked when seeking understanding of this fascinating aspect of Japanese culture.
Culture, Art, & Education
Tranquil Simplicity: Exploring the Meaning of Wabi Sabi in Portland Japanese Garden
Learn more about the Japanese aesthetic of wabi sabi.
Japan Institute Garden Path
Indigenous Knowledge Expert and Granddaughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lungi Morrison, on Her Relationship with Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute
Lungi Morrison, a granddaughter of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Indigenous knowledge scholar, sat down to discuss her work and partnership with Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute.
In the News Garden History
The Zoki no Niwa of Portland Japanese Garden: A Uniquely Natural Feeling
Issue 11 of The Journal of the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA), published in November 2024, features an article written by Will Lerner, Communications Manager for Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute. In it, Lerner shares insights from the organization’s Garden Directors and Curators, all Japanese-born niwashi (garden masters). They discuss the Natural Garden, one of the organization’s five historic garden spaces, and an example of the zoki no niwa style.
Press Releases
Gift a Japanese Garden for the Holidays
As you consider the presents you’ll be giving this holiday season, we encourage purchasing those you love a gift membership to Portland Japanese Garden to give them a space to find peace and connect with nature. Portland Japanese Garden stands as a crown jewel of its home city and because it is in perpetual evolution, it is best enjoyed through multiple visits, something its members can attest to.
Garden History
Steve Bloom: Cultivating a Legacy at Portland Japanese Garden
Learn more about Steve Bloom, who led Portland Japanese Garden as its CEO from 2005 to 2025.
Garden Path Art Exhibitions
Exhibiting Artist Profile: Naoko Fukumaru
On September 28, Portland Japanese Garden debuted its final art exhibition of 2024, Kintsugi: The Restorative Art of Naoko Fukumaru. In both the Pavilion and Calvin and Mayho Tanabe Galleries, the show will feature the artwork of kintsugi artist and master conservator Naoko Fukumaru. “Kintsugi is a five-hundred-year-old Japanese method of restoring damaged ceramics with natural urushi lacquer dusted with powdered gold, seen as enhancing beauty by celebrating imperfection and impermanence,” shares Fukumaru.
In the News Art Exhibitions
From Oregon ArtsWatch: Portland Japanese Garden is ‘Perfect Venue’ for Kintsugi Artwork by Naoko Fukumaru
Oregon ArtsWatch, an independent Oregon-focused website featuring arts journalism and criticism recently wrote about Kintsugi: The Restorative Art of Naoko Fukumaru, an exhibition now on show through January 27, 2025.