Inspired in the late 1950s by growing cultural ties between Oregon
and Japan, Mayor Terry Schrunk and members of the Portland community conceived the idea of building a Japanese garden on
the site of the old zoo in Washington Park.
Their reasons for building a Japanese garden were twofold:
providing the citizens of Portland with a garden of great beauty
and serenity, while forging a healing connection to Japan on the
heels of World War II.
At this time in U.S. history, Japanese gardens were founded across
the country as a way to build cultural understanding. Needing no translation, an American could experience firsthand Japanese
ideals and values, communicated simply through nature.
The site was dedicated in 1961, and Professor Takuma Tono of
Tokyo Agricultural University was retained to design the Garden. Professor Tono’s plan included five different garden styles laid
out on 5.5 acres.
This was quite a departure from gardens in Japan which typically
follow one singular style. His intention was to represent different historical developments in Japanese garden architecture and
through that communicate Japanese culture to create a cultural exchange.
In 1967, the Garden formally opened to the public for the summer. Admission was $0.50 for adults and $0.25 for students. That year,
more than 28,000 people came before the Garden closed for the
winter.
japenesegarden.org
