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| seattle japanese garden history |
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The Japanese Garden-- History
By Marjorie Clausing and Joy Spurr, 1970
The concept of a Japanese Garden began within the Arboretum
Special Projects Committee in 1937. The idea was quiescent until
1957 when Carl Ballard, President of the Arboretum Foundation,
appointed Mrs. Neil Haig to take action to make the garden a
reality.
After the basic work of setting up a committee, estimating costs
and raising funds, Mrs. Haig prepared a 12-page prospectus which
was presented to Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno, Consul-General of Japan.
Mr. Takeno requested aid for the garden from various cities of
Japan. The first response was from Seattle's sister city, Kobe,
which sent two lovely, hand-hewn, granite lanterns (one weighing
five tons).
At about the same time Mr. S. Moriwaki of the Tokyo Motropolitan
Park Department visited the Arboretum. Upon seeing the land set
aside for the Japanese Garden, he volunteered assistance. When
notes of gratitude were sent to the Governor of Tokyo for Mr.
Moriwaki's offer, the City of Tokyo further responded with a truly
splendid gift, the Japanese Tea House.
Ground was broken May,1959, in the presence of Mayor Gordon
Clinton and the Japanese Consul General, Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno.
At this time the tea house was being constructed under the
supervision of Mr. H. Hasegawa and Mr. T. Kato, representing the
Shimizu construction Company of Tokyo.
Mr. Iida visited the site of the garden in December and made
sketches and photographs before returning to Japan. There,
working with six of the foremost landscape designers, including Mr.
K. Inoshita, a master of landscape engineering and design, he drew
up the 38 pages of plans.
Mr. Iida and his assistant, Mr. T. Kitamura, returned to Seattle in
March 1960, to supervise the construction. Yorozu Gardening
company of Seattle was designated prime contractor, and Mr.
Richard I. Yamasaki handled the rock work.
The garden area of about four acres was cleared, the lake dredged
and enlarged. Over 9,000 yards of earth were brought in to build
the twin mountains.
From Bandera, on the Snoqualmie River, over 600 rocks were
hauled, each carefully selected by Mr. Iida and handled with care
to prevent scratching. Individual rocks weighed over a thousand
pounds and some as much as eight tons. Each rock went to its
pre-selected spot and most are buried in the Japanese tradition,
two-thirds underground. Smaller stones were selected and placed
with equal precision, and some stones were shipped from Tokyo.
Over 200 feet of rock walls were placed.
Hundreds of shrubs and trees were planted, many native to
Japan. Cherry trees were the gift of the Japanese Community
Service and were planted by the Japanese Gardeners Association.
There are 10 hand-carved granite lantern and a pagoda imported
from Japan, a traditional stone washing basin adjacent to the tea
house with a hand-made bamboo dipper for the 'owner's use.'
Man-made structures include two entrance gates, two wooden
bridges, moon viewing stand, arbor and two shelters.
This charming garden was made possible through the generosity
of one anonymous individual and his wife, living in the Seattle
region, who bore the major part of the costs. (Mr. and Mrs.
Prentice Bloedel). Notable contributions were made by the
University of Washington, including engineering and staffing, the
City of Seattle by providing funds for the surrounding fence,
sidewall and lighting, the Arboretum Foundation,
and many other local firms, foundations,and individuals. The
Prentice Bloedel Unit No. 86 was organized in 1967 to provide
leadership in sustaining the garden.
The Japanese Garden was dedicated and opened to the public on
June 5, 1960. May it bestow upon all who enter its gates, the
benediction of beauty, peace, and tranquility.
Foremost living landscape designer is Mr. K. Inoshita whose
signature appears on every sheet of the Japanese Garden plans.
Working carefully with six other landscape design engineers, Mr.
Inoshita and his aides spent three months preparing the plans
utilized in constructing the garden. His work, and that of his
outstanding assistants, was given to the City of Seattle and the
University of Washington Arboretum as a gift from the City of
Tokyo and from the government of Japan -- for which we owe a
debt of gratitude in great abundance
Creator of more than a thousand Japanese Gardens is Mr. Juki
Iida, the landscape design engineer who assisted in preparing the
plans for our garden, and supervised the entire construction. His
work, of almost a half a year's duration, is a gift of the City of
Tokyo and of the Japanese Government. Mr. Iida has so endeared
himself here, not only as an artist of landscape design and
construction, but as a warm friend to all peoples represented in
Seattle, that it is with deep regret that his legion of admirers will
watch his return to his homeland. It is our hope that he will return
often to see the maturing of our garden which he built.
These are gifts extraordinary in history between peoples and
governments. We hope you will return here often, to enjoy the
changing beauties of the Tea Garden from season to season.
SHOSEIAN TEAHOUSE- History
By Marjorie Clausing and Joy Spurr, 1970
The concept of a Japanese Garden began within the Arboretum
Special Projects Committee in 1937. The idea was quiescent until
1957 when Carl Ballard, President of the Arboretum Foundation,
appointed Mrs. Neil Haig to take action to make the garden a
reality.
After the basic work of setting up a committee, estimating costs
and raising funds, Mrs. Haig prepared a 12-page prospectus which
was presented to Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno, Consul-General of Japan.
Mr. Takeno requested aid for the garden from various cities of
Japan. The first response was from Seattle's sister city, Kobe,
which sent two lovely, hand-hewn, granite lanterns (one weighing
five tons).
At about the same time Mr. S. Moriwaki of the Tokyo Motropolitan
Park Department visited the Arboretum. Upon seeing the land set
aside for the Japanese Garden, he volunteered assistance. When
notes of gratitude were sent to the Governor of Tokyo for Mr.
Moriwaki's offer, the City of Tokyo further responded with a truly
splendid gift, the Japanese Tea House.
Ground was broken May,1959, in the presence of Mayor Gordon
Clinton and the Japanese Consul General, Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno.
At this time the tea house was being constructed under the
supervision of Mr. H. Hasegawa and Mr. T. Kato, representing the
Shimizu construction Company of Tokyo.
Mr. Iida visited the site of the garden in December and made
sketches and photographs before returning to Japan. There,
working with six of the foremost landscape designers, including Mr.
K. Inoshita, a master of landscape engineering and design, he drew
up the 38 pages of plans.
Mr. Iida and his assistant, Mr. T. Kitamura, returned to Seattle in
March 1960, to supervise the construction. Yorozu Gardening
company of Seattle was designated prime contractor, and Mr.
Richard I. Yamasaki handled the rock work.
The garden area of about four acres was cleared, the lake dredged
and enlarged. Over 9,000 yards of earth were brought in to build
the twin mountains.
From Bandera, on the Snoqualmie River, over 600 rocks were
hauled, each carefully selected by Mr. Iida and handled with care
to prevent scratching. Individual rocks weighed over a thousand
pounds and some as much as eight tons. Each rock went to its
pre-selected spot and most are buried in the Japanese tradition,
two-thirds underground. Smaller stones were selected and placed
with equal precision, and some stones were shipped from Tokyo.
Over 200 feet of rock walls were placed.
Hundreds of shrubs and trees were planted, many native to
Japan. Cherry trees were the gift of the Japanese Community
Service and were planted by the Japanese Gardeners Association.
There are 10 hand-carved granite lantern and a pagoda imported
from Japan, a traditional stone washing basin adjacent to the tea
house with a hand-made bamboo dipper for the 'owner's use.'
Man-made structures include two entrance gates, two wooden
bridges, moon viewing stand, arbor and two shelters.
This charming garden was made possible through the generosity
of one anonymous individual and his wife, living in the Seattle
region, who bore the major part of the costs. (Mr. and Mrs.
Prentice Bloedel). Notable contributions were made by the
University of Washington, including engineering and staffing, the
City of Seattle by providing funds for the surrounding fence,
sidewall and lighting, the Arboretum Foundation,
and many other local firms, foundations,and individuals. The
Prentice Bloedel Unit No. 86 was organized in 1967 to provide
leadership in sustaining the garden.
The Japanese Garden was dedicated and opened to the public on
June 5, 1960. May it bestow upon all who enter its gates, the
benediction of beauty, peace, and tranquility.
Foremost living landscape designer is Mr. K. Inoshita whose
signature appears on every sheet of the Japanese Garden plans.
Working carefully with six other landscape design engineers, Mr.
Inoshita and his aides spent three months preparing the plans
utilized in constructing the garden. His work, and that of his
outstanding assistants, was given to the City of Seattle and the
University of Washington Arboretum as a gift from the City of
Tokyo and from the government of Japan -- for which we owe a
debt of gratitude in great abundance
Creator of more than a thousand Japanese Gardens is Mr. Juki
Iida, the landscape design engineer who assisted in preparing the
plans for our garden, and supervised the entire construction. His
work, of almost a half a year's duration, is a gift of the City of
Tokyo and of the Japanese Government. Mr. Iida has so endeared
himself here, not only as an artist of landscape design and
construction, but as a warm friend to all peoples represented in
Seattle, that it is with deep regret that his legion of admirers will
watch his return to his homeland. It is our hope that he will return
often to see the maturing of our garden which he built.
These are gifts extraordinary in history between peoples and
governments. We hope you will return here often, to enjoy the
changing beauties of the Tea Garden from season to season.
SHOSEIAN TEAHOUSE- History
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