u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-12924 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Steve-Bloom-photo-251×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022251u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnUnder Steve Bloom’s leadership, Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon, U.S. A. has seenrnstrong institutional growth. He oversaw the completion of a $37 million expansion of thernGarden and its facilities designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma, created a curatorialrndepartment, expanded and improved programs in culture, art, and education, established an International Japanese Garden Training Center, formed an International Advisory Board, and has dramatically increased national and international visibility and recognition.rnIn 2015, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it was awarding the ForeignrnMinister’s Commendations in Honor of the 70th anniversary of the End of World War II. The award was given to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in the promotion of friendship between United States and Japan. Bloom was awarded this prestigious recognition along with only 27 other individuals.rnBloom was a 2008-09 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Japan, sponsored by Hitachi, and concurrently served as Visiting Scholar at Tokyo University of Agriculture. Following his fellowship in Japan, Bloom led an effort to create the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) of which he served as its FoundingrnBoard President. Presented by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Bloom is the recent recipient of the “2017 Portland Award” recognizing greatest overall contribution to the promotion of Portland’s visitor industry. On the occasion of its 100th Anniversary in 2018, the Garden Society of Japan bestowed Honorary Membership to Bloom in recognition of outstanding achievements in the promotion of Japanese Gardens worldwide.rnThis year, Bloom was selected as one of the u0022AJS Kaneko Kentaro Awardeesu0022 in recognition of his tireless work in the promotion of U.S. – Japan mutual understanding.

u003cimg class=u0022wp-image-28298 size-medium aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Kondo_high-reso-282×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022282u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnJames’ career spans policy, technology, academia and social arena.rnIn the policy arena, James was President of the Asia Pacific Initiative (API) that merged with the International House of Japan. He was also Special Advisor at the Cabinet Office and a co-founder of the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI).rnrnIn the technology arena, James is Co-Chair, Silicon Valley Japan Platform and Co-Chair, World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Japan. He was previously Chairman of Twitter Japan and Vice President of Twitter Inc.rnrnIn academia, James is Visiting Professor at Keio Medical School. Previously, he was Visiting Professor at Hitotsubashi Business School, Visiting Scientist at MIT Media Lab, and Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo.rnrnIn the social arena, James co-founded TABLE FOR TWO, a Davos-initiated social program that simultaneously addresses global hunger and obesity, and Beyond Tomorrow, a youth leadership and scholarship program established after the Tohoku earthquake in 2011. He is also a Global Trustee and Japan Co-Chair of Asia Society.rnrnJames was a visiting student at Brown University, graduated from Keio University and Harvard Business School and was a World Fellow at Yale University.rnrnHe was selected: Young Global Leader, New Asian Leader, a member of Global Agenda Council at the World Economic Forum, Asia 21 Fellow at Asia Society, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy, and Inamori Fellow of Inamori Foundation.

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-28233 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/kono-261×376.pngu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022261u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnAmong positions he has held are Foreign Minister; Defense Minister; Minister in charge of COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out; Minister for Administrative Affairs; Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, or Minister in charge of the National Police Organization; Minister for Civil Service Reform; Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety; Minister for Disaster Management; and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. He is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. He was Chairman of the Japan Race Horse Association and Chairman of the Shonan Bellmare Football Club, the 1995 Asia Champion Soccer Club. He is married to Kaori and has a son, Ippei.

1989 Entered Shōtō Kindergartenrn1992 Entered Gakushūin Primary Schoolrn1998 Entered Gakushūin Girls’ Junior High Schoolrn2001 Entered Gakushūin Senior High Schoolsrn2004-2008 Studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.rn2008 Entered School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda Universityrn2013 Graduated from the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University (minor in Life Science).rnCurrently working at the Japan Committee for UNICEF.rnHonorary President of the All-Japan Archery FederationrnHonorary Chairman of Japan Squash Association

u003cimg class=u0022size-full wp-image-28231 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Headshot1.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022330u0022 height=u0022330u0022 /u003ernrnMarc Peter Keane is a garden designer, artist, and author. Having lived in Kyoto, Japan, for nearly 20 years, his work is deeply influenced by the aesthetics and culture of Japan. His most recent interest is exploring contemporary forms of the ancient gardening style called karesansui — often referred to as Zen gardens.rnrnKeane’s writing includes works on Japanese gardens such as u003cemu003eJapanese Garden Design u003c/emu003e1996u003cemu003e,u003c/emu003e u003cemu003eSakuteiki u003c/emu003e2001, and u003cemu003eThe Japanese Tea Garden u003c/emu003e2009. He has also published collections of essays on nature, art and gardens including u003cemu003eThe Art of Setting Stones u003c/emu003e2002, and u003cemu003eOf Arcs and Circles u003c/emu003e2022.

Completed Ph.D. from Doctoral School of Aesthetics, Sciences and Technologies of Arts, University of Paris 8. Received Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture Award / Literature for u0022イサム・ノグチの空間芸術　危機の時代のデザイン u003cemu003e(Isamu Noguchi Spatial Arts – Design in the time of crisis)u003c/emu003e” (Tankosha Publishing, 2021) in 2021. The history and current state of Japanese gardens created abroad is the topic of her research. Concentrating mainly on gardens in France and the United States, Matsugi is investigating these overseas gardens’ ties with Japan, as well as their relationship with other forms of art such as sculpture and architecture. Recent article includes “Le jardin japonais comme champ des enjeux internationaux : tendances récentes de la recherche”, u003cemu003ePerspective : actualité en histoire de l’artu003c/emu003e, 2020-1.

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-28295 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MicrosoftTeams-image-16-251×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022251u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnServing as a member of Science Council of Japan (Chairman of Environmental Studies Committee), President of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture and President of the City Planning Institute of Japan. Shinji is also the chairman of the Nature Restoration Council of the Japanese Government Ministry of the Environment. Currently, he is a policy advisor to Fukui Prefecture, director of the Fukui Prefectural Satoyama-Satoumi,Research Institute. Shinji holds PhD in Environmental Studies and Landscape Architecture,rnrnThe author of numerous books including u0022u003cemu003e日本の庭園 u003c/emu003eu003cemu003e(Japanese Gardens)u003c/emu003eu0022 (Chuko Shinsho), u0022u003cemu003e進士五十八とu003c/emu003eu003cemu003e22u003c/emu003eu003cemu003e人のランドスケープ・アーキテクト u003c/emu003eu003cemu003e(Isoya Shinji and 22 Landscape Architects)u003c/emu003e,u0022 u0022u003cemu003e進士五十八の風景美学 u003c/emu003eu003cemu003e(Shinji Isoya’s Landscape Aesthetics)u003c/emu003eu0022 (Marumo Publishing), and others.rnrnAwards received include the Japan Institute of Landscape Architecture Award. He is the recipient of 2015 National Landscape Academic Prize, Cabinet Office, and the Purple Ribbon Medal of Japan.

u003cimg class=u0022size-full wp-image-3642 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sadafumi-Uchiyama-headshot.webpu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022246u0022 height=u0022250u0022 /u003ernrnChief Curator and Director of the International Japanese Garden Training Center, is a fourth-generation Japanese gardener and landscape architect whose family has been involved in gardening since 1909 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Since receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, he has designed and built a range of private and public projects, including Portland Japanese Garden’s new garden spaces and the renovations of Osaka Garden at Jackson Park, Chicago and Shofu-en at Denver Botanic Gardens. Most recently, Sada has been awarded the 2022 Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award in recognition for his achievements in promoting Japanese culture in the United States.

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-28235 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ishigami-293×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022293u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnAfter completing the master’s program at the Department of Architecture, in Tokyo University of the Arts, he established Junya Ishigami Architects in 2004 after working at Kazuyo Sejima u0026amp; Associates.rnrnHis major works include Kanagawa Institute of Technology KAIT Workshop / KAIT Plaza, Park Groot Vijversburg Visitor Center, Botanical Garden Art Biotop/ Water Garden, Serpentine Pavilion 2019, and House u0026amp; Restaurant. He received awards such as Architectural Institute of Japan Prize (2009), Golden Lion award for best project at Venice Biennale 12th International Architecture Exhibition, Mainichi Design Award (2010), The Minister of Education,Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists (of fine arts), OBEL AWARD by the Henrik Frode Obel Foundation (2019).

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-28236 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kataoka-305×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022305u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnKataoka Mami joined the Mori Art Museum in 2003, taking on the role of Director in 2020. Beyond Tokyo, Kataoka has held positions at the Hayward Gallery in London, where from 2007 to 2009 she was the institution’s first International Curator; she has also acted as Co-Artistic Director for the 9th Gwangju Biennale (2012), Artistic Director for the 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018) and is currently Artistic Director for the Aichi Triennale 2022. Kataoka has been serving as a Board Member of CIMAM [International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art] (2014-) and currently the President of CIMAM.

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-10585 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Aki-Nakanishi-070518-image-008_Jonathan-Ley-251×376.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022251u0022 height=u0022376u0022 /u003ernrnAkihito (Aki) Nakanishi is a cultural leader and public diplomacy expert with over two decades of experience in government relations, public communication, artistic exchanges, and cultural programming in Japan. For 10 years, Nakanishi served as the Cultural Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, where he oversaw a wide range of embassy involvement in cultural, creative, and educational activities designed to enhance mutual understanding between the U.S. and Japan. In addition to being the principal advisor to the Mission’s Cultural Attaché, he also served as a special aide to U.S. Ambassadors charged with direct oversight of some of the Ambassadors’ cultural and education projects, while also running his own non-profit programs for young leaders across Japan.rnrnHaving majored in Economics, European Law, and Business Administration in London, Nakanishi holds a Master of Cultural Policy from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan, where he has published a research paper on U.S. Cultural Policy in supporting the arts.

u003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-28302 aligncenteru0022 src=u0022https://japanesegarden.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MicrosoftTeams-image-17-376×251.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022376u0022 height=u0022251u0022 /u003ernrnShiro Wakui is an expert in landscape architecture, environmental engineering, and regional planning.  Professor Wakui has been involved in diverse projects on the spatial coexistence of humans and nature.  His representative projects include the landscape planning of Huis Ten Bosch (Nagasaki, Japan) and general producing of the 2005 World Expo in Aichi Japan (Aichi Expo) as well as project site planning and supervising memorial parks.  He also plays an active role as a TV commentator.rnrnProf. Wakui holds various important positions including member of the Steering Committee and Judging Committee of the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity; Visiting Professor, Chubu Institute for Advanced Studies, Chubu University; Visiting Professor, Faculty of Regional Environmental Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture; and Vice-Chairperson of the Parks u0026amp; Open Space Association of Japan.rnrnPrizes and honors include the Yellow Ribbon Medal (awarded by the Japanese Government), a commendation from Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.