Many may feel anxious now due to the war in Ukraine. I certainly do. I want to introduce a project that may ease your mind. It is “Garden for Peace” by North American Japanese Garden Association.
“In September 2020, a peace pattern was raked into the karesansui (dry gardens) of five Japanese gardens in the U.S. The peace pattern was created by Hiroshima enamel artist, Toshiko Tanaka, an A-bomb survivor and advocate for world peace. Her designs represent her desire for world peace.” (Quote from NAJGA’s Youtube video)
The peace pattern that she created mimics the Japanese word “peace”. The gardens speak a simple but strong message. I think that the process of making those gardens is more important than their shapes.
When I had a chance to design a Japanese garden at Frost Valley YMCA. I was amazed that people made tremendous efforts for mutual understanding through cultural exchanges. Then, I designed a Japanese dry garden to symbolize not only a friendship between Frost Valley YMCA and Tokyo YMCA. but also that between the USA and Japan.
Mutual understanding is the first step to living together peacefully. I hope that I contribute to peacemaking by designing Japanese dry gardens in the US.
