May 5th is Children’s Day in Japan. In 1948, it was designated as a national holiday by the Japanese government, and the name was changed from Boy’s Day to make it a day to respect all children's personalities, celebrate their happiness, and thank their mothers. Yes, thanking mothers is part of Japanese national-holiday law!

In Mid-Spring, the Charming Red or Pink Flowers of Japanese Primrose Are a Bright Spot of Color in the Seattle Japanese Garden

Primula japonica is the best known and easiest to grow of the primrose species known as candelabras. Its charming red or pink mid-spring flowers are a bright spot of color in the Seattle Japanese Garden.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and Blooms, SpringCorinne KennedyApril 20, 2022April, Spring, Seattle

In Winter, ‘Kobai’ Flowering Plum Opens its Fragrant, Deep Pink Flowers

Three Prunus mume ‘Kobai’ trees are planted on the eastern edge of the Seattle Japanese Garden’s entry courtyard. Even before the Garden re-opens each year in March, they delight Arboretum visitors with their fragrant, deep pink winter flowers.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyFebruary 23, 2022Seattle, Winter, Plum, Fragrant, tree, bloom, Flower Arranging

Japanese New Year's Decorations

Traditionally Japanese believe that Toshigami-sama (New Year’s deity) descends in the first month of the year and visits their home and leaves good luck for their coming year. They decorate home with traditional ornaments to welcome Toshigamisama. These are Kadomatsu (門松, New Year’s pine and bamboo decorations), shimekazari (しめ飾り, Sacred straw festoon) and Kagamimochi (鏡餅, Round mirror-shaped rice cakes).

The Essential Reading List for 2021

Called 読書の秋 (dokusho no aki) in Japanese, the colder days and longer nights of fall beckon us to read. Blog contributor Corinne Kennedy has compiled an eclectic list of 11 titles recommended by the Garden’s docents (Arboretum Foundation Unit 86).

Japanese Culture, FallCorinne KennedyNovember 9, 2021Japanese Culture, books

Momijigari, 紅葉狩り

The Japanese have a custom to make a trip to hills and valleys to appreciate autumn foliage in the fall. This is called “Momijigari”. You may have heard of this term and it is translated to “going leaf-peeping" or “autumn leaves viewing” in English. The direct translation of Momijigari, however, is “Red leaves hunting”.

Events, Fall, Japanese CultureYukari YamanoOctober 7, 2021red leaves, maple viewing, momiji, fall, fall color, momijigari, Japanese Culture, Maple

Stars of the Summer Garden: Three 'Dancing Snow' Bigleaf Hydrangeas Now Grace the Seattle Japanese Garden

Bigleaf hydrangeas, native to and long cultivated in Japan, are one of the loveliest and most beloved of summer-blooming shrubs. Three plants now grace the Seattle Japanese Garden—a relatively new cultivar, Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Dancing Snow.’ It’s also known by the trademark name Double Delights™ Wedding Gown.

2020 Foreign Minister's Commendation Recipient

The Seattle Japanese Garden is proud to announce that we have received the 2020 Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This commendation is awarded “to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.”

Garden History, Japanese CultureChie IidaDecember 3, 2020foreign minister's commendation