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Mie Gakure: Discovering Nikkei Gardeners and their Communities

Ray & Tom Yutani - Part 2; gardener; Los Angeles (Landscaping America Opening: Ray Yutani - Part 2)


Published: Sept. 11, 2007 Modified: Feb. 11, 2025

Ray explains how he is both a physician and a Japanese gardener.

To read the transcripts, please view the original item.
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Interviewee: Ray Yutani

Relationship to Nikkei gardeners: His father, Tom Yutani, was a gardener. He and his brothers helped him with his work. Tom Yutani is also an expert on Southern California weeds.

Date: July 17, 2007

Location: Japanese American National Museum

Brief Summary: Ray explains how he is both a physician and a Japanese gardener

Transcription
I have good memories of working in the yards of—that he landscaped in. And I still consider myself a Japanese gardener and I enjoy working in the garden right now, my own garden. So, as a personal gardener I go to my daughter’s place and I’m their Japanese gardener too. So, I guess it’s in the blood, even though I’m a physician, gardening is in my blood and I think it’s a tradition I’m keeping up right now.

Click here for part 1 of this interview >>
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This interview was conducted as part of the Opening Day activities for the exhibition Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden.


gardeners gardening interviews Japanese American National Museum Japanese American National Museum (organization) Landscaping America (exhibition) physicians Ray Yutani

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Mie Gakure: Discovering Nikkei Gardeners and their Communities
The concept of "mie gakure"—or "hidden and seen"—is a central design principle in Japanese stroll gardens, where the path curves, and elements are arranged so that new, unexpected views are discovered at each turn. Inspired by the persona…
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