The International Exchange Forum connects global communities for dialogue through exploring those ideals of Japanese culture which resonate in every culture around the world, including appreciation of fine craftsmanship, a deep personal connection to nature, and the search for internal and external peace. The Exchange Forum connects individuals and organizations around these shared interests. Together, participants build global relationships, exchange and explore ideas critical to modern life, evolve theory and practice in their respective fields, and collaborate to implement the ideals of Japanese gardens, arts, and culture in varied and meaningful ways for communities around the world.
Japan Institute’s peace programming is made possible through Robert and Deborah Zagunis.
International Peace Symposia
Our public Peace Symposia series features leaders from numerous cultural, intellectual, and diplomatic fields, coming together to discuss the evolving role of public spaces as the platform for peacebuilding and community engagement. Japan Institute will hold six Peace Symposia on six continents over the course of three years:
- 2022: Tokyo, Japan
- 2022: London, England
- 2023: New York, United States
- 2023: Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2024: São Paulo, Brazil
- 2024: Sydney, Australia
These symposia explore the interplay between and convergence of landscapes, architecture, and arts in shaping new civic conversations and efforts for peacebuilding through cultural diplomacy.
Read a one-page on our Tokyo Peace Symposium by clicking below:
Tokyo Peace Symposia Photo Slide Show:
Her Imperial Highness, Princess Tsuguko addressing attendees at the Tokyo Peace Symposium. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
A welcome dddress by Chairman James Kondo, International House of Japan. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden CEO Steve Bloom. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Taro Kono, Minister for Digital Agency, Member of the House of Representatives. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden Chief Curator Sadafumi Uchiyama. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Panelist Marc Peter Keane, garden designer and author, at the Tokyo Peace Symposium. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Panelist Isoya Shinji, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of Agriculture. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art, and Education at Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden Aki Nakanishi leads a panel discussion. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Panelist Mami Kataoka, Director, Mori Art Museum. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Panelist Shiro Wakui, Landscape Architect and Professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Tokyo City University. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Panelist Junya Ishigami, CEO of Junya Ishigami + Associates. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Yumi Fuzuki reads her work, ‘Gathering the voices,’ at Japan Institute’s Tokyo Peace Symposium. Photo by Ken Katurayama.
London Peace Symposia Photo Slide Show:
Guildhall, where the London Peace Symposium was held. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Congratulatory address by Okazaki Yasuyuki, Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media Embassy of Japan in United Kingdom. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Keynote speech by Kjersti Fløgstad, Nobel Peace Center Director. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panelist Shiro Nakane, President, Nakane Garden Research and Landscape. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panelist Simon Kaner, Executive Director, Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panelist Kate Robertson, Co-Founder, One Young World. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panelist Richard Deverell, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panelist Robert Ketchell, President, Japanese Garden Society of U.K. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Commissioned poetry reading by Victoria Adulkwei Bulley. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Panel Moderator James Chau, Host of The China Current and WHO Goodwill Ambassador. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Japan Institute and Portland Japanese Garden CEO Steve Bloom. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
Portland Japanese Garden Board Member Robert Zagunis, with his wife Deborah Zagunis on the left. Photo by Hayley Madden.
Poetry
At the conclusion of all six Peace Symposia, Japan Institute will publish a book of the poetry that has been included in their programming. It will include work by winners of a challenge sponsored by Japan Institute and the Poetry Society of the U.K., a globally respected organization founded in 1909 that advances poetry through its publications, competitions, and collaborations with international organizations.
Commissioned Poets:
- Yumi Fuzuki & Hiromitsu Koiso | Tokyo Peace Symposium
- Victoria Adukwei Bulley | London Peace Symposium
Peace Lantern Dedications
In September 2022, Japan Institute presented replicas of Portland Japanese Garden’s Peace Lantern to the cities of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Tokyo ahead of its Peace Symposium in Japan. Then, in December of 2022, Japan Institute presented a Peace Lantern to The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England.
These gifts are inspired by a gesture in 1954 by Yokohama, Japan’s then-mayor, Ryōzō Hiranuma. In an effort to repair friendships in the aftermath of World War II, Hiranuma began gifting stone lanterns to different locations around the world to “cast the light” of peace. Portland was one the recipients. At first, the lantern was installed in the International Rose Test Garden and then finally in 1967, it was placed in Portland Japanese Garden’s Strolling Pond Garden. While its journey concluded more than 50 years ago, its significance has not waned. Rather, it inspired the generations that followed. To read more about the Peace Lantern, click here.
Peace Lantern Dedication Photo Slideshow:
The Peace Lantern presentation in Hiroshima. Photo by Toshiaki Takata. 
The peace lantern presented to the City of Hiroshima. Photo by Toshiaki Takata. 
The peace lantern presented to the City of Hiroshima. Photo by Toshiaki Takata 
Hiroshima Deputy Mayor Kenichi Susume. Photo by Toshiaki Takata 
Consul General Richard Mei (U.S. Consulate in Osaka-Kobe) Photo by Toshiaki Takata 
The Peace Lantern presentation in Nagasaki. Photo by Yusuke Kusano. 
The peace lantern presented to the City of Nagasaki. Photo by Yusuke Kusano 
The Peace Lantern presentation in Tokyo. Photo by Ken Katsurayama 
A replica of the Peace Lantern in Portland Japanese Garden, donated to the International House of Japan in Tokyo. Photo by Ken Katsurayama. 
Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue & Japan Institute & Portland Japanese Garden CEO Steve Bloom at the presentation of the Peace Lantern to Nagasaki. Photo by Yusuke Kusano. 
Japan Institute & Portland Japanese Garden CEO Steve Bloom. Photo by Yusuke Kusano 
The Peace Lantern in the Japanese Landscape of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Photo by Hayley Madden.jpg 
The Peace Lantern in the Japanese Landscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. L-R: Steve Bloom, Hirooki Ohashi, Richard Deverell. Photo by Hayley Madden. 
The Peace Lantern in Portland Japanese Garden’s Strolling Pond Garden.
International Tours
The International Exchange Forum creates customized national and international travel programs for audiences to explore and contrast Japanese gardens, art, and culture with other similar and contrasting destinations around the world, as well as destinations and organizations that align with Japan Institute’s mission of Inspiring Harmony & Peace. Through this exploration, individuals find renewal for themselves as well as opportunities to understand people from other cultures.
Oslo, Norway Photo Slideshow:
Concurrent to its peace programming in London, Japan Institute hosted a patron tour including Portland Japanese Garden Board Members, donors, and partners to experience more programs and build the relationships that will help advance our mission of inspiring harmony and peace. At the conclusion of the London Peace Symposium, the patron tour continued to Oslo, Norway. There, both Japan Institute staff and their fellow travelers visited the Nobel Peace Center and attended events highlighted by the Nobel Peace Prize Award ceremony held on December 10. Below is a collection photos of the events and gatherings that took place in Norway.
Collaborative Programs with International Cultural Organizations
Global relationships continue to reveal new opportunities for discussion and collaboration on initiatives important to varied communities around the world. These projects are some of the first collaborative efforts:
- Sister-institution relationships modeled on the established collaborations between Portland Japanese Garden and Taizo-in (Kyoto), International House of Japan (Tokyo), and Keihanna Garden (Kyoto).
- Ongoing Living Traditions webinar series in conjunction with the Government of Japan and Japan Society, exploring the influence of centuriesold traditions on many of today’s most popular trends.
- Collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Culture, Garden Society of Japan, North American Japanese Garden Association, and others to achieve UNESCO designation of intangible world heritage for Japanese garden art form – 2016 through 2026.
In addition, the International Exchange Forum is working to create global connections among gardens and Japanese cultural organizations with plans to host these conferences in future years:
- The Inaugural North American Japanese Cultural Conference in Portland, Oregon – June 2024.
- The Inaugural Great Gardens of the World Leadership Forum in Portland, Oregon – July 2026.
