Mr. Sadafumi Uchiyama of the Portland Japanese Garden to Receive 2022 Foreign Minister’s Commendation

On August 4, 2022 (Japan time), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the recipients of the 2022 Foreign Minister's Commendation. Mr. Sadafumi Uchiyama (Chief Curator of the Portland Japanese Garden) has been awarded the Foreign Minister's Commendation in recognition of his achievements in promoting Japanese culture in the United States.

Mr. Uchiyama has been involved in the creation and development of Japanese gardens throughout North America since the 1990s, contributing significantly to the growth and popularity of the art form. In particular, he has collaborated with architect Kengo Kuma on the large-scale expansion of the Portland Japanese Garden, established the International Japanese Garden Training Center there, and devoted himself to training Japanese garden engineers from around the world. In addition to cooperating with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's overseas garden restoration project, he also contributed to the establishment of the North American Japanese Garden Association, and currently serves as a director of the association. Beyond this, he has given numerous lectures in Japan and the United States, enhancing the cross-cultural understanding and international prestige of Japanese gardens.

Foreign Minister's Commendation recipients are selected from a wide range of individuals who have made particularly remarkable achievements in various fields of international relations, and who have contributed significantly to the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and other countries. The purpose of the award is to honor the accomplishments of these people and organizations, and to raise public awareness and support of their activities.