On March 29, 2016, Brooklyn Botanic Garden was honored to welcome Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan, and Reiichiro Takahashi, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, during a visit and ceremonial tree planting in BBG’s Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Ambassadors Kennedy and Takahashi, who are serving as honorary co-chairs of BBG’s Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden 100th anniversary year, were joined by BBG board vice-chair Diane Steinberg, BBG president Scot Medbury, and others in planting a Prunus ‘Snow Goose’ within the iconic Japanese garden.

“The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden captures the imagination of visitors, and inspires many to return again and again,” said Diane Steinberg at the event. “It opens us all to new experiences and to embracing the beauty and traditions of different cultures. This example of friendship and appreciation between cultures is as important today as it was 100 years ago. We thank Ambassador Kennedy and Ambassador Takahashi both for helping to bring attention to this wonderful history.”

In an earlier statement, Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan, said, “Congratulations to Brooklyn Botanic Garden on a century of inspiration and beauty. For 100 years, BBG has introduced New Yorkers to the beauty of Japanese gardens. This institution plays an important role in the deep friendship and mutual admiration of our two great countries, and I am so glad to know that there will always be a little piece of Japan right near home.”

Said Reiichiro Takahashi, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, also in an earlier statement, “This is an historic moment for Brooklyn Botanic Garden, in which the Garden will elevate and celebrate the vibrant relationship and enduring ties it has helped to cultivate between the United States and Japan.”

“As we celebrate this historic milestone, we are deeply grateful that Ambassador Kennedy and Ambassador Takahashi have joined us as honorary co-chairs of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden centennial,” said Scot Medbury at the event. “We are delighted that they both can be here to commemorate the centennial and this remarkable example of cultural exchange and friendship between the United States and Japan.”

Considered the masterpiece of its creator, landscape designer Takeo Shiota (1881–1943), the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden was the first Japanese garden created in an American public garden and is one of the oldest and most visited Japanese-inspired gardens outside Japan. BBG’s other important Japanese horticultural collections include the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, among the most important bonsai collections in the United States; the Ornamental Cherry Collection, one of the largest and most diverse in an American public garden; and the Tree Peony Collection, a gift from the Japanese town of Yatsuka-Cho, in Shimane Prefecture, in memory of the events of September 11, 2001.

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden Centennial Partners
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is honored to have Caroline Kennedy, Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan, and Reiichiro Takahashi, Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York, serve as honorary co-chairs of BBG’s Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden Centennial year.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is pleased to recognize the special support of its Centennial Partners: Lead Sponsor, The Freeman Foundation; Major Sponsor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group; Sponsors, JCC Fund of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Sony Corporation of America Foundation, Sumitomo Corporation of America Foundation; Partners, The Helen V. Froehlich Foundation, Japan Foundation, New York; Friends, Brother International Corporation, Canon USA, Inc., Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal USA, Inc., and Toyota.