History of Japanese Friendship Garden Archives

Only recently discovered 1915 Photo: Former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt & William Howard Taft honor Baron Shibusawa during his important diplomatic visit. Their goal to establish a strong US Japan alliance for World War One.

February 6, 2020 by Stan S. Katz 5 Comments

This is the only known photo of a significant 1915 U.S. Japan diplomatic event. The description on the lower left corner states:

Dinner to Baron Shibusawa. East & West Meeting, Sherry’s [restaurant] New York City, December 3, 1915. (Actual photo size: 20 by 12 inches.)

The above original photo is age-darkened and torn, and is also missing a corner and a segment of the left edge. These imperfections have been corrected during the restoration process as shown in the photo below:

To Honor the Friendship & Alliance between Presidents Theodore Roosevelt & William Howard Taft with the Japanese leaders Baron Shibusawa & Prince Tokugawa, a bronze sculpture is offered as a Gift to the Japanese Friendship Garden

December 9, 2019 by Stan S. Katz 1 Comment

In the Spirit of International Goodwill

The clay relief sculpture has been accented with metallic paint to look like a bronze – If the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego welcomes this gift, it will be cast in bronze and be presented as a token of goodwill from the San Diego World Affairs Council (a chapter of the World Affairs Councils of America) and perhaps also from the San Diego Diplomacy Council & the East West Center – Fine organizations that support international cooperation for a more peaceful and democratic world.