About the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo
The Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo is a group with a mission to spread awareness about the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and to promote the message of peace and friendship upon which the Garden was originally established. We organize and sponsor community events to build a financial support for the Garden through the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, which cares for the Garden's daily needs.
The Committee members meet once approximately once a month to plan for fundraising events, to establish group policies, and to share information. Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and Japan in Buffalo-Niagara committees often meet together to discuss similar event planning. See the "About Japan in Buffalo-Niagara" page to see the Committee's meeting minutes.
For more information on the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo please contact Trudy Stern, <trudy@tru-teas.com> or call 716-887-2921.
History of the the Friends of the Japanese Garden group
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The Friends of the Japanese Garden was first conceived by Mrs. Yoshiko Tanigaki after spending many years dedicating herself to the general upkeep of the Japanese Garden (cleaning, weeding, plantings, etc.). In 2005 she was planning on returning to her home in Hokkaido, Japan, but she didn't want to leave until she could find someone to take over in making sure the Japanese Garden received the attention it deserved.
At that time, Trudy Stern was planning a special reception for the spring opening for her new restuarant and tea house, Tru-Teas. She wanted someone to perform a Japanese tea ceremony and was introduced to Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell, a master-student of the Japanese tea ceremony, Chanoyu.
Mrs. Nishida-Mitchell asked that her performance be a donation to the Japanese Garden through the Japanese Group of Buffalo. Once Mrs. Tanigaki learned about the donation, she knew she had found the right people to take over her work with the Garden. Mrs. Tanigaki met that December with Mrs. Stern and Mrs. Nishida-Mitchell and the Friends of the Japanese Garden was established.
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Mrs. Yoshiko Tanigaki planting a new cherry in the Japanese Garden of Buffalo in 2007
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Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo Committee
 Trudy Stern
Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell
Martin McGee
Jessica Tanny
Takako Michii
Catherine Linder Spencer (supporting member)
Dennis Maloney (supporting member)
Yoshiko Tanigaki (founding member)
Supporting Organizations of the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy
Buffalo Tours
City of Kanazawa, Japan
Membership
Become a member of the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo for the 2008-2009 year [application opens as a PDF]
General Membership of the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo:
Fundraising Events
2007 Bunka No Hi (Japanese Cultural Day)
 November 2007 was the first Bunka No Hi event organized by the Japan in Buffalo-Niagara Group. Thanks to our many volunteers and contributors it was an overwhelming success! The fundraiser made over $1500 to donate to the Japanese Garden of Buffalo. Everyone who attended had a wonderful time experiencing some of the most wonderful aspects of Japanese culture. Odori No Kai danced two wonderful Japanese folk dances, we presented a kimono fashion show, and showed the documentary film, Dream Windows: Reflections of the Japanese Garden. A special treat for our event, Michelle Brown, wife of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, was a gracious model as we demonstrated how to put on a kimono. And even the weather was sunny enough for people to take a stroll through the Gardens!
View a slideshow of over 70 photos from the 2007 event
View the 2007 Bunka No Hi program [pdf file]
2008 Bunka No Hi: Minami no Kita (Japanese Cultural Day: north and south)
Get ready for the 2008 Bunka No Hi event which will take place in two locations -- north and south of Buffalo: The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
News
Vandalism at Buffalo's Japanese Garden exhibit
The week before the Buffalo Garden Walk 2008, vandals graffited areas of the Japanese Garden. Read the news report from Channel 4 news and watch the televised report online featuring Friends of the Japanese Garden founding members, Trudy Stern and Atsuko Mitchell [read more]
A Generous Donation to the Japanese Garden of Buffalo
The Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the HSBC Asian/Pacific Islanders Diversity Committee (APIC) of Buffalo and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. for their generous grant of $1000 to the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo... [read more]
Gardeners from Kanazawa Visit Buffalo
On June 20-24, 2008 the city of Kanazawa made a gesture of friendship to the city of Buffalo. Three professional garden experts from Kanazawa visited us in late June to work with the Olmsted Park Conservancy advising our city gardeners on the design and philosophy of Japanese gardens.... [read more and see images from this event]
Photo Gallery
(Click on the thumbnails to see a larger image)
Visit from the Kanazawa Gardeners, June 2008
See page on the Gardeners from Kanazawa's visit for more images
Celebrating at the Champagne Brunch:
Presenting the lecture on the Elements of a Japanese Garden:
Working in the Japanese Garden of Buffalo:
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