Speakers and Demonstrators
Featured Speakers
Makoto Nakamura, Ph.D., Professor of Landscape Architectureat the Kyoto University of Art and Design. He designed the Japanese garden at the Dawes Arboretum in Ohio, and the suite of gardens at Himeji castle in Himeji, Japan.
Shoji Yamada, CEO of Hanatoyo Landscape Inc. in Japan. He is a certified tree doctor in Japan with a thorough biological knowledge about trees and experience in diagnosis and treatment of trees. He was first awarded by the Japanese Minister of Education in 1988 and awarded by the government as a marvelous landscaper and ecologist. Shoji has also dedicated his time and skill to education and promotion of cultural heritage.
Kazuo Mitsuhashi, CEO of Mitsuhashi Garden Design and licensed landscape technician. He is a Board Trustee of the Garden Society of Japan. Kazuo is the author of "Nihon teien wo tsukuru” - How to make a Japanese garden.
Marc Keane, Landscape Architect and writer. He is a graduate of Cornell University's department of landscape architecture. For many years he was Chairman of Kyoto Mitate International, an international NPO that was working to revitalize Kyoto's traditional environments and its unique cultural heritage. He provides lectures at the Department of Environmental Design Kyoto University of Arts and Design and presently a research fellow at both Cornell University and the Research Center for Japanese Garden Art. His designs focus on Japanese style gardens blending Eastern and Western aesthetics and philosophies. His design work consists mostly of gardens: private residences, company grounds, and temple gardens, although he also designs parks and historic districts.
Featured Demonstrators
Tokushirou Tamane is the Master Gardener of the Kinkakuji Temple, Golden Pavilion, Kyoto. He led seminars that focus on application of Japanese garden principles to Central U.S. regions. He constructed many stone gardens in United States and advised Japanese gardens regarding maintenance issues.
Takanobu Mizumoto was employed at Ritsurin Cultural Heritage Garden (Designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty) and Founded Niwa Mizumoto in 2006. He is currently the Chair of Japanese Garden Society and Technology Committee member. Takanobu is an Honorary Member of the Cultural Garden Preservation Techniques Conference.
Dennis Makishima was the first to introduce aesthetic pruning in the United States. His tree work combines horticultural science, bonsai aesthetics, communication with clients and creative interpretation of the small trees in urban situations. To date, Dennis has successfully pruned over 10,000 trees, conducted 200 pruning projects and taught 500 workshops and classes across the United States and abroad. Moreover, he has consulted at arboretums, large public gardens and significant private estates. Most rewarding of all, Dennis apprenticed with over 50 professional aesthetic tree pruners since 1989 and cherishes his role as teacher to others.