Unearthing History: 3D Modeling of Japanese-style Gardens in Incarceration Camps
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Saya Akayama presents research on Japanese-style gardens created by Japanese Americans in World War II incarceration camps, exploring how internees used garden design as an act of cultural preservation and resilience. Through 3D modeling and landscape architecture expertise, she documents these gardens as powerful symbols of hope and the human spirit amid harsh conditions.
Key takeaways
- Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII created Japanese gardens in camps despite adversity, using them to reconnect with their heritage and maintain cultural identity.
- These gardens served as acts of resilience and preservation, providing internees with solace, normalcy, and symbols of hope during their forced relocation.
- 3D modeling and landscape architecture techniques enable contemporary documentation and understanding of these historical sites and their cultural significance.
- Learning from historical mistakes like Japanese American incarceration is essential to prevent repeating such injustices in the present day.
- The human spirit's capacity to create beauty and maintain dignity under oppressive circumstances is demonstrated through these remarkable gardens.
About Saya AkayamaSaya Akayama is a former Rotary Grant Scholar and landscape designer at Plan Collaborative in Albuquerque, New Mexico, holding a bachelor's and master's degree in environmental science from Nagasaki University and pursuing a doctoral degree on Japanese gardens in incarceration camps.
AI-generated from the meeting recording — AI can make mistakes, so check the recording for anything important.
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Program: Unearthing History: 3D Modeling of Japanese-style Gardens in Incarceration Camps
Speaker: Saya Akayama
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Program: Unearthing History: 3D Modeling of Japanese-style Gardens in Incarceration Camps
Speaker: Saya Akayama
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Following the outbreak of World War II, most Japanese and Japanese Americans were sent to one of ten incarceration (internment) camps, one of which was Amache, located in the High Plains of Colorado. Inmates there planted trees and created hundreds of gardens to improve the stark institutional landscape.
This presentation focuses on two Japanese-style gardens created in the public spaces of the Amache incarceration camp, exploring the prospects and application of 3D modeling visualization for these gardens. The presentation was shared at the North American Japanese Garden Association conference in March 2024.
Sayaka, a former Rotary Global Grant Scholar (2019-2022) hosted by the Eugene Metro Rotary Club, was from the Rotary Club of Oita Capital in District 2720, Japan. During her time in Oregon, she pursued a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. Currently, Sayaka serves as a Landscape Designer at Pland Collaborative in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she applies her expertise in landscape architecture. Sayaka holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Environmental Science from Nagasaki University and is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree remotely from the same institution, furthering her research and dedication to Japanese gardens in incarceration camps during WWII.
Members and guests, please welcome Saya Akayama!
To learn more, go to:
An article titled "Exploration of the Value of Japanese-Style Gardens in Incarceration Camps During World War II: The Case of Amache, Colorado, U.S.," incorporating the work shared in this presentation, was recently published in the International Journal of Heritage Studies. This article explores the significance of the Japanese-style gardens in the Amache incarceration camp, revealing the value and role these gardens played among Japanese detainees.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13527258.2024.2369549
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