Fujitaro Kubota
Encyclopedia
Fujitaro Kubota was a Japanese born, American
gardener and philanthropist.
Kubota was among the Issei
emigrants from Japan who made new lives for themselves in the United States. When he first arrived, he worked on the railroad. By 1922, he was able to start his own gardening business in Seattle. In 1927, he began work on a small garden as a hobby; and the task would assume an important role in the rest of his life and that of his children and grandchildren.
Kubota and his family were interned
at Camp Minidoka in Idaho during the early days of World War II. His Seattle-born son Tom (1917-2004) would meet his wife and the mother of grandchildren at Minidoka.
"for his achievements in his adopted country, for introducing and building respect for Japanese Gardening
." The formal decoration badge is a Maltese cross
in gilt and silver which was produced by the Japan Mint
.
The public garden which bears Kubota's name is no less significant as a monument to Kubota's life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gardener and philanthropist.
Kubota was among the Issei
Issei
Issei is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America, South America and Australia to specify the Japanese people first to immigrate. Their children born in the new country are referred to as Nisei , and their grandchildren are Sansei...
emigrants from Japan who made new lives for themselves in the United States. When he first arrived, he worked on the railroad. By 1922, he was able to start his own gardening business in Seattle. In 1927, he began work on a small garden as a hobby; and the task would assume an important role in the rest of his life and that of his children and grandchildren.
Kubota and his family were interned
Japanese internment
Japanese internment is a term generally used to refer to one or both of the following events:*Japanese American internment, the internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II...
at Camp Minidoka in Idaho during the early days of World War II. His Seattle-born son Tom (1917-2004) would meet his wife and the mother of grandchildren at Minidoka.
Honors
In the year before his death, the Japanese Government honored this lifelong gardener by presenting him with the Order of the Sacred TreasureOrder of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
"for his achievements in his adopted country, for introducing and building respect for Japanese Gardening
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
." The formal decoration badge is a Maltese cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
in gilt and silver which was produced by the Japan Mint
Japan Mint
The is an Incorporated Administrative Agency of the Japanese government. This agency has its Head office in Osaka with branches in Tokyo and Hiroshima.-History:...
.
The public garden which bears Kubota's name is no less significant as a monument to Kubota's life.
See also
- Kubota GardenKubota GardenKubota Garden is a 20 acre Japanese garden in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. A public park since 1987, it was started in 1927 by Fujitaro Kubota, a Japanese emigrant...
, Rainier Beach neighborhood in south Seattle - Bloedel ReserveBloedel ReserveThe Bloedel Reserve is a forest garden on Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA, made by the vice-chairman of a lumber company, under the influence of the conservation movement and Asian philosophy...
, Bainbridge Island