Seattle Keiro, a 5 star accredited rehabilitation and care center serving Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Islander communities, is undertaking a garden make over and would like to enlist the communities support.

Scott Murase, the renowned landscape artist who has created many beautiful gardens in Northwest and beyond (Benaroya Hall Garden of Remembrance, Japanese American Historical Plaza in Portland, Nike World Headquarter…), is donating his time and expertise to this garden project. The Seattle Keiro garden will feature rock formations and water features in Murase’s signature style, and will be a great addition to his existing masterpiece in the region.

Not only will the garden enhance the quality of life of the Seattle Keiro residents and families, it will also create a gathering place for the greater community. Nikkei Concerns, a nonprofit organization which oversees Seattle Keiro, hopes that the garden will be the place to build kizuna (bonds). They are planning to utilize the space to host community events and they also want the garden to be the place to honor the Japanese American heritage.

“We realize the historical significance of creating a garden at Keiro because our Issei (first generation Japanese Americans) started their new home in America right here in this neighborhood. A vibrant Japanese American community thrived here .This is our community’s home base,” says Megumi Haskin, Communication Consultant at Nikkei Concerns. She would like the garden to be a home for Japanese and Japanese Americans and all the immigrant populations who came to Seattle with big dreams.

Seattle Keiro has begun a $500,000 fundraising effort to support the construction expenses.

Now, donation can be made through their web site. Please support their efforts!

www.nikkeiconcerns.org/garden