San Miguel

A Cultural Getaway: History of Japan House

Written by Julia San Miguel

With spring finally here, the Japan House and its surrounding grounds are some of the most beautiful spaces to visit on campus! You won’t want to miss the blooming cherry blossom trees and warm temperatures as the semester comes to a close.

But when and how did the Japan House come to be? The answer has roots in Victorian architecture and spans multiple colleges of the university.

The story starts with Shozo Sato, who was an artist-in-residence at the Krannert Center in 1964. A native of Japan himself, Sato spearheaded a series of courses focused on Japanese art and culture. He began to teach

classes in an old Victorian house on campus, which he renovated himself.

When campus was restructured in 1977, this Victorian-Japanese cultural center was lost, opening the door to a more traditional teaching location. With plans for a new house in mind, the Japan House could really begin to take shape. The current house was dedicated in 1998, and uniquely includes three authentic tea rooms.

Under the guidance and fundraising ability of Professor Kimiko Gunji, the Japan House expanded its offered academic programs, and brought prominent Japanese artists and performers to both the Krannert and Spurlock museums, as well as the Krannert Center. 9

The famous Japanese gardens surrounding the house were also designed during this time by James Bier, a cartographer with a Masters in Geology from the University. The Japan House itself is a unit of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Interestingly, the Japanese gardens and the surrounding grounds, while being in close proximity to the house, are actually connected to the Arboretum and are thus part of the College of ACES.

This once-a-year phenomenon has roots in myriad individuals who worked together, over multiple decades and through different design ideas, to create the stunning Japan House and the surrounding gardens that we enjoy today.