JFGM
EDUCATE, ENGAGE & INSPIRE
The mission of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum (JFGM) is to develop a traditional Japanese garden as a center to educate, engage, and inspire people of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture and community legacy.
JFGM is an accredited museum that offers a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and cultural festivals to enhance appreciation and understanding of Japanese culture. Over 330,000 visitors from the United States and internationally attend the garden annually. JFGM opened to the public in 1991 and is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. The garden is inspired from centuries-old Japanese design and techniques that showcase JFGM’s living exhibition comprised of plants and florae native to Japan and San Diego. The second phase opened in 1999 and was designed by renowned landscape architect Takeo Uesugi, which included the addition of the Exhibit Hall, Activity Center, and Upper Koi Pond. The third phase, completed in 2015, incorporated a 200 cherry tree grove, large azalea and camellia garden, a water feature reminiscent of the San Diego watershed, and the state of the art Inamori Pavilion. Today, JFGM resides on 12 acres and fosters a relationship between humans and nature, providing a respite attuned to Japanese simplicity, serenity, and aestheticism.
Admin
Board of Directors
Luanne Kanzawa
Executive Director/CEO
Leilani Belisario
Operations Manager
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1503
jfgsd@niwa.org
Alex Horn
Education and Programs Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1511
education@niwa.org
Emiko Scudder
Registrar & Exhibit Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1504
registrar@niwa.org
Marina Miller
Private Events Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1500
private-events@niwa.org
Visitor Services
Jackie Ahumada
Chad Yagura
Waka Takada
Johnson Jou
Darby Doolittle
Cynthia Wu
Jessica Rogge
Autumn Barr
Membership & Fund Development Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1502
membership@niwa.org
Momoka Nakajima Visitor Engagement & Visitor Services Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1505 visitorengagement@niwa.org
Cecilia Prado
Cultural Events & Marketing Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1506
events-marketing@niwa.org
Terri Alcoser
Gift Shop Coordinator
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1501
pavilion@niwa.org
Laurilyn Vallar-Hingada
Administrative Assistant
(619) 232-2721 ext. 1527
info@niwa.org
Horticulture
Benancio Carreno
Head Gardener
Phone: (619) 232-2721 ext. 1525
Eduardo Gallegos
Isidro Buenrostro
Javier Palacios
Jenaro Hernandez
Jesus Gomez
Jonathan Basilio
Jonathan Dominguez
Executive Committee
Dennis Otsuji
President
Dr. Thelma Press
1st Vice-President
Mike Kawamura
2nd Vice President
Tad Muraoka
Treasurer
Justin Rennilson
Secretary
Board of Directors
Cecelia Schellstede
Pat Caughey
Glenn Matsui
Facilities
Leo Castellanos Facilities Coordinator facilities@niwa.org Phone: (619) 232-2721 ext. 1526
Erika Gallegos
Nathan Devader
Advisory Board
Richard Davis
Yoshiko Higurashi, PhD
Masaki Kamakura
Maurice Kawashima
Rod Lanthorne
Larry Marshall
Ken Muraoka
Miyo Reff
Diversity Committee
Alex Horn
Momoka Nakajima
Dennis-Michael Broussard
Dr. Tslil Feinberg
Pauline Herring
Abbey Stewart
Distinguished Awards
2024 Experts' Choice Award
2024 Key Partner for Enhancing Ecosystems sPARK Award
2023 Spark Awards nominee. Given a certificate of Recognition for JFG’s Master Series Program, awarded by Councilmember Stephen Whitburn
2022 Certificate of Recognition to enhancing Japanese Arts and Culture, awarded by California State Assemblymember, Christopher M. Ward
2020 Cultural Awareness Award from the Asian Culture & Media Alliance
2020 Millennium Award from the Friends of Balboa Park
2020 In recognition of JFG’s waste reduction and recycling efforts to assist the city in achieving its zero waste goals
2019 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Sustainability for Waste Diversion: “Sort & Simple” from the California Association of Museums
“Merit Award” by American Society of Landscape Architects Southern California Chapter in recognition of Outstanding Professional Achievement
Special recognition from the Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins and Senator Chris Kehoe for its Historical Background and Achievements
Asian Heritage Awards for Arts and Culture
2016 Sustainability Award Winner, Balboa Park Sustainability Program | On-site Composting of Green Waste