PORTLAND, Oregon — For over 60 years, the Portland Japanese Garden has welcomed millions of visitors from across the globe, eager to take in the beloved oasis.
"It's peaceful here," a visitor told KGW. "It's beautiful and you just kind of feel any tension go down."
But the garden didn't build itself. Back in 1977, 24-year-old Michael Kondo took on the role of head gardener after graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in landscaping architecture. Little did he know, he would keep that title for 40 years.
In an interview, Kondo shared he learned so much from his fellow colleagues. He helped pave the way for what the garden is today — literally. Kondo planted much of the breathtaking greenery and laid down all the stones around the pavilion.
In the interview, Kondo said, in part, "It's not so much about what the garden has meant to me over the years, but what it has given to this country."
He noted some visitors from Japan said the garden was even better than some others they had seen.
"We’ve set a precedence here," Kondo said in the interview. "You speak about Portland Japanese Garden and how we’re thought to be number one outside of Japan. I think some Japanese folks think it’s even better than some gardens they’ve seen in Japan.”
Kondo has been retired for nearly seven years now. The garden is something he'll forever be thankful for, but he said it's in good hands with the younger generation.
"I think what excites me is just seeing the young people that are getting involved. Just seeing the passion they've got. I didn't have that when I started," he said.
KGW's Breaking Barriers series features Oregonians making a difference in the world of sports, arts, government, business and more. You'll see stories throughout May featuring stories for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. You can watch them all here.