September 3, 2025 • 32 mins
Talked with Lisa Niven, Visitor Experience & Cultural Events Marketing Assistant Manager, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. "Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens celebrate a rich, century-old connection between Japan and South Florida." Visitors to the gardens can enjoy the Japanese culture with programs, events, tours and classes. Coming up on Thursday 9/11, they have Sunset Stroll featuring Taiko Drumming, "The Journey of Japanese Fashion: Heisei (1989-2019) to Reiwa (2019-Present) Fashion Show, Koto Performance, sake tastings, and more. There are tea ceremonies, raking demonstrations, flower arranging, and more. Listeners can go to www.morikami.org to get tickets, find out information, become a member/volunteer.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
iHeart Communities presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective, which dead Now.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, welcome to Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, Stev Now, thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things going on. Cultural Council sent
over a little reminder going on now through October twenty fifth.
Color Forms exhibition is happening, and that's over at the
Army Art Center. We just talked to miss Jill about
that the other week. We also talked to the Nord.
(00:28):
Coming up on September twelfth, they're presenting Open Spaces and
this is with collaboration with the Natural Movers Foundation. So
it's a wonderful dance group where they come and they
perform out in the open space with the artwork. So
definitely put that on your calendar and go check that out.
Norton dot org for details on that and Naturalmovers dot
(00:51):
org for information about joining the dance group. Let's see
Lighthouse Art Center. Lots of fun things happening there September
eleventh through November fifteenth. They've got an exhibition called Delicate
Expressions going on, and then on September thirteenth. Resource Depots
is such a fun, cool place. They have all the
(01:12):
odds and ends and brig it back that people have
donated to them and you can go reuse those things.
So they're doing a big upcycle day, so you go
get the stuff and they'll be teaching classes on how
you can reuse it, which I think is just fantastic.
And then celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month the Historical Society of
Palm Beach County. We're running some great exhibitions going on
(01:34):
September fifteenth through October fifteenth. Lighthouse Sunset Tour at the
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum and that's coming up on
September twenty fourth. September twenty seventh is the sixteenth annual
Hispanic Heritage Festival. Letmuse Duo with the Sydney Carbo and
that is going to be happening at pomp Beach Atlantic
(01:55):
University and we have wr a tribute to the Women
of Rock that of course is happening Arts Garage September
twenty seventh. Arts Garage always has really fun programming. I
love it. Go to palmbeachculture dot com to get more details.
We just spoke to Ms Kristen from the Literacy Coalition
for Palm Beach County last week, and they've got some
(02:16):
great opportunities coming up. So there's a fun volunteer opportunity
called Read with Me that we talked about. The next
one coming up is October tenth. Then there's one on
the fourteenth of November, December twelfth, January sixteenth, and March
twenty seventh. Simply give them a call and they can
set you up with that five six, one, two seven
(02:37):
nine nine to one zero three. And if you'd also
like to become a tutor to help people learn to read,
they're definitely looking for that and they'll tell you about
that as well. You can also go to LITERACYPBC dot
org if you'd like to sign your kids up for
some of the programs that they have available. Seeking for
Arts Garage, you've got a great season coming up. First
big show is Cafe on Maine on October eleventh, the
(03:00):
Boomer Legacy on November ninth, something to go to Artsgarage
dot org and all the details are right there for
you of all the different things happening this season. And
of course Saint Lucy County Hikes has got a lot
of cool things going on coming up on Thursday, September eleventh,
from eight am to eleven am. This one is called
Wings and Water Paddle is happening at the Richard E.
(03:23):
Becker Preserve. You do not have to have experience. They
will help you that. All the equipments provided, but you
are welcome to bring your own kayak, canoe or paddleboard
if you prefer, but they can totally connect you with that. Saturday,
September thirteenth from eight thirty to ten thirty am is
a walk and learn at the preserve and that one
we're going to do the nature trails and do the
on land version if you will something. Go to SLC
(03:47):
hikes dot org and they've got a list of all
the different ones that are coming up. There's like obviously
there's paddle ones, there's hiking ones. It's just really really
good variety of folks ways folks to get out out
in the natural areas. Reminder, Delray Beach Playhouse will be
hosting every summers in October. October third and fourth as
(04:08):
part of her Show Stoppers tour. She's gonna be at
New York City's legendary fifty four below on September sixteenth,
and then she's coming back to Delray Beach to perform
for us. For more details on that, reach out to
Gary five six one two seven to two twelve eighty one,
or you can go to the website Delraybeach Playhouse dot
(04:29):
com and get in touch with the box office that way. Oh,
speaking of box office, Cravis Center's got a huge lineup
coming up for this year. Let's see, They've got twice
the night before with Circa solet Oh my Gosh, the Whiz,
Kimberly at Kimbo, Some like a Hot MJ. The Musical,
It's gonna be wonderful of course, the Vienna Philharmonic will
(04:50):
be back, Kevin James coming with part of the comedy series,
Jeremy Piven, Ali Sadiq and Josh Johnson, so lots of
cool stuff, Paul Alanca, Rick Springfield and Richard Marx, Jacob Collier,
Herb Albert and the Twana Brass love them so lots
of fun things. Go to Cravis dot org you can
(05:11):
find out the different show times, top prices, and they're
also looking for volunteers to become ushers, so if everyone
need to do that, you can reach out to them
for that as well. Again. Cravis dot org. Reminder, Saint
Lucy County is hosting their fourth annual vaccine and Microchip
event off for Saint Lucie County pets September twenty seventh,
so in recognition of World Rabies Days, the Animal Safety
(05:34):
Division is going to be doing that. It's a drive
up event. Patsy and the dogs need to bildle, leash,
and the cats in their carriers. It's from eight thirty
to eleven thirty am at the Saint Lucie County Fairgrounds.
It's free for residents of the unincorporated areas and ten
dollars for residents of the City of Fort Pierce and
Port Saint Lucy. It's still a really great, great value.
(05:54):
Definitely get your pets taken care of. You do need
to pre register for this, so go to ac voucher
at Saint lucyco dot gov and all the stuff you
need to put post on there will be there. You
also call them seven seven to two four six two
seventeen ninety one and they can give you more details
that way. Oh Howard Allen Events has all kinds of
(06:17):
great craft festivals coming up, so love going to check
these out. Next one coming up is September twenty seventh
and twenty eighth. It's the thirtieth annual Downtown Delwry Beachcraft Festival.
So it's coming right there on the fourth on East
Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. I'm going to check that out.
October fourth and fifth is the twenty sixth annual Downtown
(06:38):
Stuart Craft Festival. So I always have. I love all
the festivals and go check out find some early Christmas
gifts or you know, one from them, one for you
kind of thing. It's a lot of fun. A reminder
from her friends at Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival their season
coming up in conjunction with Palm Beach Atlantic University. They
will present be presenting Romeo and Julia October second and
(07:01):
the fourth at the Fern Street Theater. Tickets start at
ten dollars for that one, and then they'll be doing
the Village of Ural Palm Beach one February thirteenth through
the sixteenth with Macbeth. And then they'll have Falstaff, Shakespeare's
Greatest Invention as part of their summer sale one at
the Carlin Park. So all these fun things go to
(07:21):
peb Shakespeare dot org to get more details, and while
you're there, if you want to be one of the performers,
they'll have the audition days and times. So if you
want to try that out, definitely try it out. It's
really a great thing to get involved with. Ballet Palm
Beach starting their new season off starting things off with
Cocktails on Point at the Colony in Palm Beach. That's
(07:42):
gonna be Thursday, October ninth from six to eight pm.
Tickets start at two hundred for that their big fundraiser there.
Simply go to Ballet Palmbeach dot org to get your
tickets for that. All reminder, so the Saint Lucie County
Swap Meet is coming back so popular and that's gonna
be happening on October twelfth. You can reach out to
air seven seven two four six two seventeen ninety one
(08:04):
for all the details and days is going to be happening.
And of course Palm Beach County Parks havelostical things going
on right now. They're in the middle of their parks
for pollinators. Bio Blitz event started on September first and
goes on through the month, so as you go different places.
You're going to see that and you can help track
that on your phone to report the numbers. So I
(08:24):
think it's really nice. And then coming up on Tuesday
September ninth to Friday September twelfth, it is the Nautique
WWA Wakeboard World Championships and that's going to be happening
at Sunset Cove, Amphithator and bert Ernston South County Park,
free admission w wand check that out. And then we
have coming up the Sunset Stroll at the more Common
(08:46):
Museum and Japanese Gardens on Thursday September eleventh. And to
help tell me more, help me tell you we're all about.
I want to welcome my guests for today. I have
Lisa Niven. Good morning, good morning, So thanks for coming
in miss Lisa. So you are what are the Visitor
Experience and Cultural Events Marketing Assistant Manager, Chris, Yes, I am,
and you're also a certified Tourism Ambassadors that will get
(09:09):
into that as well. Yeah, So tell the listeners and
I a little bit about the more Common Museum, where
is it located and stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
So the More Commed Museum is located in Salre Beach Florida.
We're off of Jog Road in between Clint Moore and
Yamato Road, so it's pretty easy to get to We're
a little west, but you can get to us from
the Turnpike or from ninety five, so it's a definitely
easy trip to come and check us out.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
And we were talking before the show, yeah about like hell,
there's places are named in Florida. You don't really know
why they're named. So we're talking about you Moto. So
what does you Moato Road stand for?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
So you motto the name you Moatto met New Japan
back in the early nineteen hundreds. We have a central
old connection, so the more communist central connection to Japan
and South Florida. There was a gentleman named Jose Kai
who came here with the hope to start an agricultural space,
and he brought in young men from Japan and for us,
(10:07):
they were settlers who were in the Delray Beach and
West Palm Beach area, not specifically where Morikami is now,
but around that area, and they were growing pineapples and
winter vegetables. But slowly as the things started to change
during the nineteen forties and things were going on in California,
things kind of changed in Florida. A lot of the
(10:29):
settlers left and moved on, but one stayed and that
was George Tukaji Marikami. So he's our namesake, and he
is the one who actually ended up donating after he
had purchased over two hundred acres of land and he
donated all to Palm Beach County.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, So that's nineteen seventy seven. He donated his lands
and he just wanted it to be a place for
the community to come together.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
That was his hope.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
He didn't really have a vision for anything more than
like the community he wanted him to use it. But
all of his friends and the cat came together and decided,
let's make this a space that can memorialize Japanese culture
and the heritage that exists here in Florida. And so
in nineteen seventy seven they created the first small museum
(11:16):
in the beginning of our gardens, so we span over
sixteen acres in the two hundred acres he gave us.
So what you drive in from ron Jog Road is
the two hundred acres, but the part that you come
and actually see is our museum which was actually built
in nineteen ninety three, and then our original small, tiny
museum building which is replicated as a Japanese villa, and
(11:38):
that has our Bondsi collection.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
We have.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Artifacts that get switched out and different museum exhibits that
get switched out seasonally. We own seventy five hundred artifacts
and so you'll see them from time to time along
with the traveling exhibits we get. Right now, we have
an exhibit from the Smithsonian which is all about Japanese
war brides, but they're always changed, and we have modern
(12:03):
exhibits and traditional exhibits. But that all spans over the
sixteen acres, two different museum buildings, a museum store with
authentic Japanese goods, and a cafe, and there's just so
much always happening there. So it's a great place to
come and learn more about Japanese culture in Florida.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I think it's fantastic And I know I've talked to
Miss Wendy in the past and we had talked about
like like the tea ceremonies and there's a I call
it the Zen Garden, sure's right name, but where they
rake the garden. Yeah, the pattern.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yeah, so it's a dry rock garden and the act
of raking is called kerasansiri, which just means the raking.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Of the garden.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So like basically a dry garden represents So this is
you know, in places where you can't have water or
land but you want to represent it, we represent it
within the rocks. The rocks become the water, which is
why it's raked into different patterns that might.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Look like waves.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
And then the rocks and the garden represent the land.
And what you see there is usually the either the
garden curator or specifically maybe you know, if you're in Japan,
it would be like a monk maybe doing it. It's
at a temple and they rake it to their feeling,
you know. It's it's how they feel that moment that
they want to represent to the world.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, it's really funny. I think it's fascinating. Yeah, and
years ago I got a little little desk version of
something like that where you can rake it and they
had little shells or whatever. You would not believe the
number of people would stop by my office and say,
I just need to rake, and they would rake and
get their zen or like whatever their motion is out
in this little sandbox and move the shells very carefully
(13:42):
and move on. It was just so cute.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
It's an internal, peaceful moment. You know, you could be
reflective or could just be calming. It's however you take it.
But that's what the garden.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is supposed to be about, and that's one of the
things people can actually come watch that demonstration.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, so our garden curator, Heather gris Back, she does
that about three to four times a year, depending on
the and she not only rakes it, but she actually
tells you what she's doing, gives you a moment of meditation,
so she leads you in just like a peaceful moment
of meditation and how to understand what you're seeing. And
then she asked for questions and answer, so you really
(14:15):
get to understand what the garden is and nothing's by fascinating.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
So can you tell myself and the listeners a little
bit more about like your journey to becoming the visitor
Experience and Culture Events Marketing assistant manager more Kami. I
know it's a long title.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
So my personal connection really began when I visited Japan
back in two thousand and eight. I instantly fell in
love I kind of always loved like the architecture art,
but I fell in love with the culture there.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
And I had just moved to DC.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
So when I came back from my trip, I was like,
how can I get involved? And you have the the
Cherry Blossom Festival there, and I learned about Sakhara Matsuri,
which is the japan American Society's one day Japanese street
fair that happens right in the middle of DC. I
think they actually moved it a little bit now, but
at that time it was right like you could see
(15:03):
the Capitol building in the back. It was great, and
I go, how do I get involved? And I ended
up becoming a volunteer with more of like a manager's
role because they had these roles where you could work
four months out of the year to plan the festival
as a volunteer, and so I ran the jpop stage
and I learned more about traditional but modern culture. It
(15:24):
was more music and art and dance at that time,
but that really brought me in. And when I moved
back to Florida in twenty thirteen, I was like, I
need to be more involved, and I went back to school.
I went to FIU, which is Florida International University for
Asian Studies and focused on Japanese culture, and I decided
that I wanted to study abroad. So in twenty fourteen,
(15:46):
at the age of forty, I moved to Japan and
spent one year in Japan and got fully immersed and
I mean been glued to the Japanese culture since. When
I came back, I said, how do I continue my
jo Japanese career and looked for the Japanese community here
in South Florida and more Communists one of the largest
(16:06):
components here. It's either here or the consulate, and I
became the education program coordinator. I worked under Wendy for
six years and I enjoyed it, but my passion is events,
and so when there was space in the marketing program,
I said, how do I get involved? And they brought
me in with open arms. And I've now been in
(16:28):
the marketing team for just over two years, and I've
expanded that to visitor experience because I wanted to make
sure that everybody that comes in has the most wonderful
experience they can. So that's my goal and that's where
I am.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Now. Oh that's fantastic. So one of the cool things
you did. Speaking of events, I think you worked on
creating this one, and I just mentioned in my What's
Happening lineup? You guys have a Sunset Stroll coming up
this Thursday. I think it is September eleventh. September eleventh, yes,
So tell us about the What is the Sunset Stroll
and how do I get involved?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Okay, so Sunset Stroll. What's so amazing and beautiful by
Sunset Stroll? Is it the only after hour event that
we have except our galas, where you can come into
the garden after five pm and get to not only
experience the garden but have some traditional activities at the
same time. So we close to the normal day at
five and reopen at five thirty and we go from
(17:21):
five thirty to eight. You purchase a separate ticket for
Sunset Stroll, and then you have the opportunity to have
the included activities. We get Taycho drumming, so that's by
the group Fushi Daiko, who's the local Taicho group here.
They've been around for over thirty years, so they're amazing
to watch. We started doing themed events now the past
(17:43):
two years, so every Sunset Stroll has a new themed event,
and this one has a fashion show. It's a journey
through fashion with mia Icon. They are a new comic
book convention in the Coral Springs area that's coming in October,
and they're uh inspiring this new fashion show and hosting it.
(18:05):
So that's gonna be awesome. I already got a sneak peak.
I'm like excited to see it. And then we have
a small little Codo performance that will be happening at
the Yamatocon which is our original museum building at the
same time. So you get those three things with your ticket.
And then there's vendors outside selling traditional Japanese yummy stuff.
So we have kaminari, ramen, ramen lab those are all
(18:28):
your savory type items yaki yaki soba or maybe ramen soup.
And then you have aki koya with Japanese sweets. We
have a new sugar cane juice company that is a
Japanese own company and they do all their sugar cane
flavor with different Japanese flavors like uzu, which is lemon flavor.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So it's so delicious.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yeah, I was like so excited when he just came
to us for the first time. During Obon and he
like flew off the shelf.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Everyone loved him. And then we have.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Nagata Sake Selections and they're one of our biggest sake
companies we work with. They bring in wine sake's which
is rice wine specifically from Japan, and they have the
most amazing sakes and you get to try out all
these new different sakes while you're there as well. So
that's our suns that straw. It happens depending on the year,
(19:20):
either three or four times throughout the year and this
is our last one for the season.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Oh very cool. So how do I get tickets for that?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
So you can get them on our website it's more
Commedy dot org, or you can go directly to event
Bright because the tickets lead you to event Bright. If
you're a more Commedy member, it's five dollars, and then
if you're not a member want more Commy member's children
are free as well, But if you're not a member,
general mission is twelve dollars for adults and then for
six to seventeen year olds it's seven dollars and free
(19:49):
for kids under that age.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
So how people become a member of them More Commy.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
You could do it on our website. Memberships start as
low as forty dollars if your student. The most popular
package is is a duel, which is two adults. It's
ninety five dollars for a year, and kids under seventeen
are free, and that gives you free admission to the
museum all year long. Get invited to special member events,
you get a discount in our store and in our cafe,
(20:15):
and then we have member only walks, so those start
on Wednesdays and Fridays. You get to come in an
hour earlier than the general public to experience the garden.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Without all of the masses.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
So it's a it's a great.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know thing to become a member. You get a
lot of perks. I like it. Perks are good.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So how does like, how do events like the sunset stroll?
How do they enhance the overall experience of the more
calming So because like it's after hours and you have
the sunset I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
So, I mean they ewol one. You're bringing culture to life,
you know, so things that people might have only heard about,
maybe they've never seen psycho drumming before, and we always
have them at all Sunset strolls because they just really
bring in that FESTI vibe there. We call it heart
pounding because you really feel them, you know, And that's
what they say too, like this is a feeling type thing,
you know. But you're getting to also experience the garden.
(21:08):
As the sun goes down, you get to see different
textures and light through the trees and throughout the garden
that you don't see during the day because we're on
the west, So when the sun is coming up on
the east, you get one light perspective. But as it's
coming down in the west, what you're getting at night
after five, you get another perspective. So if it just
happens to be one of those glorious days with the
(21:28):
pink and orange of sunset, you know, you're lucky and
you get to see it all right there, and that's
of you you only get at an evening event like
Sunset Stroll.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Oh, it sounds fantastic. So what are some of the
most common reactions you see for like first time visitors
to the gardens?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I mean, definitely people are always surprised that there was
a Japanese colony in Florida. They thought we just like
magically created this for the fun of like just putting
a Japanese organization there so when they learn that there's
actually a connection to Japan. We have a sister city
named Miyazu. Miyazu is in the Kansai region of Japan,
kind of in between Kyoto and Osaka area. That is
(22:09):
where George Wakami's from, So we connect with them part
of our garden. There's what we call the Wisdom Ring.
It's a concrete circle you can look through and kind
of see your perspective of our garden through it. That
actually exists in Miyazu. We made the replication of it
here to connect us.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
So I love it. Yeah, that is so cool. And
I know a lot of cities and things do sister
cities in other countries to create that cultural awareness and connectivity.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Yeah, because I mean, oh, I think that a lot
of organizations we're trying to connect to something from somewhere
else because we're all humans and we want to feel
connected and make the world smaller.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Oh yeah, be all inclusive as we can. I love it.
I love it. How do you design the events or
exhibits to peel to both the new folks that are
coming and people have been coming a long time.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
We kind of, you know, are looking at what the
traditions are in Japan because we're trying to replicate, you know,
the authenticity of Japanese culture. So we're looking at the
lunar calendar. We're looking at what are the traditions and
holidays that are celebrated in Japan that are super important
(23:20):
to the culture that we can bring to Florida. Because
there's so many, just like any other culture, we can't
celebrate them all, but we try to celebrate all of
the big ones. And so we're looking to do that
to bring in the culture and the traditions that people
can then get a grasp of, whether it be through performances, food, art,
(23:44):
It sometimes happens through exhibits. We have lectures, we have classes,
so people can have a way to connect with Japanese culture.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You have a coworker that went to Japan just on
a trip with her husband, like you, just fell in
love with the culture. So she and I are looking
at the calendar to find a tea ceremony to come
do the glass together.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Oh please do yeah, please come check us out if
you've never done it before. We always suggest going to
the workshop. We do offer three different ways to do
tea ceremony, so it's the you could try this too
if you want it to go to a demonstration. We
have lots of different demonstrations, but the tea ceremony demonstration
is in our theater. It's a great way to learn
(24:23):
all about it without actually participating and decide if you
want to get more involved. And so it's on the stage.
There's a Q and A afterwards you really get to
kind of, you know, just digest it because you're not participating.
The next step from that would be our workshop that
is a one day experience in our tea house. We
do have a tea house inside our main museum. You
(24:43):
don't have to sit in the teahouse. You sit across
from it, so.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
You can sit in a normal chair.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Because traditionally you sit on the floor, which we call saza,
where your knees are bent beneath your behind. It's not
easy to do, so we don't suggest people take the
class where you have to sit that way unless you
can actually sit like that for at least ten or
fifteen minutes set a time. But the workshop's great because
you sit across from it. You can go into the
(25:08):
tea house part if you're interested. But the tea instructor
teaches you how to make your own cup of tea.
She explains the history, so you really get to delve
into what the tea ceremony is without having to go
that step further and be very traditional and sit say
is it?
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Well?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I love it. I think it's so cool. I let
my friend know we're gonna do the workshop first, for sure.
There with the old ar three D knees here, we're
definitely doing the workshop first. They gets all that quick,
so definitely make sure you look ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
More commy dot.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Org, you need definitely do that. Yeah, so more comedy
dot org gotcha. So what would you recommend visitors not
miss when they come to the more Comedy What are
the must see items? So?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
I think number one is to check our calendar so
that you know when you're looking to come if there's
a special event happening. Because our special events, you know,
just enhance our garden. So yeah, our garden is gorgeous
and beautiful. You have all these museum exhibits that are
always there on every you know, every occasion you come.
But our special events are a one time thing. If
(26:10):
you're going to be in the area during that time,
you want to want to do a special event, whether
it be one of our weekend events like Obon Weekend
or Sunset Stroll evenings, or the next big weekend is
Orchid Weekend in February. So we have these things where
you get to experience the garden in a different way.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
After that, then you.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Could come in definitely stop by the greeter's desk, pick
up a map. They're going to explain to you how
to walk through the garden to get the most of it.
There is a tour you can get on your phone
where it'll speak to you and give you all the
points of interest so that you can just walk and
listen the whole time and enjoy it. If you come
with a bigger group, you can sign up to do
(26:53):
a group tour. They're free, you get a discount for
your group. There's things like the Cornell Cafe, the or
pan Asian Food, so if you're hungry, don't want to
miss eating there. And definitely check out whatever exhibits happening
at the time that you're at our museum, because the
exhibits are five y nine and everyone loves our exhibits.
We have three going on right now. In the main museum.
(27:15):
It's Japanese War Brides, as I said before, which is
a Smithsonian traveling exhibit. We have the Women of the
Yamadol Colony, which we're all about the women who came
with the first settlers or married into it and started
the Yamado Colony, so it's all about them. And then
we have two smaller exhibits in our other gallery, which
(27:37):
are the selections from the collection, which are all our
personal things that we own. So there's little bits of
pictures and three D objects. There's a fireman's jacket, like
there's just really cool things that we own that we
like to display from time to time. And then we
have these really cool metal animals that were made right
(28:00):
after the war and they're all movable objects, and so
that exhibit is called the Art of Piece Jesi Okinoma,
and that's a private collector's edition that's really cool. We
have some videos that show how those pieces move, because
you wouldn't think that they would move because there's so
many metal little pieces that look like they're just you know,
solder together, but they're really beautiful things like dragons and
(28:21):
phoenixes and things like that, So it's really cool. Yeah,
and then you know, if you want to go more
towards the gardens section, not to miss you don't want
to miss the Amado Con on Yamadel Islands. That is
our original museum building. There's rotating exhibits in there. Right
now is an exhibit on interesting tile roof tile pieces.
(28:41):
I'm not sure if you if you've ever taken a
look at Asian buildings, there's usually these things on the corner,
you know, and so we have some really cool ones
that have like dragons or food dogs or lions, and
so there's you know, things that you wouldn't even think
if you don't look up, but we have them on display.
We also have some yukata's and summer kumulinos on display
(29:02):
right now. And in front of that building is our
Bonzi collection and so there's some really amazing bond siyes
that our Bonsai volunteers work every Friday feverishly to make
look beautiful for all the visitors.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
So just some really great things to see.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I mean, it depends on which direction you want to
go and how much you want to you know, see
that day.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
I think that's fantastic yeah. So obviously we have the
Sunset Strug coming up on September eleventh. What's the next
big event or project is coming up after that that
you're excited about.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
So the next big thing, this is part of the
educations program. They're doing the Coodo's Coodo New Year's Concert.
So Koto is the harp like instrument that kind of
lays flat in Chinese culture, it's called a zither. It's
got strings, it has a really pretty sound, and the
instructor with all of the beginning and intermediate students will
(29:52):
be performing for you for New Year's that's not going
to be on January third. After that we have a
fifty fifth anniversary exhibition of the Sugetsu Ikebana. So Ikebana
is floral ranging and so they're gonna come in and
do this like they have all these people coming from
Japan's it's going to be a really amazing exhibition of flowers.
(30:15):
So that'll be January twenty fifth. And then as I
was telling you about, we have these weekends events. So
then next big one will be Orchid Weekend and that's
February seventh and eighth. That happens in our garden we
have about fifteen orchid vendors. We also bring in bonzifits.
We want to bring also the Japanese elements, so bonzi vendors, cocadama,
(30:37):
which are the moss covered balls with the plants in
the middle. And then I bring in some Japanese artisans
as well, whether it be sume which is ink painting,
designers and block printing. And we just have an amazing
weekend of people educating on orchids because we do some
lectures as well as selling stuff that you get to
go home with.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Oh, I love it. I love it so again for
the listeners to get get more information, tickets, all that
good stuff.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
What's the website morecommy dot org.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
And they can also follow you on Facebook, Instagram.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
We're on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, wellt.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
List Lisa, thank you for coming in and sharing all
the cool information with us. I think it's really cool
that you guys are doing that in the community.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah, I mean we want to work with the community
so that the community can come together to celebrate our heritage.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Thanks fantastic. If you need more information, feel free to
reach out to me Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot
com happy to for it on the details and don't forget.
You can always download the shows of podcast on our
iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend. I'm devn
nep and this has been my perspective. Remember life is good,
so be your healthiest to you and let's get out
(31:45):
there and live it. Until next week. Ben Jilli i.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Heeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causius in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and arts. Join us
next week from Palm Beach, Treasure Coast Perspective
iHeart Communities presents Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective, which dead Now.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Good morning, welcome to Palm Beach Treasure Coast Perspective. I'm
your host, Stev Now, thanks for spending your weekend with me.
All kinds of great things going on. Cultural Council sent
over a little reminder going on now through October twenty fifth.
Color Forms exhibition is happening, and that's over at the
Army Art Center. We just talked to miss Jill about
that the other week. We also talked to the Nord.
(00:28):
Coming up on September twelfth, they're presenting Open Spaces and
this is with collaboration with the Natural Movers Foundation. So
it's a wonderful dance group where they come and they
perform out in the open space with the artwork. So
definitely put that on your calendar and go check that out.
Norton dot org for details on that and Naturalmovers dot
(00:51):
org for information about joining the dance group. Let's see
Lighthouse Art Center. Lots of fun things happening there September
eleventh through November fifteenth. They've got an exhibition called Delicate
Expressions going on, and then on September thirteenth. Resource Depots
is such a fun, cool place. They have all the
(01:12):
odds and ends and brig it back that people have
donated to them and you can go reuse those things.
So they're doing a big upcycle day, so you go
get the stuff and they'll be teaching classes on how
you can reuse it, which I think is just fantastic.
And then celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month the Historical Society of
Palm Beach County. We're running some great exhibitions going on
(01:34):
September fifteenth through October fifteenth. Lighthouse Sunset Tour at the
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum and that's coming up on
September twenty fourth. September twenty seventh is the sixteenth annual
Hispanic Heritage Festival. Letmuse Duo with the Sydney Carbo and
that is going to be happening at pomp Beach Atlantic
(01:55):
University and we have wr a tribute to the Women
of Rock that of course is happening Arts Garage September
twenty seventh. Arts Garage always has really fun programming. I
love it. Go to palmbeachculture dot com to get more details.
We just spoke to Ms Kristen from the Literacy Coalition
for Palm Beach County last week, and they've got some
(02:16):
great opportunities coming up. So there's a fun volunteer opportunity
called Read with Me that we talked about. The next
one coming up is October tenth. Then there's one on
the fourteenth of November, December twelfth, January sixteenth, and March
twenty seventh. Simply give them a call and they can
set you up with that five six, one, two seven
(02:37):
nine nine to one zero three. And if you'd also
like to become a tutor to help people learn to read,
they're definitely looking for that and they'll tell you about
that as well. You can also go to LITERACYPBC dot
org if you'd like to sign your kids up for
some of the programs that they have available. Seeking for
Arts Garage, you've got a great season coming up. First
big show is Cafe on Maine on October eleventh, the
(03:00):
Boomer Legacy on November ninth, something to go to Artsgarage
dot org and all the details are right there for
you of all the different things happening this season. And
of course Saint Lucy County Hikes has got a lot
of cool things going on coming up on Thursday, September eleventh,
from eight am to eleven am. This one is called
Wings and Water Paddle is happening at the Richard E.
(03:23):
Becker Preserve. You do not have to have experience. They
will help you that. All the equipments provided, but you
are welcome to bring your own kayak, canoe or paddleboard
if you prefer, but they can totally connect you with that. Saturday,
September thirteenth from eight thirty to ten thirty am is
a walk and learn at the preserve and that one
we're going to do the nature trails and do the
on land version if you will something. Go to SLC
(03:47):
hikes dot org and they've got a list of all
the different ones that are coming up. There's like obviously
there's paddle ones, there's hiking ones. It's just really really
good variety of folks ways folks to get out out
in the natural areas. Reminder, Delray Beach Playhouse will be
hosting every summers in October. October third and fourth as
(04:08):
part of her Show Stoppers tour. She's gonna be at
New York City's legendary fifty four below on September sixteenth,
and then she's coming back to Delray Beach to perform
for us. For more details on that, reach out to
Gary five six one two seven to two twelve eighty one,
or you can go to the website Delraybeach Playhouse dot
(04:29):
com and get in touch with the box office that way. Oh,
speaking of box office, Cravis Center's got a huge lineup
coming up for this year. Let's see, They've got twice
the night before with Circa solet Oh my Gosh, the Whiz,
Kimberly at Kimbo, Some like a Hot MJ. The Musical,
It's gonna be wonderful of course, the Vienna Philharmonic will
(04:50):
be back, Kevin James coming with part of the comedy series,
Jeremy Piven, Ali Sadiq and Josh Johnson, so lots of
cool stuff, Paul Alanca, Rick Springfield and Richard Marx, Jacob Collier,
Herb Albert and the Twana Brass love them so lots
of fun things. Go to Cravis dot org you can
(05:11):
find out the different show times, top prices, and they're
also looking for volunteers to become ushers, so if everyone
need to do that, you can reach out to them
for that as well. Again. Cravis dot org. Reminder, Saint
Lucy County is hosting their fourth annual vaccine and Microchip
event off for Saint Lucie County pets September twenty seventh,
so in recognition of World Rabies Days, the Animal Safety
(05:34):
Division is going to be doing that. It's a drive
up event. Patsy and the dogs need to bildle, leash,
and the cats in their carriers. It's from eight thirty
to eleven thirty am at the Saint Lucie County Fairgrounds.
It's free for residents of the unincorporated areas and ten
dollars for residents of the City of Fort Pierce and
Port Saint Lucy. It's still a really great, great value.
(05:54):
Definitely get your pets taken care of. You do need
to pre register for this, so go to ac voucher
at Saint lucyco dot gov and all the stuff you
need to put post on there will be there. You
also call them seven seven to two four six two
seventeen ninety one and they can give you more details
that way. Oh Howard Allen Events has all kinds of
(06:17):
great craft festivals coming up, so love going to check
these out. Next one coming up is September twenty seventh
and twenty eighth. It's the thirtieth annual Downtown Delwry Beachcraft Festival.
So it's coming right there on the fourth on East
Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. I'm going to check that out.
October fourth and fifth is the twenty sixth annual Downtown
(06:38):
Stuart Craft Festival. So I always have. I love all
the festivals and go check out find some early Christmas
gifts or you know, one from them, one for you
kind of thing. It's a lot of fun. A reminder
from her friends at Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival their season
coming up in conjunction with Palm Beach Atlantic University. They
will present be presenting Romeo and Julia October second and
(07:01):
the fourth at the Fern Street Theater. Tickets start at
ten dollars for that one, and then they'll be doing
the Village of Ural Palm Beach one February thirteenth through
the sixteenth with Macbeth. And then they'll have Falstaff, Shakespeare's
Greatest Invention as part of their summer sale one at
the Carlin Park. So all these fun things go to
(07:21):
peb Shakespeare dot org to get more details, and while
you're there, if you want to be one of the performers,
they'll have the audition days and times. So if you
want to try that out, definitely try it out. It's
really a great thing to get involved with. Ballet Palm
Beach starting their new season off starting things off with
Cocktails on Point at the Colony in Palm Beach. That's
(07:42):
gonna be Thursday, October ninth from six to eight pm.
Tickets start at two hundred for that their big fundraiser there.
Simply go to Ballet Palmbeach dot org to get your
tickets for that. All reminder, so the Saint Lucie County
Swap Meet is coming back so popular and that's gonna
be happening on October twelfth. You can reach out to
air seven seven two four six two seventeen ninety one
(08:04):
for all the details and days is going to be happening.
And of course Palm Beach County Parks havelostical things going
on right now. They're in the middle of their parks
for pollinators. Bio Blitz event started on September first and
goes on through the month, so as you go different places.
You're going to see that and you can help track
that on your phone to report the numbers. So I
(08:24):
think it's really nice. And then coming up on Tuesday
September ninth to Friday September twelfth, it is the Nautique
WWA Wakeboard World Championships and that's going to be happening
at Sunset Cove, Amphithator and bert Ernston South County Park,
free admission w wand check that out. And then we
have coming up the Sunset Stroll at the more Common
(08:46):
Museum and Japanese Gardens on Thursday September eleventh. And to
help tell me more, help me tell you we're all about.
I want to welcome my guests for today. I have
Lisa Niven. Good morning, good morning, So thanks for coming
in miss Lisa. So you are what are the Visitor
Experience and Cultural Events Marketing Assistant Manager, Chris, Yes, I am,
and you're also a certified Tourism Ambassadors that will get
(09:09):
into that as well. Yeah, So tell the listeners and
I a little bit about the more Common Museum, where
is it located and stuff.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
So the More Commed Museum is located in Salre Beach Florida.
We're off of Jog Road in between Clint Moore and
Yamato Road, so it's pretty easy to get to We're
a little west, but you can get to us from
the Turnpike or from ninety five, so it's a definitely
easy trip to come and check us out.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
And we were talking before the show, yeah about like hell,
there's places are named in Florida. You don't really know
why they're named. So we're talking about you Moto. So
what does you Moato Road stand for?
Speaker 3 (09:44):
So you motto the name you Moatto met New Japan
back in the early nineteen hundreds. We have a central
old connection, so the more communist central connection to Japan
and South Florida. There was a gentleman named Jose Kai
who came here with the hope to start an agricultural space,
and he brought in young men from Japan and for us,
(10:07):
they were settlers who were in the Delray Beach and
West Palm Beach area, not specifically where Morikami is now,
but around that area, and they were growing pineapples and
winter vegetables. But slowly as the things started to change
during the nineteen forties and things were going on in California,
things kind of changed in Florida. A lot of the
(10:29):
settlers left and moved on, but one stayed and that
was George Tukaji Marikami. So he's our namesake, and he
is the one who actually ended up donating after he
had purchased over two hundred acres of land and he
donated all to Palm Beach County.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, So that's nineteen seventy seven. He donated his lands
and he just wanted it to be a place for
the community to come together.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
That was his hope.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
He didn't really have a vision for anything more than
like the community he wanted him to use it. But
all of his friends and the cat came together and decided,
let's make this a space that can memorialize Japanese culture
and the heritage that exists here in Florida. And so
in nineteen seventy seven they created the first small museum
(11:16):
in the beginning of our gardens, so we span over
sixteen acres in the two hundred acres he gave us.
So what you drive in from ron Jog Road is
the two hundred acres, but the part that you come
and actually see is our museum which was actually built
in nineteen ninety three, and then our original small, tiny
museum building which is replicated as a Japanese villa, and
(11:38):
that has our Bondsi collection.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
We have.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Artifacts that get switched out and different museum exhibits that
get switched out seasonally. We own seventy five hundred artifacts
and so you'll see them from time to time along
with the traveling exhibits we get. Right now, we have
an exhibit from the Smithsonian which is all about Japanese
war brides, but they're always changed, and we have modern
(12:03):
exhibits and traditional exhibits. But that all spans over the
sixteen acres, two different museum buildings, a museum store with
authentic Japanese goods, and a cafe, and there's just so
much always happening there. So it's a great place to
come and learn more about Japanese culture in Florida.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I think it's fantastic And I know I've talked to
Miss Wendy in the past and we had talked about
like like the tea ceremonies and there's a I call
it the Zen Garden, sure's right name, but where they
rake the garden. Yeah, the pattern.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yeah, so it's a dry rock garden and the act
of raking is called kerasansiri, which just means the raking.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Of the garden.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So like basically a dry garden represents So this is
you know, in places where you can't have water or
land but you want to represent it, we represent it
within the rocks. The rocks become the water, which is
why it's raked into different patterns that might.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Look like waves.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
And then the rocks and the garden represent the land.
And what you see there is usually the either the
garden curator or specifically maybe you know, if you're in Japan,
it would be like a monk maybe doing it. It's
at a temple and they rake it to their feeling,
you know. It's it's how they feel that moment that
they want to represent to the world.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Well, it's really funny. I think it's fascinating. Yeah, and
years ago I got a little little desk version of
something like that where you can rake it and they
had little shells or whatever. You would not believe the
number of people would stop by my office and say,
I just need to rake, and they would rake and
get their zen or like whatever their motion is out
in this little sandbox and move the shells very carefully
(13:42):
and move on. It was just so cute.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
It's an internal, peaceful moment. You know, you could be
reflective or could just be calming. It's however you take it.
But that's what the garden.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is supposed to be about, and that's one of the
things people can actually come watch that demonstration.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, so our garden curator, Heather gris Back, she does
that about three to four times a year, depending on
the and she not only rakes it, but she actually
tells you what she's doing, gives you a moment of meditation,
so she leads you in just like a peaceful moment
of meditation and how to understand what you're seeing. And
then she asked for questions and answer, so you really
(14:15):
get to understand what the garden is and nothing's by fascinating.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
So can you tell myself and the listeners a little
bit more about like your journey to becoming the visitor
Experience and Culture Events Marketing assistant manager more Kami. I
know it's a long title.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
So my personal connection really began when I visited Japan
back in two thousand and eight. I instantly fell in
love I kind of always loved like the architecture art,
but I fell in love with the culture there.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
And I had just moved to DC.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
So when I came back from my trip, I was like,
how can I get involved? And you have the the
Cherry Blossom Festival there, and I learned about Sakhara Matsuri,
which is the japan American Society's one day Japanese street
fair that happens right in the middle of DC. I
think they actually moved it a little bit now, but
at that time it was right like you could see
(15:03):
the Capitol building in the back. It was great, and
I go, how do I get involved? And I ended
up becoming a volunteer with more of like a manager's
role because they had these roles where you could work
four months out of the year to plan the festival
as a volunteer, and so I ran the jpop stage
and I learned more about traditional but modern culture. It
(15:24):
was more music and art and dance at that time,
but that really brought me in. And when I moved
back to Florida in twenty thirteen, I was like, I
need to be more involved, and I went back to school.
I went to FIU, which is Florida International University for
Asian Studies and focused on Japanese culture, and I decided
that I wanted to study abroad. So in twenty fourteen,
(15:46):
at the age of forty, I moved to Japan and
spent one year in Japan and got fully immersed and
I mean been glued to the Japanese culture since. When
I came back, I said, how do I continue my
jo Japanese career and looked for the Japanese community here
in South Florida and more Communists one of the largest
(16:06):
components here. It's either here or the consulate, and I
became the education program coordinator. I worked under Wendy for
six years and I enjoyed it, but my passion is events,
and so when there was space in the marketing program,
I said, how do I get involved? And they brought
me in with open arms. And I've now been in
(16:28):
the marketing team for just over two years, and I've
expanded that to visitor experience because I wanted to make
sure that everybody that comes in has the most wonderful
experience they can. So that's my goal and that's where
I am.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Now. Oh that's fantastic. So one of the cool things
you did. Speaking of events, I think you worked on
creating this one, and I just mentioned in my What's
Happening lineup? You guys have a Sunset Stroll coming up
this Thursday. I think it is September eleventh. September eleventh, yes,
So tell us about the What is the Sunset Stroll
and how do I get involved?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Okay, so Sunset Stroll. What's so amazing and beautiful by
Sunset Stroll? Is it the only after hour event that
we have except our galas, where you can come into
the garden after five pm and get to not only
experience the garden but have some traditional activities at the
same time. So we close to the normal day at
five and reopen at five thirty and we go from
(17:21):
five thirty to eight. You purchase a separate ticket for
Sunset Stroll, and then you have the opportunity to have
the included activities. We get Taycho drumming, so that's by
the group Fushi Daiko, who's the local Taicho group here.
They've been around for over thirty years, so they're amazing
to watch. We started doing themed events now the past
(17:43):
two years, so every Sunset Stroll has a new themed event,
and this one has a fashion show. It's a journey
through fashion with mia Icon. They are a new comic
book convention in the Coral Springs area that's coming in October,
and they're uh inspiring this new fashion show and hosting it.
(18:05):
So that's gonna be awesome. I already got a sneak peak.
I'm like excited to see it. And then we have
a small little Codo performance that will be happening at
the Yamatocon which is our original museum building at the
same time. So you get those three things with your ticket.
And then there's vendors outside selling traditional Japanese yummy stuff.
So we have kaminari, ramen, ramen lab those are all
(18:28):
your savory type items yaki yaki soba or maybe ramen soup.
And then you have aki koya with Japanese sweets. We
have a new sugar cane juice company that is a
Japanese own company and they do all their sugar cane
flavor with different Japanese flavors like uzu, which is lemon flavor.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So it's so delicious.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yeah, I was like so excited when he just came
to us for the first time. During Obon and he
like flew off the shelf.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Everyone loved him. And then we have.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Nagata Sake Selections and they're one of our biggest sake
companies we work with. They bring in wine sake's which
is rice wine specifically from Japan, and they have the
most amazing sakes and you get to try out all
these new different sakes while you're there as well. So
that's our suns that straw. It happens depending on the year,
(19:20):
either three or four times throughout the year and this
is our last one for the season.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Oh very cool. So how do I get tickets for that?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
So you can get them on our website it's more
Commedy dot org, or you can go directly to event
Bright because the tickets lead you to event Bright. If
you're a more Commedy member, it's five dollars, and then
if you're not a member want more Commy member's children
are free as well, But if you're not a member,
general mission is twelve dollars for adults and then for
six to seventeen year olds it's seven dollars and free
(19:49):
for kids under that age.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
So how people become a member of them More Commy.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
You could do it on our website. Memberships start as
low as forty dollars if your student. The most popular
package is is a duel, which is two adults. It's
ninety five dollars for a year, and kids under seventeen
are free, and that gives you free admission to the
museum all year long. Get invited to special member events,
you get a discount in our store and in our cafe,
(20:15):
and then we have member only walks, so those start
on Wednesdays and Fridays. You get to come in an
hour earlier than the general public to experience the garden.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Without all of the masses.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
So it's a it's a great.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You know thing to become a member. You get a
lot of perks. I like it. Perks are good.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So how does like, how do events like the sunset stroll?
How do they enhance the overall experience of the more
calming So because like it's after hours and you have
the sunset I mean.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
So, I mean they ewol one. You're bringing culture to life,
you know, so things that people might have only heard about,
maybe they've never seen psycho drumming before, and we always
have them at all Sunset strolls because they just really
bring in that FESTI vibe there. We call it heart
pounding because you really feel them, you know, And that's
what they say too, like this is a feeling type thing,
you know. But you're getting to also experience the garden.
(21:08):
As the sun goes down, you get to see different
textures and light through the trees and throughout the garden
that you don't see during the day because we're on
the west, So when the sun is coming up on
the east, you get one light perspective. But as it's
coming down in the west, what you're getting at night
after five, you get another perspective. So if it just
happens to be one of those glorious days with the
(21:28):
pink and orange of sunset, you know, you're lucky and
you get to see it all right there, and that's
of you you only get at an evening event like
Sunset Stroll.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Oh, it sounds fantastic. So what are some of the
most common reactions you see for like first time visitors
to the gardens?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I mean, definitely people are always surprised that there was
a Japanese colony in Florida. They thought we just like
magically created this for the fun of like just putting
a Japanese organization there so when they learn that there's
actually a connection to Japan. We have a sister city
named Miyazu. Miyazu is in the Kansai region of Japan,
kind of in between Kyoto and Osaka area. That is
(22:09):
where George Wakami's from, So we connect with them part
of our garden. There's what we call the Wisdom Ring.
It's a concrete circle you can look through and kind
of see your perspective of our garden through it. That
actually exists in Miyazu. We made the replication of it
here to connect us.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
So I love it. Yeah, that is so cool. And
I know a lot of cities and things do sister
cities in other countries to create that cultural awareness and connectivity.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Yeah, because I mean, oh, I think that a lot
of organizations we're trying to connect to something from somewhere
else because we're all humans and we want to feel
connected and make the world smaller.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Oh yeah, be all inclusive as we can. I love it.
I love it. How do you design the events or
exhibits to peel to both the new folks that are
coming and people have been coming a long time.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
We kind of, you know, are looking at what the
traditions are in Japan because we're trying to replicate, you know,
the authenticity of Japanese culture. So we're looking at the
lunar calendar. We're looking at what are the traditions and
holidays that are celebrated in Japan that are super important
(23:20):
to the culture that we can bring to Florida. Because
there's so many, just like any other culture, we can't
celebrate them all, but we try to celebrate all of
the big ones. And so we're looking to do that
to bring in the culture and the traditions that people
can then get a grasp of, whether it be through performances, food, art,
(23:44):
It sometimes happens through exhibits. We have lectures, we have classes,
so people can have a way to connect with Japanese culture.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You have a coworker that went to Japan just on
a trip with her husband, like you, just fell in
love with the culture. So she and I are looking
at the calendar to find a tea ceremony to come
do the glass together.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Oh please do yeah, please come check us out if
you've never done it before. We always suggest going to
the workshop. We do offer three different ways to do
tea ceremony, so it's the you could try this too
if you want it to go to a demonstration. We
have lots of different demonstrations, but the tea ceremony demonstration
is in our theater. It's a great way to learn
(24:23):
all about it without actually participating and decide if you
want to get more involved. And so it's on the stage.
There's a Q and A afterwards you really get to
kind of, you know, just digest it because you're not participating.
The next step from that would be our workshop that
is a one day experience in our tea house. We
do have a tea house inside our main museum. You
(24:43):
don't have to sit in the teahouse. You sit across
from it, so.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
You can sit in a normal chair.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Because traditionally you sit on the floor, which we call saza,
where your knees are bent beneath your behind. It's not
easy to do, so we don't suggest people take the
class where you have to sit that way unless you
can actually sit like that for at least ten or
fifteen minutes set a time. But the workshop's great because
you sit across from it. You can go into the
(25:08):
tea house part if you're interested. But the tea instructor
teaches you how to make your own cup of tea.
She explains the history, so you really get to delve
into what the tea ceremony is without having to go
that step further and be very traditional and sit say
is it?
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Well?
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I love it. I think it's so cool. I let
my friend know we're gonna do the workshop first, for sure.
There with the old ar three D knees here, we're
definitely doing the workshop first. They gets all that quick,
so definitely make sure you look ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
More commy dot.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Org, you need definitely do that. Yeah, so more comedy
dot org gotcha. So what would you recommend visitors not
miss when they come to the more Comedy What are
the must see items? So?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
I think number one is to check our calendar so
that you know when you're looking to come if there's
a special event happening. Because our special events, you know,
just enhance our garden. So yeah, our garden is gorgeous
and beautiful. You have all these museum exhibits that are
always there on every you know, every occasion you come.
But our special events are a one time thing. If
(26:10):
you're going to be in the area during that time,
you want to want to do a special event, whether
it be one of our weekend events like Obon Weekend
or Sunset Stroll evenings, or the next big weekend is
Orchid Weekend in February. So we have these things where
you get to experience the garden in a different way.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
After that, then you.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Could come in definitely stop by the greeter's desk, pick
up a map. They're going to explain to you how
to walk through the garden to get the most of it.
There is a tour you can get on your phone
where it'll speak to you and give you all the
points of interest so that you can just walk and
listen the whole time and enjoy it. If you come
with a bigger group, you can sign up to do
(26:53):
a group tour. They're free, you get a discount for
your group. There's things like the Cornell Cafe, the or
pan Asian Food, so if you're hungry, don't want to
miss eating there. And definitely check out whatever exhibits happening
at the time that you're at our museum, because the
exhibits are five y nine and everyone loves our exhibits.
We have three going on right now. In the main museum.
(27:15):
It's Japanese War Brides, as I said before, which is
a Smithsonian traveling exhibit. We have the Women of the
Yamadol Colony, which we're all about the women who came
with the first settlers or married into it and started
the Yamado Colony, so it's all about them. And then
we have two smaller exhibits in our other gallery, which
(27:37):
are the selections from the collection, which are all our
personal things that we own. So there's little bits of
pictures and three D objects. There's a fireman's jacket, like
there's just really cool things that we own that we
like to display from time to time. And then we
have these really cool metal animals that were made right
(28:00):
after the war and they're all movable objects, and so
that exhibit is called the Art of Piece Jesi Okinoma,
and that's a private collector's edition that's really cool. We
have some videos that show how those pieces move, because
you wouldn't think that they would move because there's so
many metal little pieces that look like they're just you know,
solder together, but they're really beautiful things like dragons and
(28:21):
phoenixes and things like that, So it's really cool. Yeah,
and then you know, if you want to go more
towards the gardens section, not to miss you don't want
to miss the Amado Con on Yamadel Islands. That is
our original museum building. There's rotating exhibits in there. Right
now is an exhibit on interesting tile roof tile pieces.
(28:41):
I'm not sure if you if you've ever taken a
look at Asian buildings, there's usually these things on the corner,
you know, and so we have some really cool ones
that have like dragons or food dogs or lions, and
so there's you know, things that you wouldn't even think
if you don't look up, but we have them on display.
We also have some yukata's and summer kumulinos on display
(29:02):
right now. And in front of that building is our
Bonzi collection and so there's some really amazing bond siyes
that our Bonsai volunteers work every Friday feverishly to make
look beautiful for all the visitors.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
So just some really great things to see.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
I mean, it depends on which direction you want to
go and how much you want to you know, see
that day.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
I think that's fantastic yeah. So obviously we have the
Sunset Strug coming up on September eleventh. What's the next
big event or project is coming up after that that
you're excited about.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
So the next big thing, this is part of the
educations program. They're doing the Coodo's Coodo New Year's Concert.
So Koto is the harp like instrument that kind of
lays flat in Chinese culture, it's called a zither. It's
got strings, it has a really pretty sound, and the
instructor with all of the beginning and intermediate students will
(29:52):
be performing for you for New Year's that's not going
to be on January third. After that we have a
fifty fifth anniversary exhibition of the Sugetsu Ikebana. So Ikebana
is floral ranging and so they're gonna come in and
do this like they have all these people coming from
Japan's it's going to be a really amazing exhibition of flowers.
(30:15):
So that'll be January twenty fifth. And then as I
was telling you about, we have these weekends events. So
then next big one will be Orchid Weekend and that's
February seventh and eighth. That happens in our garden we
have about fifteen orchid vendors. We also bring in bonzifits.
We want to bring also the Japanese elements, so bonzi vendors, cocadama,
(30:37):
which are the moss covered balls with the plants in
the middle. And then I bring in some Japanese artisans
as well, whether it be sume which is ink painting,
designers and block printing. And we just have an amazing
weekend of people educating on orchids because we do some
lectures as well as selling stuff that you get to
go home with.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Oh, I love it. I love it so again for
the listeners to get get more information, tickets, all that
good stuff.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
What's the website morecommy dot org.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
And they can also follow you on Facebook, Instagram.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
We're on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, wellt.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
List Lisa, thank you for coming in and sharing all
the cool information with us. I think it's really cool
that you guys are doing that in the community.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah, I mean we want to work with the community
so that the community can come together to celebrate our heritage.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Thanks fantastic. If you need more information, feel free to
reach out to me Palm Beach Perspective at iHeartMedia dot
com happy to for it on the details and don't forget.
You can always download the shows of podcast on our
iHeartRadio app. Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend. I'm devn
nep and this has been my perspective. Remember life is good,
so be your healthiest to you and let's get out
(31:45):
there and live it. Until next week. Ben Jilli i.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Heeart Communities, the community engagement arm of the station, champions
critical issues and causius in the area of health and wellness,
social impact, education, literacy, and music and arts. Join us
next week from Palm Beach, Treasure Coast Perspective
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