The NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

The North American Japanese Garden Association

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/110d. Total Eps: 11

This is the official podcast of the North American Japanese Garden Association. Visit our website at www.najga.org to find out more about membership, read our blog and access our free Japanese gardening resources! Learn from professionals and enthusiasts alike all about the art, craft and heart of Japanese gardens in the United States and Canada. Our goal is to increase the number of resources, conversations and awareness of Japanese garden design, theory, and techniques in the English language.

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Apple

Data updated on 26/08/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - Design
14/09/2026
#64
🇺🇸 USA - Design
12/09/2026
#98
🇺🇸 USA - Design
11/09/2026
#61
🇺🇸 USA - Design
31/08/2026
#84
🇩🇪 Germany - Design
30/08/2026
#83
🇩🇪 Germany - Design
29/08/2026
#99
🇺🇸 USA - Design
29/08/2026
#98
🇺🇸 USA - Design
28/08/2026
#79
🇨🇦 Canada - Design
27/08/2026
#97
🇺🇸 USA - Design
27/08/2026
#46

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/dashboard/episode/www.najga.org
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RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 17%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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The Path to the Japanese Garden: A Conversation with Greg Afman- Episode 11

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 36:15

In this episode of the NAJGA Podcast, host Tim Gruner sits down with Greg Afman at Anderson Japanese Gardens for a wide-ranging conversation about the experiences, ideas, and philosophies that have shaped his approach to Japanese gardens.

Greg traces his journey from an early fascination with bonsai to an intensive apprenticeship in Japan and the transformative moment when encountering a mature Japanese maple changed the direction of his career.

He reflects on his years working alongside renowned garden designer Hoichi Kurisu and explores some of the lessons that continue to influence his work—from understanding ma and kisei to recognizing the relationship between individual elements and the garden as a whole.

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Rooted in Purpose: NAJGA Presidents Reflect on Growth, Governance, and Giving

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 • Duration 46:42

We’re excited to announce a new NAJGA podcast episode featuring a special conversation with three NAJGA Presidents: Benjamin Chu (current president), Jeanette Schelin (past president), and Michelle Day-Miles (incoming president).

In this thoughtful roundtable, our presidents reflect on their personal journeys with NAJGA and explore the organization’s evolving priorities—from governance and fundraising to community engagement and the future of NAJGA. Together, they share insights on accomplishments, challenges, and hopes for the next five years, offering a deeper understanding of how NAJGA is stewarding its mission forward.

Whether you’re a longtime member or simply passionate about Japanese gardens, this episode offers an inspiring look at leadership, collaboration, and purpose.

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The Nature of Japanese Gardens: The Intersection of Art, Science, and Culture

Episode 9

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 • Duration 22:34

In this edition of the NAJGA Podcast, host Ben Chu—NAJGA President and Horticultural Manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden—offers a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming 7th NAJGA International Japanese Garden Conference, taking place October 15–18 at MoBot.

Joining him are three special guests:

Dr. Kendall Brown, Professor of Asian Art History at CSU Long Beach, founding NAJGA member, and past president
Seamus Lewin, recent intern at the Scott Arboretum with a deep passion for Japanese gardens
Oscar Romero, Seattle-based arborist, garden designer, and owner of Zenzia. Oscar is also serving as NAJGA Ambassador, building bridges and important relationships in México and Latin America. He, along with Seamus, will be a digital ambassadors at the conference!

They reflect on the origins of NAJGA’s international conferences, the impact of Japanese gardens on their personal and professional journeys, and what attendees can look forward to this October—from hands-on workshops and design sessions to the unique ways this vibrant community gathers to connect, share, and grow.

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Amache Remembered: Unearthing Stories, Cultivating Legacy- Episode 8- NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Episode 8

Thursday, April 24, 2025 • Duration 34:38

Learn more about our guests and see pictures of Amache at: najga.org/amache

In this special episode of the NAJGA podcast, hosts Jan Liverance and Marisa Rodriguez are joined by two remarkable guests—Dr. Bonnie Clark and Greg Kitajima—for a moving conversation about gardens, resilience, and the enduring legacy of Amache.

Dr. Bonnie Clark is professor and curator for archaeology in the University of Denver’s Anthropology Department. Since 2005, her primary research focus has been the Amache Community Archeology Project, a collaborative endeavor committed to preserving, researching, and interpreting the tangible remains of Amache, the World War II Japanese American incarceration camp in Colorado. She is author of Finding Solace in the Soil, coeditor of Archaeological Landscapes on the High Plains, and coauthor of Denver: An Archaeological History.

Greg Kitajima is an independent Certified Aesthetic Pruner based in Santa Barbara, and currently serves on the board of the Amache Alliance. He spent 14 years pruning and maintaining the Japanese Garden at Ganna Walska Lotusland, apprenticing for eight of those years under Frank Fujii—the garden’s original designer and caretaker for 45 years. In addition to his training at Lotusland, Greg has also studied Japanese gardens and pine pruning in Japan, and has trained with Dennis Makishima on the art of Aesthetic Pruning.

Together, they paint a vivid picture of Amache’s landscape, past and present—sharing stories of discovery, reflection, and the power of place. From archaeological fieldwork to family narratives and garden traditions, this episode invites listeners to consider why the legacy of Amache still matters, and how we continue to carry these stories forward.

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Interview with Garden Designer Mr. Hoichi Kurisu- Episode 7- NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Thursday, December 26, 2024 • Duration 34:25

Check out our final podcast of 2024, an interview with renowned Garden Designer, Hoichi Kurisu and his daughter, Michiko Kurisu. Hoichi Kurisu is President and Founder of Kurisu LLC. He has been designing and building gardens for nearly 50 years. His daughter, Michiko, is a NAJGA Board Member and Project Coordinator and Public Relations at Kurisu LLC. The podcast is hosted by Steven Pitsenbarger, Garden Supervisor at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. You can learn more about Mr. Kurisu and his company, Kurisu International, at kurisu.com

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Intersection of Science, Nature and Public Engagement- Episode 6- NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Thursday, December 19, 2024 • Duration 23:36

NAJGA Board Member & Director of Japan Institute at Portland Japanese Garden Aki Nakanishi, was recently in London. Listen to his powerful interview with Director Richard Deverell of Kew Gardens. Kew Gardens is the largest botanical institution in the world. This unscripted interview that took place during Aki’s informal visit to Director Deverell’s office at Kew, is an impactful statement of action, inspiring us to think differently about our own gardens as a vehicle for positive social change through public engagement and communication.

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DIY Gardens- Episode 5- NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Thursday, December 19, 2024 • Duration 49:39

Check out our latest podcast on DIY gardens. Our host, Phil Pochoda, a private garden owner from New England, interview Nikolai Loveakis and Jeanne Kay Guelke about their gardens. You can listen here and see pictures of Nikolai and Jeanne’s gardens here: najga.org/diygardens

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Climate Change, Sustainability, and Water Conservation - Episode 4 - NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Monday, May 27, 2024 • Duration 31:30

In this episode of the NAJGA podcast, Nick Esthus discusses climate change, sustainability and water conservation with Barrie Agar, Head Gardener Emeritus, Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, and Terri Clay, Horticultural Supervisor of the Japanese Garden at Lotusland, Santa Barbara, California.

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Pines In Gardens - Episode 3 - NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Season 1 · Episode 3

Sunday, October 29, 2023 • Duration 29:31

In this episode of the NAJGA podcast, Shayna discusses the art, craft and heart of Japanese garden design with Tim Gruner, who shares his extensive knowledge and experiences related to pine trees and pine pruning in Japanese gardens. They explore various aspects of pine shaping, training, pine pruning, the differences between bonsai, niwaki or garden trees, the importance of space in Japanese gardens and placement of pines and how to create a cohesive effect in a Japanese garden.

Tim Gruner emphasizes the significance of achieving the right scale, transparency, and the role of pines in creating space. He also discusses techniques such as candling, cleaning the bark, and needle pruning to enhance the aesthetics of pine trees in the garden.

The conversation delves into the challenge of helping visitors connect with and appreciate Japanese gardens fully, especially when unfamiliar with the style. Tim suggests that turning off distractions and observing in silence can help individuals better appreciate the gardens' beauty.

Finally, they touch on the different shapes of pine trees, with Tim expressing a preference for compositions that involve multiple trunks functioning as part of a harmonious whole, particularly in combination with deciduous material, which offers a dynamic and invigorating experience.

To explore the world of Japanese garden design further go to our website at www.najga.org for all the resources available from the North American Japanese Garden Association.

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Dry Gardens - Episode 2 - NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast

Season 1 · Episode 2

Saturday, September 30, 2023 • Duration 29:07

In this podcast episode, host Shayna Price explores the world of Japanese dry gardens, or karesansui, with guest Heather Grzybek, the garden curator at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Florida. Heather shares her background and journey into Japanese garden design, highlighting the unique aspects of their contemporary take on a dry garden there. They discuss the challenges of maintaining dry gardens in the US, including the impact of weather, tools, and techniques for raking patterns, and the unconventional use of dry gardens for initiatives like Gardens for Peace. Heather emphasizes that the heart of dry gardens lies in simplicity, elegance, restriction, and the ability to provide a sense of peace and quiet in a chaotic world.

To explore more Japanese garden insights, resources, and engage with the community, visit the NAJGA website at www.najga.org and follow us on social media. Membership will provide community and access to a wealth of knowledge in the world of Japanese garden design. Happy Japanese gardening!

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The NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

The NAJGA Japanese Garden Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Spotify1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Spotify1

Apple Podcasts

Spotify