Japanese American Historical Plaza
{{Short description|Public plaza in Portland, Oregon, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox urban feature
| name = Japanese American Historical Plaza
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| place_type =
| other_names =
| ind_name_lang =
| ind_name =
| nickname =
| former_names =
| image_place = Japanese American Historical Plaza - Portland, Oregon.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The plaza in 2016
| image_oth =
| features =
| designer =
| builder =
| construction =
| complete =
| open =
| close =
| destroyed =
| demolished =
| cost =
| steps =
| height =
| length =
| dimensions =
| amenities =
| area =
| surface =
| architectural_style =
| dedicated_to =
| owner =
| manager =
| location = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
| address1 =
| address2 =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Portland downtown
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label =
| coordinates = {{Coord|45.5239|-122.6697|type:landmark_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coor_pinpoint =
| coor_type =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
File:Japanese American Historical Plaza, Portland, OR 2012.JPG
Japanese American Historical Plaza is a plaza in Portland, Oregon's Tom McCall Waterfront Park, located where the Portland Japantown once stood.{{Cite web|url=https://blumenauer.house.gov/?option=com_content&view=article&id=288&Itemid=114#localities|title=Congressman Earl Blumenauer|website=Congressman Earl Blumenauer|language=en|access-date=2017-05-26|archive-date=2017-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708035155/https://blumenauer.house.gov/?option=com_content&view=article&id=288&Itemid=114#localities|url-status=live}}
Description and history
The plaza extends northward from the Burnside Bridge along NW Naito Parkway and follows the flow of the Willamette River.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonnikkei.org/plaza.htm|title=Oregon Nikkei Endowment :: Japanese American Historical Plaza|website=www.oregonnikkei.org|access-date=2017-05-26|archive-date=2017-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514095440/http://www.oregonnikkei.org/plaza.htm|url-status=live}} The plan, sponsored by the Japanese American Citizens League with Bill Naito encouraging its proposal, was accepted in 1988.
Designed by landscape architect Robert Murase, the plaza tells the important history of the Japanese in Oregon. It illuminates the challenges faced by Japanese immigrant and the incarnations of people with Japanese ancestors.{{Cite web|url=https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/japanese_american_historical_plaza_portland/#.WSizdxPysdU|title=Japanese American Historical Plaza (Portland)|website=oregonencyclopedia.org|language=en|access-date=2017-05-26|archive-date=2017-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521020356/https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/japanese_american_historical_plaza_portland/#.WSizdxPysdU|url-status=live}} The plaza represents the poems of the experience of the Japanese immigrants and an important reminder of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The Oregon Nikkei Endowment administers the plaza, which features Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience (1990), a bronze-and-stone sculpture by Jim Gion.{{cite web |title=Public Art Search: Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience |url=https://racc.org/public-art/search/?recid=1552.171 |publisher=Regional Arts & Culture Council |access-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416035103/https://racc.org/public-art/search/?recid=1552.171 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Japanese American Historical Plaza, (sculpture). |url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!368987~!0#focus |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304023254/https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=ariall&source=~%21siartinventories&uri=full%3D3100001~%21368987~%210#focus |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Japanese American Historical Plaza}}
{{Old Town Chinatown, Portland, Oregon}}
{{Tom McCall Waterfront Park}}
{{Portal bar|Japan|Oregon|Visual arts}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Japanese-American culture in Portland, Oregon
Category:Northwest Portland, Oregon
Category:Tom McCall Waterfront Park
{{MultnomahCountyOR-geo-stub}}