Join us for a free one-day educator workshop at The Huntington Library, hosted by the USC U.S.–China Institute, the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, and Japan Society. This enriching program explores how Japanese art, design, and lived experience have shaped cultural and physical landscapes in Southern California.
Program Highlights:
Professor Tosh Minohara will provide a historical foundation through Japonisme, Japan’s global exhibitions, and the Japanese American experience—including Japan’s role in the 20th century—continue to shape U.S.–Japan relations.
Professor Miya Elise Desjardins will lead a site-based exploration of material culture, tracing how Japanese gardens, interior design, and aesthetics took root in Southern California and evolved over time. Her session highlights the ways form, symbolism, and design adapted to new environments and communities.
The day will also include a guided, inquiry-based tour of The Huntington’s Japanese Garden, one of the most iconic and beloved landscapes in Southern California.
Together, these sessions reveal how Japanese culture has been transmitted and adapted across borders and generations, showing how aesthetics, identity, and lived experience continue to influence communities and spaces.
About Professor Tosh Minohara
Professor Tosh Minohara is a leading scholar of U.S.–Japan relations, with over two decades of experience in teaching and research. His expertise spans international relations, national security, foreign policy, and diplomatic and political history. He has advised graduate students from across the globe and is renowned for his research contributions in the field.
At this workshop, Professor Minohara draws on his extensive background to explore Japonisme, world exhibitions, and the Japanese American experience—situating Japan’s cultural and historical expression within a broader international framework.
Learn More: Podcast Feature
For a deeper dive into Professor Minohara’s perspectives on U.S.–Japan relations and regional security, we invite you to watch his podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5ad3zxsX78
Attendees will receive classroom-ready teaching resources, a complimentary lunch, and a free pass for a future visit to The Huntington.
(Fully Booked)