Understanding Japanese Gardens

*Online program

Join the Japan Society of Northern California with special guest Steve Beimel to explore the genius behind this internationally recognized treasure. Go beyond myths and symbolism, as Steve gives you tools for understanding transitions, depth and perspective, sight vectors, framing, backdrops, devices for expanding our sense of space, and more, reflecting 1400 years of evolution and refinement and shown through exquisite images of some of Kyoto’s finest garden sites. Before retiring, Steve spent decades leading Japanese garden tours as the founder of Esprit Travel & Tours. Today, he and his team at JapanCraft21 are passionately committed to revitalizing and safeguarding traditional Japanese arts. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into Japanese gardens’ rich history and meticulous craftsmanship—reserve your spot today!

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Our Amazing Speakers

Steve Beimel | Founder, JapanCraft21

Longtime Japanese resident Californian Steve Beimel has been involved with Japanese culture since the early 1970s. In 2018, he founded JapanCraft21 to identify viable but vulnerable traditional Japanese crafts and assist in their revitalization. They started Shinmachiya Juku, a free-of-charge school in Kyoto that teaches traditional construction skills to working carpenters and plasterers, and a program that supports apprenticeship in vulnerable craft genres. Additionally, they hold national contests in support of talented craftspeople. Their Craft Leader Program promotes the work of their 30 contest winners to date. Steve recently retired from Esprit Travel and Tours, a U.S.-based Japanese culture-focused tour company that he founded in 1992 (www.esprittravel.com). At Esprit, he connected travelers from around the world with talented and gracious Japanese people, enabling them to encounter the richness and beauty of Japanese culture. Prior to that, Steve ran a large U.S.-based wholesale plant growing operation with Japanese partners, serving the landscape construction industry during California’s construction boom years. He holds an M.A. in Applied Counseling Psychology, and he currently lives in the Kyoto foothills with his wife of over 42 years, Ritsuko, an ikebana instructor.

Moderator – Steve Pollock | President, Japan Society of Northern California

Steve Pollock is the President of Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC). Apart from his management responsibilities, he is also an avid consumer of JSNC’s diverse programming on topics ranging from Japanese arts and culture, to business and innovation, healthcare, and policy and economics. Prior to leading JSNC, Steve worked for many years advising Japanese and US companies about cross-cultural business and market entry, while also traveling and reading widely about Japan. He has lived and worked in Japan with his family, and has a passion for sharing and discussing interesting Japan-related content with others.

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