Rev. Dr. Takeo Uesugi, an internationally renowned Japanese landscape architect, professor emeritus at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Tenrikyo Church minister, passed away peacefully Jan. 26, 2016 after a courageous bout with cancer. He was 75.

“Takeo Uesugi was one of the most important makers of Japanese gardens in North America over the last forty years,” Kendall Brown, professor of Asian art history at California State University, Long Beach, told the Nichi Bei Weekly.

One of five chapters of Brown’s upcoming book on Japanese-style gardens in North America built over the past 20 years will be dedicated to Uesugi, according to Brown, who called his passing a “huge loss.”

“His goal of creating gentle flow in gardens, through paths and streams, reflects his own deeply held desire to create purity and joyfulness in the world,” added Brown, who is also past president of the North American Japanese Garden Association. “In his best work, his gardens connect people with nature, and with each other.”

Dr. Uesugi taught landscape architecture at Cal Poly Pomona from 1970 to 2000, and has designed numerous Japanese gardens throughout the nation, including the James Irvine Japanese Garden at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles, the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta and the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

In recognition for his work on the Irvine Garden, Uesugi received the National Landscape Award from First Lady Nancy Reagan at White House ceremonies in 1981.

“It’s a very beautiful site; he was very proud,” said Hirokazu Kosaka, the master artist in residence at the JACCC who as caretaker of the James Irvine Japanese Garden worked closely with Uesugi over the past 30-plus years, including the renovation of the garden in recent years. Kosaka noted that as a unique “sunken garden,” it is not visible from the street.

In a 2009 interview with the Nichi Bei Times, Uesugi explained how the James Irvine Japanese Garden illustrated the history of Japanese Americans since their arrival through World War II and the present. He said that Japanese American history is “symbolized in the form and shape of the waterfall and stream … the waterfall representing the Issei who brought the culture from Japan, and the two streams coming together symbolizing the joining of the Nisei and Sansei to retain the culture … The bamboo garden symbolizes the future of Japanese Americans.”

Following the path of his father, Uesugi was installed as the head minister of the Tenrikyo Pacific Valley Church in West Covina, Calif. in 1996.

“My profession as a teacher and landscape architect was a continuation of my faith on Tenrikyo teachings,” noted Uesugi in the 2009 Nichi Bei Times interview. “I learned so much about people and the environment through that process.”

In 2010, Uesugi was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon — a kunsho, or medal of honor from the Government of Japan — recognizing his work in fostering international relationships with the design and education of Japanese gardens throughout North America.

Family of Landscape Designers

Uesugi was born in Osaka in 1940 to a family of landscape designers, in which he was the 14th generation to continue the ancient tradition. He studied landscape architecture at Osaka Prefecture University in the early 1960s, and in coming to the U.S. in 1965, he earned his master’s of landscape architecture in 1967 from UC Berkeley.

In 1970, he designed the Japan Pavilion at the Expo 70 in Osaka. Uesugi returned to the U.S. later that year to teach at Cal Poly Pomona and received his Ph.D. in landscape architecture in 1981 through correspondence studies from Kyoto University.

“Takeo Uesugi was one of the venerable professors of the Department of Landscape Architecture,” said Michael Woo, dean of the College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona, in a statement posted on the Cal Poly Pomona Facebook page. “He invented the entirely new field of adapting the Japanese garden to the California environment. There are many people who love Japanese gardens who will always appreciate Dr. Uesugi’s vision.”

Other Japanese gardens designed by Uesugi, who headed his own design firm TUA, Inc. out of his West Covina office, include the George and Sakaye Aratani Japanese Garden at Cal Poly Pomona, the Huntington Library Japanese Garden renovation and expansion, as well as gardens for institutions, businesses and private residences in Kansas, Chicago, Alabama, Shanghai and throughout California.

Working alongside his father since 2005, Keiji Uesugi was impressed with his design philosophies.

“I was able to gain insight into his unique aesthetic sensitivity and the principles by which he approached each design,” said Keiji Uesugi, principal at TUA, Inc. “As a professional landscape architect, I was extremely humbled by the intensity and passion he injected into creating design concepts for the clients, and the designs would continuously be extremely creative while being intimately based upon the features of the existing landscape.

“One of the things I enjoyed most in working with my father was placing large boulders for water features or dry streams in the garden. He explained that the rocks were the skeleton of the garden and that they had to be carefully placed to hold the design together,” said the younger Uesugi, who noted that working with large rocks was “physically tiring” but “hugely rewarding in the end.”

“His philosophy that good design should shape a positive and bright future for everyone is something I have dedicated myself to continuing in my practice,” said Keiji Uesugi.

But while he was a dedicated designer of Japanese landscapes, Takeo Uesugi was also deeply passionate about his Tenrikyo faith, which is not lost upon his family.

“Ever since I can remember, my father instilled within our family the importance of appreciating God the Parent’s blessings and to show our gratitude to God by bringing joy to others,” said eldest son Koji Uesugi, the dean of Student Services at Norco College. “This is easier said than done for most, but this came rather naturally for my father, who brought joy to so many people during his life through his roles as a minister, teacher, landscape architect, and friend.”

Uesugi was predeceased by his parents Seiichi and Kiku Uesugi, brother Tomoji as well as sister Kotoe.

He is survived by his wife, Hiroko; sons Koji (Ruby) and Keiji (Rebecca) Uesugi; daughter Mari (Aaron) Helenihi; and grandchildren Kaitlyn and Hannah Uesugi; Alyssa and Selene Uesugi; and Ashley, Troy and Naomi Helenihi. He is also survived by brothers Michihiro and Munetoshi Uesugi.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at the Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters, 2727 East First St., Los Angeles.