The Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, provide both an oasis of peace and a connection to Japanese heritage. Begun in 1978 on John R. Anderson’s residential property, the story of its development by landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu is unique. Hoichi Kurisu was six years old when an atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown of Hiroshima. Luckily, the landscape protected him and his family—a mountain separated their home from the bombing site. Kurisu went on to study landscape design and construction under Kenzo Ogata in Tokyo. Eventually, he began working in the…
