Portland Mourns Henry Sakamoto, Cherry Tree Visionary

Henry Sakamoto, a towering figure in Portland’s Japanese American community whose life spanned nearly a century of change and resilience, died on November 25, 2025, at the age of 98. His passing, announced by his family and son Blake Sakamoto on December 26, marks the end of an era for a city that continues to blossom—quite literally—thanks to his vision and determination.

Born on January 27, 1927, in Portland, Oregon, to Hantaro and Hisano Sakamoto, Japanese immigrants seeking opportunity in a new land, Henry’s early years were shaped by both the hardships of the Great Depression and the darker chapters of American history. At just 15 years old, he and his family were among the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly incarcerated during World War II, a trauma that would forever inform his sense of justice and community. “I was too young at 15 years old and I didn’t realize the seriousness of erasing our citizenship, our American citizenship and forcing us into internment, or jail, so to speak,” Henry told KOIN 6 News earlier this year. “We were behind barbed wire fences and under the security guard of the United States Army.”

After the war and the end of internment, Henry Sakamoto joined the U.S. Army for a period of service before returning to civilian life with a renewed sense of purpose. He pursued higher education, earning a business administration degree from the University of Oregon in 1951. This set the stage for a long and impactful career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he managed government grain inventories for more than three decades, working across the western states. His efforts were pivotal in strengthening ties between Oregon’s grain and wheat industries and Japanese markets, fostering economic and cultural connections that would last for generations.

But Sakamoto’s legacy extends far beyond his professional accomplishments. Around 1990, he became the driving force behind a project that would forever change the face of downtown Portland—the creation of the Japanese American Historical Plaza along the city’s northwest waterfront. Through his leadership and relationships with Japanese trading companies, Sakamoto facilitated the donation of 100 Akebono cherry trees to the city, a gesture that would come to symbolize both reconciliation and hope. As he explained in an interview with KOIN 6 News, “A peace accord, so to speak. That’s how it was taken. And that’s how it’s been received.”

Each spring, the cherry blossom trees erupt in a “stunning firework display of flowers,” as described by his son Blake, filling the air along the Willamette River with a subtly sweet scent. For Portlanders and visitors alike, the trees are more than just a beautiful sight—they are a living monument to the endurance and contributions of Japanese Americans, as well as to the possibility of friendship between former adversaries. Sakamoto himself reflected on the deeper meaning of the plaza and the trees in a 2019 interview with OPB’s “Oregon Experience”: “The Historical Plaza is dedicated to the history of people of Japanese ancestry in Oregon. It’s also called the Bill of Rights Plaza. [It] helps people think about the status of the immigrants that have come and settled in Portland, and [are] still enjoying their life here. It’s a wonderful tribute.”

Henry’s civic engagement didn’t end with the cherry trees. He was the first president of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and played a central role in establishing the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, now known as the Japanese American Museum of Oregon. He also served as president of the Japanese Ancestral Society and was commander of the Oregon Nisei Veterans, organizations dedicated to preserving the stories and honoring the sacrifices of Japanese Americans in the region. Dr. Connie Masuoka, Board Chair of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, recalled that Henry was a constant presence at the dedication of the Japanese American Historical Plaza and regularly worked with Portland City Hall and other government bodies on social and civil rights issues throughout his life.

His contributions did not go unnoticed. In 2011, Sakamoto received the Heart of the Community Award, and a decade later, in 2021, he was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Japanese government. This prestigious award recognized his tireless efforts to preserve the history of Japanese Americans and to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Japan.

Those who knew Henry Sakamoto describe him as a supportive, loving, and relentlessly positive individual. “Very positive in his attitude, which is a thing we should all aspire to, I think,” his son Blake remarked. Blake also shared how every spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom, the community gathers beneath the canopy of flowers, a living testament to his father’s legacy. “Amongst the many things, there are the beautiful monuments and rock structures and poetry, is the 100 cherry blossom trees that my dad had arranged to have delivered from various Japanese businesses that he had met over the years,” Blake said. It’s a legacy that transcends mere landscaping—it’s a story of healing, memory, and hope for future generations.

Henry’s influence also extended into advocacy and education. He routinely worked with local leaders on civil rights issues, always pushing for a more just and inclusive society. His advocacy was rooted in personal experience, shaped by his own unjust incarceration as a teenager. As his son Blake put it, “We don’t ever want that to happen again to American citizens, to be taken away from their homes and families and basically taken to a prison […] out of fear.”

The impact of Sakamoto’s life and work will continue to be felt for years to come. The Japanese American Museum of Oregon has announced plans to create a special exhibit honoring his life and legacy, ensuring that future generations will learn about the man who helped transform Portland’s waterfront—and its civic spirit. “Henry is survived by the community he so deeply loved and enriched, who will continue to gather under the cherry blossoms he helped bring to Portland each spring. His voice, his leadership, and his vision will echo for generations,” his family said in a statement.

As winter settles over Portland and the cherry trees wait for another spring, the city remembers Henry Sakamoto not just as a leader, but as a bridge—between cultures, between past and future, and between neighbors. The blossoms he planted will continue to bloom, year after year, a living tribute to a life well-lived and a legacy that will never fade.