A Japanese-style garden located among meadows and evergreen forests on Vashon Island may prompt many questions for those who view it for the first time, such as: why is it there?; who created it and why?; and, how closely does the garden adhere to traditional Japanese garden principles? Although this garden has been in decline for the past fify years, it was once a beautiful Island landmark and tourist destination. The Mukai garden is historically significant for a number of reasons and is currently undergoing restoration. This thesis documents the origins of the garden in its social, political, cultural and economic contexts and compares those with traditional Japanese conditions. It concentrates on the designer, an immigrant Japanese woman, and her family and the place they settled and developed in the 1920's. This thesis concludes that the Mukai garden and agricultural complex is unique for a number of reasons.

The following questions provide the framework for analysis:

1) Is this garden "out of context" considering the location in which it exists and

its placement in the landscape?

2) Do the style and features of the garden represent a cross-cultural transfer of

design ideas, and therefore distinguish it as being unique?

3) Was it out of the ordinary for a Japanese woman to act as designer?

Research to answer the first question involved an extensive literature review in the areas of social, economic and political conditions which influenced Japanese immigration, work and settlement patterns at the turn of the century. This was the time period during which the Mukai family immigrated and established their home on Vashon Island. The second question required research on traditional Japanese garden design. The third question called for an understanding of Japanese women's historical relationship to the land and their degree of involvement in the design profession. Also of interest was their traditional socialization experience and the process of "culture change" which occurred over time in America.

In addition to the literature review, valuable information on the history of the Mukai family was provided through a series of interviews with Masa Mukai, the son of the pioneer immigrants who created the garden and overall complex. Onsite mapping and other research was conducted in conjunction with Island Landmarks, the primary organization involved in the restoration of the garden.

The thesis resolves the questions, thereby establishing a better understanding of the distinctive qualities that make the Mukai garden unique. It describes the physical features of the site, both past and present and the changes that have taken place over time and it interprets the garden's meaning. It is hoped that this information will be useful for the restoration team and for the interpretation of this important Island landmark. This contextual garden study may be useful as a model for other vernacular landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.