CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The work has officially begun to expand the University of Illinois’ Japan House.

After an eight-year journey, the construction of the Ogura-Sato Annex is finally beginning. According to the Japan House, U of I Facilities and Services crews have already started preliminary site work and excavation.

The future site, which is located west of the Japan House, will undergo “immense changes.” Officials said that half of the tea garden area had to be excavated to make room for the Annex. But, the “heart of the tea garden,” which covers the entrance to the tsukubai and the steppingstones outside the sliding door, will remain intact.

Lois Sjoken, Japan House gardener, also worked to preserve as many plants as possible. And, Sjoken teamed up with subcontractors to remove each rock and place them in a safe area for future use. Officials said the new garden will have a path that connects to a secondary tea garden, and will be “fully accessible” to everyone.

The idea for the Ogura-Sato Annex began in 2017 as Japan House’s operations grew and began to outgrow its current space. Over the years, donors like Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato, Alice (Ogura) Sato, Dr. George Ogura and Nick Offerman helped get the project started. You can see a timeline for the Ogura-Sato Annex project here.

Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud is the director of the Japan House. In a statement, Gunji-Ballsrud said that she is grateful for the entire community’s patience as they wait for the facility to expand, and begin to offer even more opportunities. And, Gunji-Ballsrud recognized Jim Bier, who established the Japanese tea garden and dry rock garden, as well as the gardeners and volunteers who dedicate their time to the gardens.

The Japan House has been a space where visitors can develop cultural understanding, and experience tranquility for over 60 years. Gunji-Ballsrud said the space will continue to offer new perspectives to the community in the years to come.

Rooted in traditional Japanese aesthetics and arts—particularly Chado, the Way of Tea—Japan House continues to offer students and the broader community a unique opportunity to cultivate a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures. None of this would be possible without our gardens and the love and care that Jim Bier has devoted to them over the past 25 years.

Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud and the Japan House Team