Makoto Hagiwara facts for kids
Makoto Hagiwara (萩原 眞, Hagiwara Makoto) (born August 15, 1854 – died September 12, 1925) was a talented garden designer from Japan who moved to America. He is famous for taking care of and expanding the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. He worked there from 1895 until he passed away in 1925. Many people also believe that Makoto Hagiwara was the person who first created the fortune cookie in California!
Who Was Makoto Hagiwara?
Makoto Hagiwara was born on August 15, 1854, in a small village in what is now Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. His family worked on a farm. When he was 15, his father passed away, and Makoto took over running the family farm. In 1878, he decided to move to the United States.
After arriving in America, Makoto Hagiwara opened one of the very first Japanese restaurants in San Francisco. Records show he owned a restaurant called Yamatoya in the city's Chinatown area. He also tried opening another restaurant in nearby Oakland, but that one didn't succeed.
Creating the Japanese Tea Garden
In 1894, San Francisco hosted a big event called the World's Fair. As part of the fair, there was a temporary Japanese Village exhibit. After the fair ended, Makoto Hagiwara was hired to manage this special site.
He personally managed the transformation of the temporary Japanese Village into a permanent and beautiful place called the Japanese Tea Garden. He was the main person in charge of looking after this garden for many years, from 1895 until his death in 1925. Thanks to his hard work, the garden became a beloved spot for visitors.
The Story of the Fortune Cookie
It was at the Japanese Tea Garden that Makoto Hagiwara is believed to have introduced the modern version of the fortune cookie. These crispy cookies, with a little paper message inside, are now famous around the world!
He is thought to have adapted the idea from a type of Japanese cracker called tsujiura senbei (辻占煎餅). These traditional Japanese crackers sometimes had fortunes inside them. Makoto Hagiwara took this idea and made it into the fortune cookie we know today, a sweet treat often enjoyed after a meal.
