Clash of Diverse Backgrounds: A Deep Exploration
The Japanese Garden in Düsseldorf, a remarkable symbol of the city's long-standing friendship with Japan, has graced the Nordpark for five decades. As Keller notes, "The garden enriches the city with its unique atmosphere and significance, acting as a bridge between cultures." Yoshitaka Tsunoda concurs, stating, "The garden has accompanied the growth of the third-largest Japanese community in Europe for many years and is a significant emblem of the integrated German-Japanese community in Düsseldorf."
The roots of this exotic oasis trace back to the early 1970s, when the state capital initiated discussions on creating a Japanese garden. Two years later, the Japanese community joined the conversation. Under the auspices of the Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Düsseldorf, the Japanese Society established the "Japanese Garden in Düsseldorf" association. It was on May 31, 1974, that the first spade of earth was turned.
The design was the work of renowned Japanese garden and landscape architect Sentaro Iwaki and his son Shojiro, in collaboration with garden masters Ishiguro, Sakuma, and six other Japanese gardeners. Together with the garden department's employees, they created an exquisite landscape, complete with a waterfall, a pond with rocks, and plantings of azaleas, maples, and carefully pruned pines. The construction cost 1.9 million marks, and the garden was handed over to the public on May 24, 1975. The Japanese ambassador to the Federal Republic, Akira Sono, and Düsseldorf's Mayor Klaus Bungert officiated the ceremony.
The island in the garden's pond symbolizes the "Island of the Immortals," and the garden has become a popular tourist attraction as well as a meeting place for various communities, particularly those connected to manga and anime. Recognizing its significance, the city aims to adapt the garden to the challenges of climate change. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and black pines, among others, are vulnerable to increasing drought, and signs of heavy use are visible throughout the garden. Consequently, the city is in the planning phase for renovation, and in celebration of the 50th anniversary, the administration has had the Japanese Garden listed as a historic monument in the city.
In 1974, the Japanese Society, under the supervision of the Japanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Düsseldorf, established the "Japanese Garden in Düsseldorf" association to collaborate with city officials, aiming to improve the city's home-and-garden scenery, specifically enhancing its lifestyle appeal through a traditional Japanese garden. This new landscape, featuring a waterfall, pond with rocks, and plantings of azaleas, maples, and carefully pruned pines, was completed in 1975, making it a combination of home-and-garden and gardening delights that has since attracted tourists and resident communities.
