MEANINGFUL VISIT FOR THE JAPANESE GARDEN

Kanji Ishimoto, President of the Turkish-Japanese Cultural Association, and his wife, Chieko Ishimoto, paid a courtesy visit to Mayor of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Ayşe Ünlüce to discuss the future of the Eskişehir Japanese Garden.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the preservation, enhancement, and transmission of the Japanese Garden--one of Eskişehir's cultural landmarks--to future generations. Established in 2010 as part of the Japan Year celebrations in Türkiye through the cooperation of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality and the Japanese-Turkish Cultural Exchange Association, the Japanese Garden was created on an area of approximately 30 decares within Sazova Science, Culture and Art Park.

The garden was designed by Prof. Dr. Masao Fukuhara, a faculty member at Osaka University of Arts, and was constructed through the dedicated efforts of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality's personnel using the municipality's own resources. Designed in accordance with the traditional Japanese garden style known as "Chisen Kaiyushiki," the site features hills symbolizing nature, a waterfall, observation terraces, bridges, a Yukimi-Gata style stone lantern, meditation areas, and the Fishing Pavilion, a lakeside veranda.

One of the garden's most striking attractions is Sakura Hill, surrounded by Japanese cherry trees that draw significant interest from visitors. In Japanese culture, Sakura blossoms symbolize the arrival of spring, as well as the beauty of life, renewal, and the transient nature of existence. While cherry blossom festivals are celebrated annually across Japan, the blooming Sakura trees in Eskişehir Japanese Garden also create spectacular scenery.

During their visit to Eskişehir, Kanji Ishimoto and Chieko Ishimoto toured the Japanese Garden and conducted assessments on behalf of the garden's designer, Prof. Dr. Masao Fukuhara. It was noted that Prof. Dr. Fukuhara is planning to visit Eskişehir next year and wishes to provide training for municipal staff on pruning, maintenance, and landscaping practices to help preserve the authentic character of the Japanese Garden.

The meeting also highlighted a shared commitment to promoting Japanese culture in Eskişehir, ensuring the sustainability of the Japanese Garden, and further strengthening cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce thanked Kanji Ishimoto and Chieko Ishimoto for their kind visit and emphasized that Eskişehir has always attached great importance to projects that foster intercultural friendship and understanding.