Statue
of Nitobe in Victoria's Twin-City of Morioka, Japan
Picture
of Nitobe on Japanese 5000 Yen Note
Inazo Nitobe Memorial Garden at Royal Jubilee Hospital |
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Dr. Inazo Nitobe was born in Morioka, Japan and in his life he became a world-renowned teacher, statesman and diplomat. Nitobe died at Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) in 1933. For many years, the site of his death in Victoria, BC was marked by a simple plaque on the wall outside the RJH ward where he died. | |
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Statue
of Nitobe in Victoria's Twin-City of Morioka, Japan |
Picture
of Nitobe on Japanese 5000 Yen Note |
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The idea of a Memorial Japanese
Garden for Dr. Nitobe began when renovations at RJH required the relocation
of his memorial plaque. More than $200,000 was raised by the friendship
societies in both Victoria and Morioka as the twin cities worked together
on the project. By 2004, plans were complete and construction could begin.
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Victoria
Harbourside Rotary Cheque Presentation |
VIDE
Car Show donation for garden from Bob Coates (right) of Optimist Club
of Victoria |
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Planning and construction
of the Nitobe Memorial Garden was supervised by Paul Allison, craftsman
gardener at Victoria's Royal Roads University, and Takashi Fujimura, a
master landscape designer gardener from Morioka, Japan. It is the first
part of the larger Royal Jubilee Heritage Park plan with the RJH Nursing
Alumnae and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). All funds came
from the Victoria-Morioka Friendship Society (VMFS) and the Morioka-Victoria
Friendship Society (MVFS) in Morioka, Japan. |
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Paul Allison (standing left), Takashi Fujimura (left) planning Nitobe Garden |
Nitobe Garden Part of Royal Jubilee Heritage Park at RJH |
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In 2005, construction
of the Nitobe Memorial Garden began. Plans called for water features,
extensive rockwork and relocation of a stone monument previously erected
on the grounds of RJH. The garden incorporates some of Dr. Nitobe's favourite
Japanese plants and a Sui-kin-kutsu "water harp chamber", the
first of its kind in Canada. The Sui-kin-kutsu is believed to have special
therapeutic powers to aid patient recovery. |
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Nitobe Monument Becomes Centrepiece in Japanese Garden Setting |
Stone
Retaining Walls Added to Compliment Japanese Garden |
Go to NITOBE GARDEN OPENING