JAMAICA and Japan celebrate six decades of diplomatic relations this year and in a push to further strengthen the bond between the two countries, the Japanese Embassy in Kingston has embarked on a journey to establish a symbolic and multipurpose space that will foster a synergy of the cultures.

Leading the mission is Tomoko Atsumi, the wife of Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Yasuhiro Atsumi. Tomoko said in an recent interview with the Jamaica Observer at the residence of the Japanese ambassador in St Andrew that the plan is to create the space at the Hope Botanical Gardens in St Andrew.

The estimated cost of the project is $50 million and Tomoko has invited individuals and organisations that wish to be sponsors in the project to come on board.

“I am very excited,” she said.

“Japanese love Jamaica and they want Jamaicans to know about Japan. Our idea of a Japanese Garden is not just for it to be admired but to serve as a space where workshops on Japanese culture, tea ceremonies, Ikibana and choreography can be held. The Japanese Garden can be used by students for exhibition and where festivals can be held. We want a place for cultural exchange. The initial cost is not so high. But when we create the garden and build a Japanese-style house, it will cost around $50 million,” she said, appealing to potential sponsors to get involved.

A key member of the team that will be executing the project is Helen Chen, who said the garden will be a symbol that the bond between the two countries “can last forever”.

“The garden will be there to stay. We are going to work really hard to get it going. I feel that with the two cultures, it is important for Hope Gardens, which is 150 years old, to have something like that. When it is finished, people can expect to see a fantastic piece of Japan right here in Hope Gardens. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. When you go there you must be really impressed and want to go to Japan. Everybody who has visited Japan speaks of how orderly the place is. This garden will tell the story.”

Japanese civil engineer Akio Kajitani, who embraced the idea of his culture being promoted in Jamaica, said that many people wish they could visit Japan, but are not yet in a position to do so. That is why he will recommended that they visit the space when it is created and get acquainted with the culture in the meantime.

“I am very excited because this is a good opportunity for us Japanese to introduce our culture to our people in Kingston. It is somehow difficult for everybody to visit Japan but at least you can enjoy some part of Japanese culture in Jamaica. I am hoping that many Jamaican students will visit here and enjoy Japan in Jamaica.

Former Jamaican Ambassador to Japan Claudia Barnes is a member of the team executing the project.

“People will want to go there to do their wedding photographs. Japan has a great pull in Jamaica. The garden will enhance and take the relations to another level. We would really like the Observer to follow the evolution of the garden. We want the garden phase to be ready for 2024. Initially, we have to do a lot of fund-raising,” Barnes said.