Nikka Yuko - A Special Place by Dierk Neugebauer It was a beautiful, autumn day, and finally, we arrived. It had taken much effort to make the arrangements. After all, this was the end of October, and therefore, by definition, well past the tourist season. Everyone knows that attractions close after Labour Day, and if not then, certainly after Thanksgiving. Even the tourist brochures and web sites tell you this, again, and again, ... and again. It had taken numerous telephone calls, with lots and lots of messages left and received from Markham, Ontario to Calgary and Lethbridge, Alberta. Still, we were not certain that we would be able to tour the Nikka Yuko Centennial Garden. But, my wife, Sandy, had been persistent, and Jim McMullen, the garden's general manager, was interested in bending the rules to allow us, members of the toronto Bonsai Society, to tour the garden. So it was that we finally arrived, despite crowded hotels, that catered to various sports and university tournaments, and impossible construction delays and detours. Stooping to enter the low front gate we had to pause in the front yard to take in the spectacular view - all those telephone calls and missed conversations had been worth it after all. The truly authentic Japanese pavilion facing us, with the large mugho pine to the left and the lake to the right, was outstanding. Jim, as we expected, was an excellent host who shared with us numerous anecdotes about the garden and its place in Lethbridge history and culture. A Little History Though Japanese landscape gardens had their birth in the sixth century AD., Nikka Yuko owes its existence to the Second World War when hundreds of Japanese-Canadians were forced from their homes on the British Columbia coast and relocated east of the Rocky Mountains, some in Lethbridge, Alberta. This garden stands as a testament to the perseverance of the men and women, uprooted from their homes, who made new lives in Alberta. This garden is a monument to the contribution made to Canadian culture by Canadians of Japanese origins. Nikka Yuko's name reflects the cross-cultural friendships the garden symbolizes - NI stands for "nihon" or Japan, KA for Canada, and YUKO for widespread friendship. It was during the early sixties that the town council began to discuss the need to recognize and to honour the contribution made by the Japanese who were interned in Lethbridge and who stayed after the war. When a survey was taken, it was found that 85% of Japanese families in Lethbridge could trace their families from the evacuation of the west coast. In 1964/65 City Council adopted the Japanese Garden as its 'Centennial Project.' Approximately $260,000 - 280,000 was allotted for the projected pavilion and garden. The pavilion was constructed in Japan and contains no nails in its structure. Only mortise and tenon joints were used. Once completed, it was disassembled, shipped here, and reassembled in Lethbridge by Japanese artisans. Problems arose with the shipping as the Japanese company would not ship the pavilion until it was fully paid for (it seems that this is how it is done in Japan) and of course the Canadian Town Council would not pay for it until it was here on Canadian Soil, (which is typical for our bureaucracies.) A society was formed that raised the money through mortgages, savings, loans, etc., and paid the Japanese manufacturer so that the pavilion could be shipped. The Philosophy "Sometimes we need to move away from the busyness of the world around us and search out the quiet places - places where we may seek understanding, take time to organize our thoughts, get in touch with our deepest selves ... and then be ready to give all that is asked of us to our world again." - Author Unknown The Garden And Pavilion The garden covers four acres and consists of five basic areas: a dry garden; mountain and waterfall; stream, island and moon bridges; ponds, lakes and ocean; and a flat or prairie garden. The pavilion and garden were officially opened on April 14, 1967 by Prince and Princess Takamatsu. "Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which Nature herself is animated." - Auguste Rodin (1840 -1917)

The straight, long walkway to the entrance is almost as long as the garden behind it is deep - it heightens your sense of expectation.	The large mugho pine which frames the left side of the pavilion is magnificent indeed. Each year countless hours are spent pruning and training the numerous landscape specimens.

Sure enough, as we approached the sealed entrance to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and perused the main pavilion not far behind, Jim McMullen was there. He had made a special trip to the garden, that Saturday afternoon just for us, and didn't mind spending a few hours with us so that we could learn about the garden, its past, its present and future dreams. ...Yes, gardens too have dreams. As you peer through the wrought iron fence on each side of the main entrance, you catch a glimpse of what lies beyond. The large mugho pine which frames the left side of the pavilion is truly magnificent indeed. Each year countless hours are spent pruning and training it as well as other numerous landscape specimens. Dr. Kuboa, a Japanese Master, comes every year and spends much time here working this tree and other trees in the garden. A local person, Mr. Al White, Is now achieving the status of Master Japanese Gardener.

As you open a sliding door from within the pavilion, you are greeted by this stunningly, stark and evocative courtyard. It is the viewer that provides the meaning for the landscape.	The floor in the tea ceremony room is covered in imported hand-woven, rice straw mats.

Opening the sliding doors of the pavilion one is amazed by the soft, cypress wood floor. Shoes are removed as would be expected in a Japanese home. There are few furnishing in the pavilion in order not to distract one from seeing the essence of nature around. Cultural events are hosted here when appropriate. Today the pavilion houses a magnificent Japanese doll collection, donated by a local resident of Lethbridge. As you open a sliding door to the west from within the pavilion, you are greeted by a stunningly, stark and evocative courtyard. It is the Dry Rock Garden. A narrow deck encourages the viewer to sit and contemplate the 'seas' or 'islands' or just to use one's own imagination in viewing this dry garden. Rocks are grouped in three, five, or seven - numbers considered lucky or aesthetically pleasing. On the opposite wall we open the sliding doors to the Tea Ceremony room and its adjacent tea preparation room. The two carved pillars in the tea ceremony room are also made of Cypress wood but these pillars were shaped by tightly weaving bamboo around the cypress tree creating an imprint of the bamboo in the cypress trunk, as the tree was growing. The hibachi in the centre of the floor is where water is boiled. A flower arrangement in the corner, called ikebana, is contributed by local volunteer women. Imported, hand-woven straw mats cover the floor in the Tea Ceremony room. A tea ceremony is performed weekly and is well attended.

As you exit the pavilion on the south side onto a deck that borders the lake, you see a magnificent waterfall on the far shore of the lake.	Another beautiful view of the lake and its landscape.

As you exit the pavilion on the south side onto a deck that borders on the lake, you get a wonderful view of the second area of the garden, the Mountain and Waterfall. Benches, along this deck, allow you to sit and view this garden and the other gardens. The "borrowed" view of Henderson Lake, a neighbouring civic park, exemplifies the concept of shakkei. Here the 'ocean' view of Henderson Lake is borrowed from the civic park. Take in the view of all parts of the lake and its many beautiful, serene surroundings.

As you follow the path around the lake you come across a shelter that invites you to rest and and enjoy the soothing sounds of a nearby stream.	Carefully designed bridges and rapids stimulate the senses.

Leaving the pavilion you follow the path around the lake and the 'mountain.' You come across a shelter that invites you to rest and and enjoy the soothing sounds of the nearby stream and lake. Azumaya, nothing is exposed all at once - "go around" Rest awhile. As in life, the path divides in two, a decision must be made. The stone lantern beside the Azumaya, once used to 'dispell darkness', is used symbolically to guide your way. Once a month the garden is open at night, in the evening, as a special attraction and lights are hidden amongst the bridges and trees to help guide you in your search. Wandering next amongst the streams, islands and moon bridges your senses are stimulated as you hear water bubbling over rocks, watch as silver sparkles over shiny stones, feel droplets of water on your skin, taste.., touch... Look for the small island called Turtle Island or even try to catch a view of the resident turtle, a symbol of longevity.

The Friendship Bell in its enclosure.	As you turn in an easterly direction, you take in the view of one part of the lake and its beautiful, serene surroundings.

As the two paths rejoin you approach another structure, the Ceremonial Friendship Bell. This Bell was cast in Japan and contains the names of all the original people who worked to build this symbol of peace. The structure is built on an arch principle and if you take the bell off, the building would fall down - it is the weight of the bell that holds it all together. The path has now reached the north east corner of the garden and only a narrow causeway separates the Japanese garden from Henderson Lake, a civic garden. Crossing this causeway we enter the Prairie Garden. Even here we are encouraged to follow the large, flat stepping stones, strategically placed, to Ariso Beach and to sit and view the garden and appreciate it from a different perspective once again. While the garden may end here you are encouraged to retrace your steps and view the garden from a different perspective, a different angle. Return, of course another day, another season, and see the changes that nature has wrought and that man, working with nature, has accomplished.

Our gracious host, Jim McMullen (on the right), with a magnificent view of the pavilion and lake in the background attest to the serenity ofthe garden.	The exit/entrance as we are about to sayour good-byes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special thanks to Jim McMullen for his hospitality and friendship. Some of the information for this article has come from the self-guided tour brochure available at the gate. You are encouraged to visit the Nikka Yuko web site at http://www.japanesegarden.ab.ca