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Consul General's News Letter From Houston |
Remarks by Consul-General Jota Yamamoto
on the Unveiling of the Dedication
of Terunobu Nakai Memorial Stone
at the Hermann Park Japanese Garden on March 8, 2013
March 8, 2013
I am very honored to welcome Mrs. Toyoko Nakai to the Hermann Park Japanese Garden today. This is the Garden where your husband has made his tireless dedication for many years.
This is the Garden which always reminds us of the bright & steadfast friendship between Japan and America, which is sustained by the people like Mr. Nakai. This is the Garden which enables us all to keep the sweet memories and heartfelt appreciation to those people. Houston is the city which appreciates forever the people who cherish and promote the value of cultural diversities.
Over the past year, the Garden has witnessed a number of stories to strengthen our conviction. We now have a bench in memory of the late mother of Mr. Glen Gondo. Japan presented 20 cherry tree saplings to commemorate the Japan-US cherry blossom centennial. June 19, 2012 was proclaimed the Hermann Park Japanese Garden Day of Houston. Japan’s Foreign Minister commended Mr. Kunio Minami & Mr. Joe Hafner. Cherry tree saplings were planted on October 19. Do you remember that the planting ceremony was blessed by the Honorable Mayor Parker, and also by a great American Eagle who popped in?
All these developments were made possible by active engagement of many people like Mr. Nakai, and facilitated through face-to-face collaboration with many Houstonians. I salute, with my renewed words of thanks, the Houston Parks & Recreation Department, Hermann Park Conservancy and the City of Houston.
Today, we will unveil the “Dedication of Terunobu Nakai Memorial Stone,” which speaks volumes to the value of cross-cultural collaboration. I will keep my allegiance to this value.
October 27, 2011 was proclaimed Terunobu Nakai Day of Houston. I believe that October 27 every year will be commemorated by many. All of us in this Garden today will never forget this day March 8, 2013, as we all, together with Mrs. Toyoko Nakai, were able to pay tribute to a Japanese gentleman who loved the Hermann Park Japanese Garden. Houston will never forget him & his wife.