日加友好日本庭園 Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
アルバータ州レスブリッジは、第2次世界大戦時に日系カナダ人の強制収容所が設置された所だった。当時ブリティッシュコロンビア州に多く住み着いていた日系移民たちは、1942年頃この施設に収容された。戦後、開放された日系移民たちの中にはこの地に居ついた人々も多く、現在カナダでも大きな日系コミュニティがある都市となっている。
この街に日本庭園の築造計画が起こったのは、庭園にも造詣の深かった地元の宗教家Yutetu Kawamuraと、地元新聞レスブリッジ・ヘラルド紙編集長Cleo Mowers の発案による。市の観光産業振興局長Kurt Steiner の助力を得ることにより、1964年には市議会が建設を承認し、カナダ建国100周年記念事業の一環として1967年に完成した。
基本構想は久保貞（大阪府立大学教授）によるもので、築庭にあたってはその門下生である杉本正美が指導的立場に立ち、藤田好茂、中瀬勲らが参加した作品。
庭園はヘンダーソン湖の湖畔、元々平坦地であった 4 エーカー（約16,000㎡）の敷地内に池をうがち、丘を築いて造られた池泉廻遊式の形式をもつ。園内には、和風建築のパビリオン（集会施設）、この建築に付随した枯山水、そして池と中島（亀島）、滝、流れ、築山、が風致を添えつつ、平庭を加えて５つの異なった形態をもつ日本庭園が、園路により結ばれる。庭園内の建築物のほとんどは日本国内で制作し、当地において再構築された。1966年７月に完成し仮開園して公開されたが、翌年のカナダ建国100周年にあたる1967年、7月14日に高松宮ご夫妻のご臨席を仰ぎ正式に開園した。 現在、5月初旬から10月初旬まで開園（有料）、冬季は休園。
資料出典および備考
１）http://www.japanesegarden.ab.ca
２）Van Luven, Lynne(1980): Nikka Yuko Centennial Garden – A History.
During World War II a Japanese-Canadian internment camp was established in Lethbridge, Alberta, to which many of the Japanese immigrants who had settled down in British Columbia were sent around 1942. After the war ended, many of the Japanese immigrants who were released settled in the southern Alberta area. Along with British Columbia, this area became home to a large Japanese community in Canada.
The plan to construct a Japanese garden originated with Yutetsu Kawamura, a local Buddhist minister and devotee of Japanese gardens; and a local newspaperman, Cleo Mowers, owner and editor of the Lethbridge Herald. With the support and assistance of Kurt Steiner, manager of the Lethbridge Travel and Convention Bureau, the city council agreed to approve a proposal for construction in 1964. Although the garden was completed and opened to the public in 1966, the Grand Opening was held as a part of the Canadian Centennial celebrations in 1967.
Kubo Tadashi, a professor at Osaka Prefecture University, completed the basic design of the garden; his disciple, Sugimoto Masami, led the construction of the garden, assisted by Fujita Yoshishige and Nakase Isao. The 4-acre (approximately 16,000 m2) site, which lies near Henderson Lake, was originally flat; a pond and stream were created and a hill built to give the garden its stroll-style character. The garden contains the pond, the stream, and a waterfall; a Japanese pavilion, which serves as a meeting facility; a dry garden, accessed from the pavilion; a Turtle Island; and Tsukiyama (artificial hill), all of which add to the beauty of the view. The five different areas of the garden, which include a prairie garden, are connected by paths that run through the garden. Most of the buildings inside the garden were built in Japan and reassembled onsite. The garden was opened to the public after its completion in July of 1966; its formal opening was held on July 14th of the following year (the 100th anniversary of Canada’s founding). Japanese Crown Prince Takamatsu and his wife headed the list of special guests who attended the Grand Opening.
The park is currently open from the beginning of May to the beginning of October and closed during the winter. There is an admission fee.