"In a Japanese Garden"
By Lafcadio Hearn

"No effort to create an impossible or pure ideal landscape is made in the Japanese Garden.  Its artistic purpose is to copy faithfully the veritable landscape, and to convey the real impression that a real landscape communicates.  It is therefore at once a picture and a poem; perhaps even more a poem than a picture.  For as nature's scenery, in its varying aspects, affects us with sensations of joy or solemnity, of grimness or of sweetness, of force or of peace, so must the true reflection of it in the labor of the landscape gardener create not merely an impression of beauty, but a mood in the soul."

Excerpted from:
The Atlantic Monthly
Volume 70, Issue 417
July 1892

 

 

Post-Katrina Letter from Matsue

International Exchange Section,
Matsue City Hall ,
86 Suetsugu-cho,
Matsue-shi,
Shimane-ken,
690-8540
Japan  

2nd March 2006 .

Dear Dr. Strong,

         We were deeply disturbed by the damage and tragic loss of life which resulted from Hurricane Katrina’s destructive passage across the states of Louisiana and Mississippi in August of last year, and we would like once again to express our deepest sympathy to all those affected. In particular we extend our sincere sympathy and support to the people of New Orleans , whose city and lives were so cruelly devastated by the events of last August. The horrific damage and harrowing loss of life caused by last year’s hurricane must have certainly left the people of New Orleans with a distinct sense of the power of nature’s darker forces.

        The residents of Matsue, New Orleans’ sister city in Japan, hope that the city and people of New Orleans will be able to recover from their torturous ordeal as soon as possible, and are truly looking forward to the resurrection of New Orleans as a vibrant, world-class city whose streets are infused with resonant tinctures of jazz. In recent days there has been a great deal of newspaper coverage on events at this year’s Mardi Gras - an event which so succinctly defines the spirit of New Orleans - and it is extremely encouraging to see that, although gradually, tourists are in the process of returning to the city. However, I expect that the city is still facing many problems, with electricity and water utilities yet to be restored in certain areas, and many water- damaged properties yet to be dealt with, and I would thus like to offer you our continued support from here in Japan .

         After the Hurricane, having failed to contact you by email, we inquired as to your welfare through Mr. Fukushima, whom I believe you know, and who is a friend of our colleague Mr. Tsuchie. We were all extremely relieved to hear that you had made it through the traumatic events of August unscathed. More recently we have been trying to gather information through the Japanese Foreign Office on the current status of New Orleans and the Japanese Garden Society’s Yakumo Teien however, as of yet we have been unable to gain any detailed reports. Thus, we would be extremely grateful if you could help us by providing us with as much information as possible on the current condition of New Orleans, the Yakumo Teien and all the members of the Japanese Garden Society. Your help in this matter would be much appreciated.

        We would like to thank you in advance for your help and this matter and hope you and all your members are keeping well and have been suitably buoyed by the Mardi Gras spirit. Here in Matsue we continue to hope and pray for the rapid recovery of your city and the Yakumo Teien, which so strengthens links between our two cities.

 Yours sincerely,

Shoji Kodama, Director of Matsue City’s International Exchange Division.