The garden is a tribute to the incredible resilience and survival of the people of Hiroshima after the Atomic bomb on August 6th 1945, and the rebuilding and replanting of the city into the vibrant leafy place it is today. It references the extraordinary ‘hibaku jumoko’ or ‘survivor trees’ which can be seen in the city, and reminds us of the capacity of the Earth to heal itself.
The garden uses elements of traditional Japanese garden design such as enclosure, asymmetry, simplicity and naturalness, but also uses some modern materials to reference the rebuilt city. It is intended as a place of peace and stillness. The plants chosen are capable of surviving in our changing and challenging environmental conditions.
There is also a message of hope for the survival of the planet and humanity, despite our destructive behaviour.
