Mayor of Amman, Omar Maani, recently inaugurated the Japanese Park implemented by Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) with joint funding by GAM, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ikebana Club, and other parties.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Amman, Mr. Titsu Shiogochi, City Manager of Amman, ‘Ammar Gharaibeh, and members of Ikebana and JICA; during this event, the Mayor stressed on GAM’s interest in increasing green areas and using the urban spaces by creating a number of parks reaching to 133.
He pointed out that this park represents an opportunity for Amman citizens and visitors to be introduced to the Japanese parks’ character, as they are renowned for their elegance and beauty, highlighting the importance of the local community’s cooperation to conserve the park after its opening, and to keep its continuity and sustainability.
Maani said that GAM is keen on implementing small parks in all GAM regions. He also announced that another Japanese park is to be executed in cooperation with the same parties in Eastern Amman regions, in addition to founding another 4 parks in different locations.
Head of Parks Department at GAM, Engineer Nibal Qattan, clarified that the 3 dunnum Japanese Park will enrich the cultural diversity of the City, open the window on various cultures, and add a unique aesthetic view with its designs.
On her part, President of Ikebana Club Jordan, Alia Armouty Al Hmoud, expressed her gratitude to GAM and the contributors who made this Park a reality, pointing out that Ikebana Club was the coordinator between GAM and the supporters to realize this project.
According to the Japanese expert Fukuda, the Park was designed in accordance with classical Japanese garden mode of design which embraces many elements such as water, rocks, plants, and bridges.
The Japanese designer pointed out to the fact that the Japanese garden won the first position in the world for its beauty and elegance. He further stated that orchards are being taken care of in Japan according to the classical modes of nurturing, dating back to special art of the old times.
Such gardens do exist in some traditional households, in public parks, shrines, and in some old places.
The garden elements are brought over from Japan, whereas some rocks and stones have been brought over from the Dead Sea area, Al Mafraq, and Petra. The stones have been amended and arranged to match the classical mode of design of the Japanese garden, and a special place has been allocated for tea making a la Japanese. The Garden encompasses passages and areas higher than the neighboring places, in addition to a waterfall and a river.