What a memorable event it was. The Unveiling of the Masami Matsuda Memorial. With sounds of music announcing this historic event, the Nagasaki delegation and scores of SPNSCC members and friends processioned from the Labyrinth to the Como Conservatory's terrace overlooking the Japanese Garden. In a backdrop of pending rain and winds, we were welcomed by our host, Michele Furer, Manager of the Zoo and Conservatory. In turn, our SPNSCC president JoAnn Blatchley gave a warm introduction to Mayor Taue, the Council President and the entire Nagasaki Delegation, Mayor Coleman, Takiyuki  Miyanishi, president of the  NSPSCC and many guests who had gathered for the unveiling of the Masami Matsuda Memorial.
              
I was introduced as being a VP of the SPNSCC, Landscape Architect, Project Manager of the Restoration of the the Japanese Garden and long time design/construction collaborator and friend to Masami Matsuda. Yes, I had been given the honor and privilege to work shoulder to shoulder, sketch to sketch with the man who we are celebrating and honoring  on this special day, August 22, 2015.             
                        
Beginning          
Today we are celebrating and remembering Mr. Masami Matsuda who designed our Japanese Garden. In 1975, Mr. Matsuda visited the site for the first time.  Several years later, a set of idea or concept plans along with a series of sketches of how he though the garden should look like were presented to the City of Saint Paul and the SPNSCC. Very few details were provide and  if they were, we did not know how to understand them.
              
He also said that he would be happy to travel here to help us understand what everything meant. But the answer was:  No thank you and a contractor was hired and the garden was built. Several years later, the garden was beginning to fall apart. The water was leaking out from the pond and the trees and shrubs were growing out of control and we didn't know how to fix it. This was very embarrassing. Finally we asked Mr. Matsuda if he would help us. He said YES, he would gladly travel here to help us. When he arrived, we found out that the garden was not built like  Mr. Matsuda had envisioned it. I was assigned to work, design, manage and collaborate with Mr. Matsuda and redo the garden and make it like Mr. Matsuda had envisioned.       
              
In 1990, with the help of volunteers, city staff,  and contractors and Mr. Matsuda, we completed a set of  construction drawings and specifications for the garden- and the redesign and reconstruction/modify began and the Tea House was completed.Mr. Matsuda even brought along one of his employees and even convinced his son, Koji to join the team.   

…...and here it is today. A most beautiful Japanese Garden and Tea House filled with great memories. So today, we give thanks to the City of Nagasaki for sending Mr. Matsuda to us. As a tribute, we have found a special stone that symbolizes Mr. Matsuda's lasting presence. It is placed in the garden and will be unveiled this afternoon. We will also symbolically cleanse the stone. We have gathered water from the Nakashima River that flows thru the City of Nagasaki and will be mixing it with water collected (by Joe LaGarde) from the source of the Mississippi River that flows through our city of Saint Paul".  An invitation for our water bearers, Chris Rossow and Robert Palmer was announced and they passed the waters to our Nagasaki and Saint Paul Sister City presidents who in turn presented them to Mayor Taue and Mayor Coleman.  The waters were poured and joined. "Just as the waters have joined together, let us join together to honor Mr. Matsuda"           
              
Walking Into Garden       
Please join me as we walk into this beautiful garden to unveil and cleanse the stone. What should the stone look like? I had this lasting image of Mr. Matsuda. It was featured in our local newspaper several decades ago upon his visiting the garden for the first time.              
To all of us who were involved at that time, it was a picture of a humble and talented ambassador of people to people peace and friendship.  

My other image was his folding of arms when he would ponder major site construction decisions. The newspaper photo showed him sitting in a lotus position on a large stone with hands stretched forward. The search began in late fall of 2014.  Finally after 3 months of searching (and looking at over 200 stones,) this stone was found - and I could feel his presence coming alive again". (We installed it in the midst of a very cold and snowy mid winter day.)  
              
Unveiling the Stone         
This stone is placed where it can be warmed by the rising sun,     

It is placed on the slope to keep out of the dust from the path,      

It is placed under the overhanging canopy of branches to be out of the burning sun of summer,       
It is placed where it can overlook the waterfalls and tea house

and most importantly, it is placed so that it can overlooks everyone who comes to enjoy the garden.             
              
Cleansing of the Stone   
As if on quee, both sister city presidents filled a bamboo dipper and handed one to Koji Matsuda and Bill Pesek who ceremoniously climbed the landscaped slope and gently allowed the mixed waters to wash over the face of the stone. Koji Matsuda then filled both dippers and his son and daughter followed the same ritual and cleansed their grandfather's memorial stone.              
              
A moment of silence was announced and the quiet of that silence I believe resonated through the hearts of all who were experiencing this event. With a ring of the bell, the silence was broken when I noted that:" How wonderful it is that one city and one man from that city, Masami Matsuda, can be the catalyst for such strong friendship to so many people that will continue to grow for generations to come…a people to people friendship!"         
              
Strolling to the Tea House            
We were warmly greeted by Patricia Katagari and her assistants who invited our  special    
guests to enjoy the ambiance of the tea garden and tea house.     
              
Tracing our steps out from the Garden    
With a beckoning call from the SPCS, of When The Saints come Marching In, music score,  
 the delegation was again off to close their event filled day with a home town Saint Paul Saints Baseball game at our new downtown Saint Paul stadium. A special event filled with true people to people friendship and a day to remember forever!