Abstract
The "Public Garden" in 19th century Yokohama, called Yokohama Park today, is known as the first public garden of the European style in modern Japan. The author first tries to explain why the "Public Garden" was demanded by the foreigners in their settlement and from which class of them the demand came out. It is argued that the demand for the park came out from the upper class of the settlers. They wished to live the same life as they had had in their native countries.
The process of construction of the "Public Garden" is as follows. At first it was intended to make on the plan by R. H. Brunton, who was an English engineer employed by the Japanese Government. His plan shows the garden should have a strict formal style. The realization of the plan was postponed and its size was reduced because of the economic reason of the Japanese Government. The actually constructed garden was changed into the natural style.
As to the trees, Shitatemono, artificially trained trees, were omitted and naturally grown trees, which were cheaper than the former, were used in the garden. The Japanese gardeners, who made the garden themselves, managed it skillfully in spite of various alterations in design. On the other hand, the settlers asserted that the garden was essential for their lives, and they finally got it, though the form of the garden was different from what they wished to have. The "Public Garden" in Yokohama symbolizes the differences in culture and the way of life between Japan and European countries at the beginning of Meiji era, and also it symbolizes the effort of the Japanese who intended to assimilate European culture and to modernize themselves.
