Takashi Hashimoto Memorial Garden official opening

Setsuko Hashimoto and her daughter Mika will officially open the Takashi Hashimoto Memorial Walkway named in honour of her late husband in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Civic Gardens on Tuesday, 9 February at 2pm.

The walkway runs along the Opahu Stream and features a promenade of cherry trees with park benches and a plaque in honour of Mr Hashimoto.

Takashi Hashimoto was Mayor of Minoh City in Japan from 1993-2000. In 1995 he and former Hutt City Mayor Glen Evans signed an International Co-operating Cities Agreement that formally established sister city links between the two cities.

Mr Hashimoto died in 2008 and it was during a visit to Minoh City by Mayor David Ogden the following year that Mrs Hashimoto offered to fund a Japanese-themed walkway in Hutt City in memory of her husband as well as to show their appreciation for Hutt City.

Mayor Ogden says the walkway is a fitting tribute to Mr Hashimoto - who had a distinguished career in academics and government - and the significant contribution he made to Hutt City-Minoh City sister city relations.

“Takashi was a wonderful person who had a great fondness for Hutt City and its people and did so much to bring our cities together.

“This was recognised when he was presented with a Civic Honours Award for exceptional service to Hutt City in 2000, making him the first and only non-resident to receive Hutt City’s highest award.

“We look forward to hosting Setsuko and Mika in Hutt City during their visit to New Zealand and are delighted they will do the honour of officially opening the garden which has given Hutt City residents so much pleasure since it was completed late last year,” Mayor Ogden said.