13 years after the creation of the Japanese garden in Sofia Zoo Park, it was renovated and officially opened on 15 June 2021. The garden was initially made in the period 2006-2008 by the Japanese landscape architect Suemaco Toro who made the garden by himself with his own resources. It is the only public Japanese garden in Sofia. Through the years a big part of the elements and plants in the garden has been damaged, and the garden was closed for visitors. As part of the renovation, the existing plants have been refreshed, new ones have been planted, the lanes and the symbolic elements of the garden have been renovated, where the original design of Suemaco Toro has been closely observed all the time.
The renovation and maintenance of the garden come as a donation by the Japanese pharmaceutical company and founder of the Japan-Bulgaria Business Association – Takeda, whose Bulgarian subsidiary is managed by Todor Kesimov, member of the Management Board of the association.
The garden was opened by H.E. Narahira Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Bulgaria. The event was attended also by the Mayor of Sofia – Mrs Yordanka Fandukova.
In his welcoming words Mr Kesimov stated that such initiatives are also set in the goals of the Japan-Bulgaria Business Association, which will support and implement various projects, related to maintenance of the relationships between Japan and Bulgaria.
