Sakura Park

What is this monument dedicated to?

This monument was a gift of international friendship from the city of Tokyo. The engraved inscription, long ago worn away, read, “Presented by the citizens of the Metropolis of Tokyo to the citizens of the City of New York in celebration of the Tokyo-New York sister-city affiliation inaugurated on February 29, 1960.”

The Japanese lantern stands in Sakura Park, which derives its name from the Japanese word for cherry tree. In 1912, NYC Parks received a consignment of two thousand cherry trees from Japan, many of which were planted here and in Riverside Park. The land for this park and neighboring International House were donated by the Rockefeller family in the 1920s. Today, both landscape and monument represent the enduring and flowering exchange between the American and Japanese people.

How was this created?

Typically made of granite or syenite, the Japanese stone lantern, or ishi toro, was traditionally used for illumination at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. During the Momoyama period (1573–1615), the sculptural form was adapted for decorative use in tea gardens or roji. The size and proportion varied depending on its placement in the garden, and a number of diverse styles evolved. Over time, their function as a housing for oil or candles gave way to a decorative purpose.

This unique park monument is a traditional Japanese stone lantern in the style known as kasuga-toro and includes a stylized lotus flower at the base of the capital, reliefs of imaginary animals, and a capstone with six volutes. The style originated in the province of Kasuga; this particular example was built and carved by skilled Japanese artisans in 1930. Its total height is more than 14 feet, and it weighs close to seven tons.  Another Japanese toro may be seen locally in the pond at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The dedication ceremony in Sakura Park took place on October 2, 1960 and was attended by Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko, as well as 1,500 onlookers. On October 9, 1987, Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko participated in a rededication of the lantern attended by Mayor Edward I. Koch, NYC Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern, and Gordon Evans, President of International House. In January 1989, Akihito ascended to the throne and served as emperor until 2019.