The proposal to make the garden was presented several years ago to commemorate the relationship between the College and Doshisha University in Japan. The College and the Japanese university have maintained ties and an exchange program between their students for more than 110 years.
President Tom Gerety said that the College's relationship with the University would remain "deep and permanent. [The garden is a] fully physical statement of honor ... of the wonderful relationship [between the schools]."
He said that the exchange between the two colleges and the newly created garden would "add dimension to the liberal arts study here." The garden would be a permanent commitment of the College and would continue to be maintained, he added.
Gerety also said that he had always loved the grounds of the College and gardening, and the process of choosing a place for and planning the garden was a distinct pleasure.
Professor of History and Asian Languages and Civilizations Ray Moore spoke at the dedication of the connection between the College and Japan.
According to Moore, the College has maintained close relations with the Japanese university, and hundreds of students and faculty have enjoyed and benefited from the academic exchange.
Moore was the chief professor involved in the making of the garden. He helped to design the placement of the rocks that he had specifically chosen to put in the garden. "I am delighted with the outcome of the garden," he said.
Moore said that the garden will be used as a learning space and as a classroom. It will be integrated into the curriculum of departments such as Fine Arts and Asian Languages and Civilization.
Assistant Professor of Asian Languages and Civilizations Patrick Caddeau commented on the aesthetic value of the garden.
"A corner of campus that until now would probably have failed to attract anyone's attention has been transformed by the construction of the Japanese garden into an attractive, peaceful space," Caddeau said. "One can now walk down its simple stone path or sit on the nearby balcony while looking out over the garden and feel transported to an environment very different from the rest of campus."
Assistant Professor in History and Asian Languages and Civilizations Kim Brandt also commented on the aesthetic and practical value of the garden to the College. "I'm very glad we have the garden, not only because it'll be an ornament to the campus and a resource for the community, but also because I think it will mean a lot to the many Japanese visitors who are interested in the history of the special relationship between Amherst College and Doshisha University."
The garden was built by the designer Shinichiro Abe of ZEN Associates, Inc. based in Boston.
The name of the garden, Yushien, means that the garden's intent or hope is friendship.
Visitors from Japan, faculty and staff from the five colleges, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, alumni and donors were present at the dedication ceremony.
The garden was funded by a variety of sources, including donors and alumni of the College. Associates of Doshisha also contributed a total of approximately two million yen for the construction of the garden.