Established during Canada’s Centennial in 1967, Nikka Yuko was built to recognize contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to the multi-cultural community of Lethbridge, Alberta, and as a symbol of international friendship. Its name was created from the Japanese words Ni (from Nihon meaning Japan), ka from Kanada or Canada, and Yuko, which translates as “friendship” to mean “Japan-Canada friendship”. The garden perfectly expresses the merging of Japanese and Canadian culture in a garden rich in symbolism. As a Canadian garden done in a Japanese style, Nikka Yuko captures the signature of the southern Alberta landscape while simultaneously integrating traditional Japanese philosophy and symbols.