About
As you walk along the lush, green paths of Hibiya Park, a quietly standing stone monument comes into view by the edge of Shinji Pond. This is the “Ancient Scandinavian Inscription Translation,” donated by Scandinavian Airlines in 1967. The monument was erected to commemorate the opening of the air route from Europe to Japan via the Arctic on February 24, 1957, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Arctic route.
On the surface of the monument, ancient Nordic characters used by the Vikings—runes—are engraved. These characters are witnesses to history, having arrived here after a long journey from distant Scandinavia, and they continue to signify their presence in a foreign land across time.
Looking around, the surface of Shinji Pond ripples gently, and flowers of all seasons bloom in profusion along the shore. In spring, cherry blossoms scatter their pale pink petals in the wind; in summer, the deep green trees provide cool shade. In autumn, the colorful foliage delights visitors’ eyes, and in winter, a dignified air drifts through the quiet.
The presence of this monument symbolizes a bridge of friendship built between distant Scandinavia and Japan. In 1957, Scandinavian Airlines’ pioneering of the air route to Japan via the Arctic was a crystallization of the era’s advances in aviation technology and adventurous spirit, marking the first step toward a more closely connected world. The erection of this monument in 1967 tells of the deepening bond between the two regions.
Hibiya Park, which opened in 1903 (Meiji 36), is Japan’s first Western-style park, offering tranquility and natural beauty that make one forget the bustle of the city. Within the park are other diverse historical monuments, such as the “Stone from Antarctica” brought back by the Antarctic research team, and a bronze statue of Dr. José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines.
Standing before the “Ancient Scandinavian Inscription Translation,” it feels as if a breeze from far-off Scandinavia is blowing, and you can almost hear the stories of travelers transcending time and space. The runes engraved on the stone quietly speak to visitors as a message connecting the past, present, and future.