Rinko Park and the Lima-chan Statue

A Waterfront Sanctuary Celebrating Friendship Between Japan and Peru

About

When you walk through Rinko Park in Yokohama, the sea breeze caresses your cheeks, and the majestic Bay Bridge stretches out in the distance. The green of the lawn is gentle on the eyes, and a stone-paved path continues quietly. In one corner, there stands a stone statue of a girl in traditional Japanese dress. Her name is “Lima-chan.” She extends her right hand and gazes toward Peru, far beyond the Pacific Ocean.

On February 27, 1899, a ship called Sakura Maru departed from Yokohama Port carrying 790 Japanese people. Seeking a new land, they set out for Callao, the outer port of Lima, the capital of Peru. One hundred years later, in 1999, the statue of “Lima-chan” was installed here to commemorate this history of migration. At her feet are natural stones brought from the coast of Cañete in Peru, telling the story of the bond with a distant foreign land.

Lima-chan’s sister statue, “Sakura-chan,” stands at the entrance of the Japan Cultural Center in Lima, Peru. Wearing a necklace of a thousand paper cranes and also extending her right hand, she mirrors Lima-chan. Separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, the two statues reach out to each other, serving as a bridge of friendship between Japan and Peru.

Right next to Lima-chan stands a colorful object called “Fruit Tree” by Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa. This work, exhibited at the Yokohama Triennale in 2001, was later donated to the city of Yokohama and installed here. The tree, with its branches bearing colorful fruit, is in contrast to Lima-chan’s quiet presence, yet together they brighten the area.

Rinko Park is the largest green space in the Minato Mirai district, and its landscape of lawns, waterfronts, and stone pavements captivates visitors. People walk their dogs, couples relax on benches, and the laughter of children echoes. Within the park, there are other monuments symbolizing friendship with countries around the world, such as the “Stock Anchor” and the “Rainbow Bridge.”

The palm of Lima-chan’s right hand has turned black as evidence of having shaken hands with many people. Visitors grasp her hand and think of distant Peru. A plaque inscribed with “¡HOLA AMIGOS! Hello Amigos” quietly conveys the importance of friendship that transcends borders.

Standing in this place, you are enveloped by a sense of the past, present, and future intersecting. Lima-chan’s gentle expression, as a symbol connecting people’s hearts across generations, quietly gazes out at the sea even today.