The visionary behind this ambitious project was Tokuzo Yamada, a self-made merchant who rose from humble beginnings as a textile peddler to amass great wealth through trade. Rather than keeping his fortune, Yamada devoted everything to this grand endeavor, believing firmly that "wealth should not be privatized." He collaborated closely with Takahashi on design, ensuring each statue's elegant robes and balanced proportions reflected a refined, modern aesthetic. The cave maintains a constant temperature of 17°C year-round, offering respite during summer's heat—making it an ideal destination for cool contemplation.

On the garden grounds, the Yamatoku Memorial Hall preserves Yamada's former residence, a unique structure that combines a Taisho-era Western building with a traditional Japanese house. Now designated as a Scenic Building of Takasaki City, it houses exhibits detailing Yamada's remarkable eighty-year journey and his friendship with manga pioneer Rakuten Kitazawa, who named the garden "Tokumei-en." Though Yamada's original vision called for an 800-meter long cave, construction halted at 450 meters when workers encountered impenetrable bedrock. He passed away in 1964, leaving his masterpiece technically unfinished—yet undeniably complete in spirit and artistic achievement. ©Toshiko Sakurai