Transient Japanese businessmen were not consistently involved with the enterprise, but contributed to the effort as their time in Houston allowed.

As a gesture of goodwill towards the city, he arranged for the donation of a traditional Japanese teahouse by the Japan World Exposition 1970 Commemorative Fund.

Constructed in Japan with traditional materials, the teahouse was broken down and shipped to Houston, where it would be reassembled by Japanese craftsmen without use of a single nail.

Houstonian landscape architect Lauren Griffith worked with Nakajima to select plants appropriate for both the local climate and a traditional Japanese aesthetic.

After fourteen months of teahouse assembly and plant installation, the Hermann Park's Japanese Garden was dedicated on May 4, 1992.

Houstonian Kunio Minami remembers that american annuals such as petunias and pansies had been planted with little consideration for the garden's original design.

Emphasizing meandering footpaths, the garden's plan encourages a leisurely stroll throughout a variety of landscape elements and water features.