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| Botanic Gardens, Singapore 2014 |
As the only tropical garden to be regarded as a World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is very well-maintained, and one of the few colonial sites that survived the Battle of Singapore. Little did people know that its preservations was agreed upon pre-invasion.
As the Japanese neared Singapore in 1942, Professor Hidezo Tanakadate of Tohoku Imperial University negotiated for the perseveration of the Botanic Gardens. In addition, Tanakadate actually funded the Botanic Gardens out of his own pocket during the Occupation. Botanic Gardens was then renamed Shonan Botanic Gardens.
Today, it is hard to imagine that the one of Singapore's most iconic landmarks was actually saved during the Occupation by a Japanese academic. If it was not for his efforts, it would easily become a ruined relic, brought upon by the invading Japanese forces.
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