JAPAN SEIZES TITLE OF "WORLD'S SMALLEST PARK" FROM COMPLACENT AMERICA

Just 70 miles South West from Tokyo, the town of Nagaizumi  has seized the much-coveted global title of the World's smallest park from America. 

As reported by the Times: 

"In February, Guinness World Records recognised a park that’s only the size of two sheets of A3 paper as the smallest in the world, pipping a US rival."

Yes, that's just a quarter of a square meter!

"Lined by bricks, the sides of the green space measure about 50cm. It includes an “entrance” and a “bench” — or, rather, a stool for one. Its main feature is a clump of grass. 

The petite park was built in 1988 to make use of free space alongside a road. A municipal worker had visited what was recognised in 1971 as the world’s smallest park — Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon — and decided that Japan would do one better."

Now, finally, after 37 years, the park has been recognized as smaller than its American rival, which measures 0.29 metres squared. 

The park in Nagaizumi does not have an official name, but locals refer to it as the "pocket park." Careful not to trip over it.