Value-augmenting なれば


The following quote is from
[this](https://www.asahi.com/and_travel/articles/SDI2019021202191.html?iref=comtop_fbox_u04)
article.

> 神苑にこれほどの梅が植えられたのも、そんなふうに訪れる人々の憩いに **なれば** という思いから。

I wonder what になれば means here. What value does it bring over having simply
になる?




I think using なれば rather than なる in your example shows that there is **a wish
or hope** that planting such plum trees will contribute to the relaxation of
the visitors.

English has a similar way of using a conditional expression to express a wish
or hope. For example...

  * " **If** you **_wouldn't_** mind taking that poster off the wall."
  * "Yeah, **if** you **_could_** just get me some cereal at the store."
  * " **If** I **_could_** just have a moment of your time, sir."

In Japanese an expression with ~ば + と思{おも}う is common. For example...

  * ご利用{りよう}にな **れば** と思います。 (I hope you will use it)
  * ご記入{きにゅう}いただ **ければ** と思います。 (If you could just fill this in for me)
  * 次週{じしゅう}ご来場{らいじょう}いただ **ければ** と思います。 (If we could have you could come to our location next week)

The meaning of these examples can change significantly if you remove the ~ば
construction.

  * ご利用になると思います。 (I think you will use it)
  * ご記入いただくと思います。 (I think he will fill it in for us)
  * 次週ご来場いただくと思います。 (I think they will be coming to our location next week)




I think using なれば rather than なる in your example shows that there is **a wish
or hope** that planting such plum trees will contribute to the relaxation of
the visitors.

English has a similar way of using a conditional expression to express a wish
or hope. For example...

  * " **If** you **_wouldn't_** mind taking that poster off the wall."
  * "Yeah, **if** you **_could_** just get me some cereal at the store."
  * " **If** I **_could_** just have a moment of your time, sir."

In Japanese an expression with ~ば + と思{おも}う is common. For example...

  * ご利用{りよう}にな **れば** と思います。 (I hope you will use it)
  * ご記入{きにゅう}いただ **ければ** と思います。 (If you could just fill this in for me)
  * 次週{じしゅう}ご来場{らいじょう}いただ **ければ** と思います。 (If we could have you could come to our location next week)

The meaning of these examples can change significantly if you remove the ~ば
construction.

  * ご利用になると思います。 (I think you will use it)
  * ご記入いただくと思います。 (I think he will fill it in for us)
  * 次週ご来場いただくと思います。 (I think they will be coming to our location next week)

