Rediscovering Japan!! Part two2009.03.16

...continued

With the fund, I also want turn the spotlight towards Japanese traditional crafts, and hopefully work on something together with craftspeople, so that is another plan I have in mind. The other day I went to Kyoto and met with all kinds of craftspeople and others who work with them, and was shown around their workshops, which was really amazing!! It would be such a waste to lose such wonderful traditional skills. I really want to somehow inject some energy & excitement into the production side of things in Japan. But in order to do that, I believe the first step is to know about Japan's traditions, so from the beginning of this year I have actually been exposing myself to a whole range of activities that are part of Japanese culture.

Early in January, I went to Ryogoku Kokugikan to see live sumo for the first time in my life. I saw the first day of the basho that Asashoryu won, and there were actually a lot of surprises in store for me. To be honest up until then I had only ever seen sumo on TV, so I went along half wondering what could be so interesting about it, but when the massive bodies of two sumo wrestlers clash right before your eyes, well, let's just say they have quite a stage presence! Time flew by. I was also fascinated with the culture of eating and drinking as you watch the sumo, as refreshments just keep on arriving at your seat. I discovered that sumo is something not to watch on TV, but to go out with family, say, and watch live. I certainly hope to make the trip to a sumo stadium again.

As well as sumo, I went to a special New Year tea ceremony. Tea ceremony was something I had been meaning to experience for a long time, but the chance just hadn't presented itself. So this too was an absolute first for me. It was what is known as an urasenke tea ceremony, and for some reason I, with neither knowledge nor experience of anything like this, was included as the main guest, meaning I had to be the first to perform. As I didn't know how many times I should turn the bowl in which direction, or how to drink the tea or wipe the bowl, let alone how to pass it to the next person, the person behind me explained what to do step by step. Of course I wasn't able to praise the kakejiku (a sort of calligraphy poetry wall-hanging), the tea bowl or the tea itself either, all of which are standard practice in tea ceremony. However, embarrassing myself in a big way like this has been a positive opportunity, because I am now motivated to learn properly. Anyway, one thing that surprised me was the actual tea itself. It was a type called koicha (literally strong tea), and the colour was like that of a really thick aojiru (which is a health drink made from green vegetables). But once I tasted it, I found that despite appearances, it was not bitter; on the contrary I could actually sense a certain sweet quality to it. It was so good.

Another thing I experienced was Nihon buyo, a kind of Japanese song and dance. Again, something I had never experienced before of course!! In fact went to see a performance on stage when a young lady I happen to be acquainted with was performing. But as it turned out I couldn't understand the words, and didn't know the story either and well,... let's just say it was a little bit of a challenge for me to follow. To tell the truth I haven't even watched kabuki before, so that is something I would like to do too. I would like to try watching buyo again, but after I have done a bit of preparatory study! Watching it this time, though, what struck me was what hard work it must be wearing such heavy-looking kimono and moving in such a slow, controlled way. Oh, and also, this isn't what you'd call part of Japan's traditional culture, but I saw my first Takarazuka performance the other day too. The night beforehand was quite a late one, and with the performance being in the morning, I was worried I might fall asleep in the middle of it, but as it turned out I was quite absorbed by it and there was no need for such concern! I was blown away by how fast both sets and costumes are changed. Of course it was amazing to see them sing songs while dancing as much as they do too.... I was left thinking I'll have to see Takarazuka again too. Although 3 hours might be a bit on the long side!

Totally changing the subject, in the three or so years since I retired I have travelled to all kinds of places around the world, and I have decided that I will dedicate this year to travelling Japan! When I think about it, I headed off overseas aged 21 knowing very little about Japan, and having spent the best part of the last 10 years overseas, I find Japan to be a most fascinating country. When I lived in Japan I was young, and tended to find other countries appealing, but perhaps because of all the time I have spent living overseas, I am now really interested in Japan. I'm finding my interest traditional crafts, agriculture, and regional towns building up. That is part of the reason I've decided to travel Japan.

As for my method of transport: Car!! I'm planning to travel everywhere from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, all by car. I want to take several months, and cover as many prefectures as possible, coming in contact with all the places, things, people and culture that I can. If you know the story of the bluebird, this may sound a bit like that, but I think we tend not to be aware of the beauty in what is directly around us. There might be places or things in your immediate environment that you should be proud to show off to the whole world, but because they are so close, you just can't realise how special they are. I think that must be a situation that occurs all the time. That's why I'm planning to film or photograph those sorts of things as I travel Japan, and upload them onto my homepage. I'm going to make a section on my homepage soon where you can brag about your own town, so look out for that too! I'll be waiting for information on whatever you think is fantastic near you, whether it be a place or a thing, an inn or a farmer, a farm or a traditional craft, or even a restaurant or some ecological practice - anything! And I might even run into some of you in a village somewhere in my travels!!

Well, the length of this mail is really getting out of control, so I will call it a day... I'll be back in Japan very soon, and being busy from the moment I touch down I'm not confident that I'll be able to write the next mail straight away, but please hang in there everyone. For now, I'll put all I've got into making a success of the match on 12th April! Bye for now.

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