I returned from Japan with a suitcase full of craft tools and materials and a head full of project ideas. Japan’s deep respect for traditional craft and master craftsmanship means inspiration is everywhere in this fascinating country. One of the first crafts that caught my attention was Tsugaru kogin-zashi. Kogin, as it’s commonly called, is a form of Japanese stitching originating from the northern regions of Japan.
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Japan was observing the wild snow monkeys at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. The snow monkeys or, more accurately, Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) are native to this remote mountainous region. But they entered the international spotlight with the January 1970 issue of LIFE Magazine.
According to experts, it takes over 55 steps to properly don the 18 pieces of apparel required to correctly wear a kimono. The process is complicated enough that specialists, known as kitsuke professionals, are engaged to ensure the kimono is worn properly.
On the fifth day of the fifth month, Japan celebrates Children’s Day with a visual feast of koi nobori (carp streamers) flying in the skies. By tradition, individual families hang the colorful streamers and wind socks on a long pole while larger versions are flown by organizations such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
I never imagined I’d be writing a blog post while riding a bullet train through Japan but that’s exactly what’s happening this morning. I’m typing very quietly, in deference to the posted instructions to “Please be considerate of other passengers while using your computer (keyboard noise, etc)”. Outside the train’s window, the gorgeous countryside whizzes by as we race down the tracks at 260 km/hr (160 mph).
The cherry blossom magic continues here in Japan. At this point, I suppose we’ve seen millions of them but every single one is worth admiring. And, judging from the number of pictures I’ve taken, apparently a large percentage of those millions are worth photographing!
This is my second mini-blog post, created while visiting Japan, to serve as a series of postcards for my readers.
