Leaving Higashiyama Machiya and Kyoto

"Monkey Reaching for the Moon" by Hasegawa Tohaku

Garden at Kochi-in Temple

Win with Junko and Ritsuko on the Philosopher'sPath

15 April 2012

Just after Adam, Diana and Ella left our little rental machiya, named "Cotoriya" (meaning - appropriately - small bird's nest), Junko and Ritsuko came for a visit.  It was a perfect afternoon, so we went to visit Konchi-in Temple, a subtemple of Nanzen-ji.  In the afternoon light, the gardens and ponds were peaceful and very beautiful.  There is a rock garden with a turtle and a crane in the background.  We also had a chance to view the special treasures of the temple including the "eight window tea house" and a number of great wall paintings.  The picture above was our favorite: the famous monkey reaching for the reflection of the moon.  Then we took a last walk along the Philosopher's Path, admiring the trees and the falling petals.  Later Junko taught us the words to "Sakura, Sakura,"   Sad to say goodbye to them this morning.  We leave tomorrow for home. 

Haiku by Basho

The old pond-
a frog jumps in,
The sound of water.

We  jumped into a very ancient pond, and we hope we will carry home lasting music.

Love and see you soon-

Hanna mi, Family, and more Farewells

Tea House in the Garden of Okochi Sanso

 Adam and Diana and friends

Ella and a Nihon Zaru

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Sakura at Nijo Cast

13 April 2012

Adam, Diana and Ella arrived on April 6, which we had excitedly anticipated.  They brought with them the full flowering of Sakura, which was a bit late this year due to chilly weather.   The trees flower for just a few days, but the sheer numbers of trees along the Kamogawa River, the canals, in the parks and temples makes a wondrous sight.  Japanese have picnics and parties for days, and call viewing of trees "Hanna mi."  When the petals blow off, there is white snow everywhere, and this is called "Hanna fubuki" or flower blizzard.  We were thrilled to have delayed our departure to be here for this frenzy.

We had some wonderful days with Adam, Diana and Ella including a visit to Nijo Castle, a walk through Gion which allowed Ella to spend her stash of change on the tantalizing array of adorable little things that fill the stores.  The traditional Japanese change purse, made of old kimono cloth or imitation thereof is called a "Gama guchi" or frog mouth.  We had tea in our favorite tea shop in Gion, Ella enjoyed the roasted nori-mochi,  She was also good at getting her udon noodles with chopsticks.  Our last day was a trip to Arashiyama, where we visited the monkey park with Mayo-san and Satoki, much to everyone's delight. In the afternoon we strolled through the magical bamboo grove, and visited the magnificent stroll garden and tea house at Okochi Sanso, the private villa of a famous silent film actor, Okochi Denjiro. 

It was sad to see them go, and of course it reminded us of our imminent departure.

We send love

Farewells to New Friends

W and B with Akiko-san

6 April 2012

Suddenly our last week is nearly here.  Which means among other things saying goodbye to new friends.  Last night we had a wonderful dinner with Akiko-san at a little kaiseki restaurnat called Go Ken Shimo (five doors down).   It was the kind of place we wouldn't be able to find on our own.  We made our own yuba and tofu in a pot of simmering soy mild, and had all sorts of other delicious seafood and vegetable creations.  Most of all we had a delightful evening with Akiko, whom we will miss dearly.

Hakoniwa

This morning another of Win's students. Taro-san, met with us to present his therapeutic work with a boy he had seen for a number of years.  We deeply appreciative of being able to learn about sand play (Hakoniwa or small garden) and the Japanese way of listening and being with patients. Once again it felt very sad to leave and say good bye, but we will have much to learn from and think about once home.

Adam, Diana and Ella arrive this evening, and it will be wonderful to see them and see Kyoto afresh!

We send love.

Our Higashiyama Machiya

Higashiyama machiya

Neighboring Vegetable Shop

Old Street

Natsumi in Gion

Early Sakura

5 April 2012

An eventful past week.  We moved out of Shugakuin International House on March 28, the last day of Win's appointment.   Staying on was non negotiable, so we have moved into a small renovated machiya in the heart of Higashiyama (eastern hills).  We find ourselves in a very traditional little house with no chairs, a tiny kitchen, a tiny garden with a Japanese maple, and extra futons awaiting the arrival of Adam, Diana and Ella tomorrow.  But all we need is here. 

Just before we moved, we had a visit from Natsumi, who was on her way to a job interview in Osaka.  We spent a lovely sunny afternoon being her Kyoto guides, and had a fine tempura dinner.  She described the ordeal of job interviews in Japan, starting with the mandatory "uniform" of a black suit, white shirt, black bag and most certainly no red hair (which she didn't like one bit).  Then there is there are the group interviews, where one might be asked something like: if you were and animal, what one would you chose...Originality may not get you too far, with "lion" being the most acceptable answer.  Anyway it is clearly extremely nerve wracking.  How does one stand out when standing out is frowned upon?

Sakura are a little behind because of unseasonably chilly weather, but we saw a few early trees in the botanical garden.  Hanami (tree viewing) is a time of deep excitement in Japan.  Instructions to visitors are pretty simple - enjoy looking at particular types of blossoms, and enjoy watching entire groups of trees.  We hope to do plenty of that when A, D and E arrive.

Much love