NIPPON

Riki-kun drinking maccha.
Proof in the pudding of how good it is, is seen plastered across his lips.


Staring into a cup of maccha and breathing in its aroma I'm taken back to a world I once knew. An exotic world filled with traditions and pride, a place where beauty is found in everything and everything is done beautifully.

On Monday I was dealt a lovely surprise from Miyuki (Miyuki seen below with her husband - a wedding picture of them from November 2004).

Two years ago while in Japan for Miyu's wedding, "Ha-Ha"- Miyuki's mother, taught me for the billionth time how to properly put on a kimono. This time we filmed the practice so I wouldn't forget.

On Monday I finally received the video recording of this and it made me melt with emotions. You can hear everyone in the background. Miyuki, Me, Daisuke (her brother), Shige (Miyu's husband), Ha-ha (my psuedo mom), etc. My face screams of confusion every few minutes and it's obvious that I'm perplexed with the instruction of how to don on what seemed like a thousand layers.

Though it is long and tedious, I adore kimono and the practice of putting it on. The beauty in the patterns and design is an art on its own and the grace and style of wearing one makes any wearer feel beautiful.

Slipping layers upon layers which must be done 'exactly so' with arms motioned as such and strings tied in specific ways - I'm taken back into history and the gown is my time machine. A time when people took pride in what they did and how they looked.

My friends in the countryside found beauty in almost everything and took great attention to detail in every breath they breathed. Whether it was a farmer in his rice fields or a group of people practicing ikebana or a mother packing her child's lunch, everything was presented with much effort and thought. I liked that aspect of Japan very much. Effort and thought.










































Pictures:
Top - Riki drinking maccha in O-gata
Middle Left - Riki and I at Miyuki's Wedding
Middle Right - Miyuki and Shige on their wedding day
Bottom - Funny 'stoop and scoop' signage in Nagasaki