When I decided to take a sabbatical for 6 months, I wanted to switch off from running a business and focus more on myself. For years, I have been doing various part time courses on textiles esp. indigo dyeing and shibori (Japanese resist dyeing), and so the sabbatical was a good opportunity for me to learn more about this craft. Where is the best place to learn indigo dyeing? In my mind, this place has to be Japan. Although I had visited Japan numerous time over the years, I had never spent much time in the rural areas or lesser-known cities. The research and planning of my trip took a rather long time, and it was almost as exciting as the journey itself (not quite). Determining the duration was a challenging task, and I settled for 5 weeks due to pragmatic reasons. I wanted the trip to revolve around my passion-textiles and paper-and had originally hoped to do a paper-making course as well. Nonetheless, I had to abandon the idea because of the costs and extra traveling time. I guess this has given me another excuse to return again in the future.
A farmer in Kanagawa
It has taken me months to contemplate on this inspirational journey, and to sort out the 5000+ photos! The trip was beyond all my expectations, and I loved every minute of it - including the mishaps. I have decided to share the highlights of the journey, since it is impossible to record the entire trip. If you want to understand more about the Japanese culture, here is a list of alternative books (beyond the travel guides) that I think would help visitors before their visits:
- Lost Japan by Alex Kerr
- In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
- The Narrow Road to Oku by Matsuo Basho
- Wabi-sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren
- Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
- Japanese zen gardens by Yoko Kawaguchi
- Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan by Kazuaki Tanahashi
- The book of tea by Kakuzō Okakura
- A Brief History of Manga by Helen McCarthy
- The way of zen by Alan Watts
- Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
- All books by Haruki Murakami
Asanogawa River in Kanazawa
My 5-week journey began in the Kansai region, then Chubu and ended in Kanto. It felt quite rushed because I underestimated the traveling time across 10 prefectures! With the aid of Yamato Transport, a delivery and luggage forwarding company (their black cat logo is ubiquitous in Japan), I was able to forward my luggage to the next destination which saved me much time and hassle. I only wish that more countries could provide this service.
The iconic Japanese manga character, Doraemon
For me, the most memorable part of journey was not the sights, but the people I encountered throughout the trip and the hospitality I received esp. outside of the cities. I was blown away by the unspoiled nature (in rural Japan); the intricate craftsmanship that has been passed on for generations; and the passion and pride of the local artisans. However, I also witnessed the problematic side: urbanisation and the disparity between urban and rural Japan; the negative impact of mass tourism and consumerism; and the dying of some traditional art and craft... The Japan that I saw and experienced this time was unlike any of my previous trips, and it was quite eye-opening. Instead of seeing Japan through rose-tinted glasses, I am able to see it in a more realistic way, though it doesn't diminish my appreciation for this unique and beautiful country - it just makes it more real.
