My photo journal of inspiration, discovery, travel, and lifestyle. インスピレーションはいつもそこかしこに。
March 1st, 2013
I’ve forgotten about these photographs that I took in Japan for a long time.
Suddenly the memory came back. I remember now.
It was Autumn there. My favourite season in Japan. Peaceful, almost too uncomfortably.
The yellow and orange leaves. The persimmons were ripe, almost too old.
I felt the warm sunshine on my back, and I liked the cold breeze on my face.
So close but so far away at the same time.
Home is where your heart is.
December 19th, 2012
The white walls have no sign. It’s just the heavy wooden doors that are left open. The Chinese character on the short curtain behind the door says “Dream”.
This is a pottery gallery/shop I visited at the end of my short trip to Mashiko, Japan in May 2012. I liked their open concept design and the stunning garden. With no glass windows, all I heard was the viewers’ foot steps and the leaves trembling. The atmosphere was discreet, yet organic and pleasant. ”Dream” was right.
December 17th, 2012
There’s a set of small tea cups my father favours at home in Japan. They are always placed neatly and carefully on the top of the dining kitchen shelf. They’re white, simple, light, smooth and delicate. Every single night, after dinner, my father chooses the white small tea cup and serves his green tea. He takes his tea seriously and likes to drink it out of his favourite cup. I have the same habit. I don’t drink green tea every night like my father, but I do have my favourite cups to drink coffee or tea out of daily. Something about the cup’s texture, colour or its size, it’s such a small detail but it makes my daily routine a little more special. Clearly it was my father who taught me how to appreciate things like that in daily life.
My father had an opportunity to visit the pottery master in Mashiko (Tochigi), Japan, who made his favourite tea cups. So I followed.
In the middle of nowhere, deeper in the mountain, far away from other houses, there was an old house standing quietly and peacefully.
The master’s words were not too many. When I saw his aged hands, the story was there.
December 14th, 2012
５月に 行った益子で素敵なお店を訪ねて来ました。
オーガニックカフェと、ギャラリー、そして素晴らしい陶器や洋服のセレクションが広がるお店が一つになったスペースがここ、「Starnet」。前からずっと行ってみたかった所です。
大自然の山に囲まれてひっそりとたたずむ空間の中には、私の憧れる衣食住のスタイルがたくさんありました。
ランチにオーダーした食事はこの日のとれたての新鮮な野菜を素材に、シンプルで優しい味がしました。デザートに頼んだのはお豆腐の抹茶ケーキ。ヘルシーで上品な甘さが日本ならではのバランスです。
自然の恵みと日本の感性を絶妙に合わせたものが揃っていて，とても落ち着く場所です。また違う季節にも訪れてみたいですね。
***
Back in the middle of May this year, I traveled to Mashiko, Tochigi in Japan as known as Pottery village. There was one shop that I was excited to check out this time. ”Starnet“.
Founded in 1998 by pottery designer Baba Koshi, the original Starnet location in Mashiko, Japan has grown into a gallery, organic cafe, studio and shop. (Now they have gallery spaces in Tokyo and Osaka also.) Starnet has been involved in various activities through practicing life style in a way of creative self-sufficiency harmonized with nature in the town of Mashiko.
Their food was something I was looking forward to try, of course. The daily special lunch was made with their freshest vegetables and ingredients. The recipe was simple and everything tasted honest and flavourful. And that’s a piece of tofu green tea sponge cake I had for dessert! So delicious… I felt relaxed and calm in the space. All they had was everything I wanted. A unique and perfect balance of Japanese sensibility mixed with nature.
Will be back there again.
December 13th, 2012
久々のブログに帰って来ました。しばらくの間お休みしていたのでなんだか変な感じです。
最後のポストが８月２８日。今日はもう１２月１２日なので本当に長い間ここから離れていました。
もう冬なのに、まだ夏の写真を見ています。あの暖かい日、日本の田舎道の風景をふと思いだしたりしながら。
目の前に広がるのは様々な深さの緑の山並み、そして青い空。
目覚ましが鳴り目を覚ますと、部屋の中の冬の冷たい空気を感じます。
***
Oh my goodness.
How long has it been?
How’s everyone?
I just got back.
My last post was on August 28th, 2012. It’s December 12th, 2012 today.
A couple of months were left empty in my calendar. But that’s OK.
I thought of that warm sunny day in Japan, driving on the countryside road, away from the busy city.
All I saw ahead was the green mountains and the blue sky.
Now I hear the alarm going off, the morning light is slowly waking me up.
The air feels very cold in my room lately.
August 28th, 2012
お久しぶりです。
気がつけば、随分ここを長い間離れてしまっていました。
また写真を整理し始めました。日本の５月を思い出しながら。
日本の古いもの、懐かしい気分にさせてくれます。
***
I didn’t realize how long it had been. Hello again.
It’s nice to be back.
I’ve started to going through my piles of photos in my computer, thinking of the month of May. I was in Japan.
I stopped to see some Japanese antiques, or maybe just to find my old memories.
July 13th, 2012
しばらくブログの更新のペースを前よりかなり落としています。
日々、周りの物事がめまぐるしく動き続ける中、自分の時間の中のペースだけは少し緩やかにしてみようかと。
未だに５月に撮った写真を編集しています。かなりのんびりだけど、またちょっとずつゆっくり更新していきます。
今はバランス、そしてじっくりリセットなのです。
***
Inaka = Countryside
It’s been a long absence here.
I’m still editing some of the pictures I photographed in Japan two months ago.
Everything around me is moving so fast, non stop, constantly.
But I slow my pace down in my own space.
Balance is a key.
A distance feels refreshing.
From time to time.
Till next time… (More pictures coming soon…)
April 28th, 2012
April 26th, 2012
ゆっくりのんびりする時間も大切に。
Slow down, and be free.
April 26th, 2012
