Investigating the Origami Mecca! Origami Kaikan

Right before I left Japan, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a place called the "Origami Kaikan" in Ochanomizu, Tokyo.  Origami Kaikan is one of the six cultural treasures of the Bunkyo Ward.  It was established in during the Ansei period 1858 as a center for the dying and manufacturing washi papers.  It felt really wonderful to be there again (the last time I made the trip was back in 2006!)  The building has a variety of floors and each has a different purpose: classrooms, origami store, paper store, gallery/exhibition space, etc.  In the store I was able to pick up a few interesting kits to learn to make new things (including a cute dragon cellphone strap)!  Times like this I wish I was still living in Tokyo so that I could attend origami classes and use the resources. I was really amazed at the level of complexity of some of the models they had in their exhibition space.  The paper selection was also absolutely crazy.  I wish that I had an opportunity to be spoiled like that!

If you ever find yourself in Tokyo, the Origami Kaikan is actually pretty easy to get to.  You need to take the JR Chuo line (which connects with the Yamamote Line) to Ochanomizu Station.  From there, it is only about a 4-5 block walk and might take 7 minutes or so.  Their website has a useful map in English if you need some guidance.  Even if you do not fold origami yourself, if you have any appreciation for traditional handmade papers and papercrafts in general, this would be a rewarding experience!

Sayonara Japan! Hello US!

So I am writing this post from inside of an “R Burger” in Haneda Airport waiting for my flight back to the United States. My three week trip was many things – enlightening, exhilarating, and even exasperating at times. But after everything it was “tanoshikatta” (fun) more than anything!

For somebody who spends a great deal of their time working on Japan-related things, it must seem surprising that flying is not really my forte. No, I don't have a psychological aversion to it, but it always makes me think of how I am always coming and going. When I leave the United States, I always think about the people I will miss during the time I am away, but when I leave Japan it is always a different kind of sadness. When I leave Japan, I never really know the next time that I will be able to get here. I always regret the things that I couldn't finish, the people I couldn't see, and the places that I couldn't visit. Sometimes I feel like I have a family on each coast – neither of them can speak to each other b/c of the language barrier, but somehow I am forming a bridge between the most unlikely of friends. When I left the United States, my mother said, “Make sure you tell Okaasan that I said hello and thank you!” and when I left Sendai, my “Nihon no Okaasan” (Japanese mother) said, “go-ryoushin yoroshiku ne (give my regards to your parents). They have never met in person but each person feels like they know the other well through me.

I accomplished a lot on this trip though, so I can only be sad for so long. I am sure I will start giving more detailed accounts as I start dumping my photographs onto the computer, but my trip started out in Sapporo, Hokkaido where I visited Ainu villages (Nibutani and Shiraoi), visited the strange landscape of Noboribetsu's Hell Valley (Jigokudani), and explored a new city. I then went south to Hakodate, Hokkaido and enjoyed the surreptitious blending of East and West in this port city. Taking Shinkansen, I crossed into Honshu and visited the infamous Konjikido at Chusonji temple in Hiraizumi and explored the natural wonder that is Geibikei Gorge. I went futher south still to spend time with loved ones in Sendai where I got a feel for how the Tohoku region was faring after the earthquake and tsunami. Finally, I said a quick “Hello!” and “Goodbye” to Tokyo – one of the places that I had the privilege of calling “home” several years ago. Three weeks and I can't believe it is over. I guess now it is time to return to the United States to start some new adventures with the material I have learned. So many stories to tell – stay tuned and see you all soon!

Wordless Wednesday #9

Doing my best to be "wordless" here, but I will say that this is a night shot of Shinjuku, Tokyo that I took in 2006.  It was one of those days that the clouds were about to break open and I got caught in a torrential downpour on my way home!  Okay *zips mouth*  I'm done!

Wordless Wednesday #8

Photograph taken in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.  In the art history class I am TAing right now, we just went over Japanese Gardens.  I was just going through some of my photographs to decide which images to show in class, and I couldn't help but post this image from Naka-in.  

It is just one of those perfect moments...

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday #7

Taken on Mount Takao in 2006 just before I left Japan after living there for one year.  I've really been enjoying this trip down memory lane (なつかしい〜！) and next week I want to bring in some new photographs from Japan that I took this past summer.  

Why this and why today?  I feel bright and fresh and ready for some new beginnings which is how I felt when I snapped this photo.  At the same time, I am already nostalgic for my current life!