NHK World “Where We Call Home”

10 September 2021

PRESERVING A VILLAGE AND ITS TRADITIONS

　"Like in many other small villages in Japan, the population of Sasama in Shizuoka Prefecture is declining due to aging.  But US-native Shelley Clarke is determined to change that.  To attract tourists, she's turned an old house into a cafe cum lodging facility.  She's also learning a local traditional dance to help preserve it.  We follow her in her efforts to reinvigorate her beloved village of adoption." 

村の遺産を継承へ

『日本にある多くの小さい村のように、静岡県島田市笹間の人口は高齢化で減り続けています。しかし、アメリカ人クラークシェリーはそれを止めようと決意しました。彼女は訪れる人に笹間が魅力ある場所になるよう、古い屋敷で茶屋や民泊を始めました。また、地元の神楽継承を手伝いたいと、地元の人に神楽の舞を習ったり、舞台に立ったりしています。縁あって彼女が愛してやまない場所となった笹間で奮闘する彼女を紹介します。』 

Tokyo TV’s ‘watashi ga nihon ni sumu riyuu’ - summer special!

25 August 2021

Outdoor Shamisen Concert

25 July 2021

Sasu・Ichi Featured in Architectural Magazine

16 May 2021

じゃぱとら　2021年5月号
。。。古民家を守ることがみずからの運命だと語る人が、島田市川根町笹間にもいる。サメをはじめとする水産資源の研究者であるシェリー・クラークさんだ。米国出身のシェリーさんは、二十一歳のとき日本水産のインスペクター（検査官）として日本人乗務員と触れ合う中で日本文化に興味を持つ。一九九二年に初めて観光で日本を訪れ、いっそう日本にひかれるようになる。二〇〇三年に文部科学省の奨学金を得て来日。念願かない、静岡県清水区の国際水産資源研究所で職を得る。趣味のサイクリングで山間の笹間集落を訪れ、美しい里山に魅せられた。〇五年に古民家を購入し笹間に移住。さらに一六年には、空き家となり荒れ果てていた地域の名士･岡村家の邸宅を購入した。四年かけ修繕し、二〇年から母屋で暮らし始め、東の離れは民泊施設として開業。同年暮れには茶屋｢蛍｣もオープンさせた。かつては敷居が高く敬遠されていた名家は、シェリーさんによって火が灯され、地元のみなさんや遠方からの常連さんらでにぎわう憩いの場となる。

...There are also people in Sasama who say it is their destiny to preserve old houses.  For example, there's Shelley who is a fisheries researcher specializing in sharks.  Her interest in Japan dates back to when she was a 21-year-old American observer on a Japanese fishing vessel. She first visited Japan in 1992 and was completely captivated.  In 2003 she moved to Japan on a government post-doctoral fellowship program.  It was a dream come true to be working for the international fisheries research institute in Shimizu.  Then through her hobby of cycling she visited the foothills around Sasama and was charmed by the villages.  In 2005 she bought a farmhouse and moved in, following which in 2016 she bought the abandoned mansion of the locally prominent Okamura family.  After four years of repairs the main house was ready to be inhabited and she opened a B&B in the eastern cottage.  Toward the end of the same year she opened the Firefly Teahouse in the southern cottage.  Shelley has reanimated the old and renowned estate and made it into a comfortable and lively place for locals and visitors as well. 

Two Koto Pieces

3 April 2021

4月3日（土）にはオーナーが島田市横井町の古民家で琴の演奏会に参加する為に茶屋「蛍」が臨時休業します。4月10日に開業します。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
Chaya Hotaru will be closed for the day on Saturday, 3 April 2021.  We will resume operations on Saturday, 10 April 2021.

その日に発表した楽曲の二つを聞きたい場合、下の琴の写真をクリックして下さい。
If you would like to hear the two koto pieces (Sakura Bukyoku and Kamome) performed on 3 April 2021 by Itou Akiko and her student please click on the koto photos below. 

Sasu・Ichi Appears on Asahi TV’s ‘Tobikkiri Shizuoka’

12 January 2021

Chaya Hotaru in Shizuoka Shimbun

1 December 2020

OLD MANSION、RELAXING TEAHOUSE--1950s 'retro' atmosphere in Shimada
Caption：Shelley Clarke (third from right) in a 1950's 'retro' atmosphere teahouse that she recreated with local people. Behind the teahouse is the Sasama mansion. 

In the Sasama area of Shimada city, in a old mansion that she is restoring, American Shelley Clarke (55) in September opened "Firefly Teahouse" in one of the restored buildings.  In her arduous efforts to revive the huge mansion and its surrounding buildings she's also opened a bed and breakfast inviting guests to the relaxing mountain village.  Shelley lives in the mansion of the former Okamura family who once ruled the village according to documents found in the house that date to 1602.   The main house was constructed in the 1950s and along with other cottages and storehouses there are 10 buildings on the property.  The teahouse has been constructed in one of them with two 8 tatami-mat rooms.  While maintaining some of the iron decorative features of the building, there's been a major renovation to create a counter where there once was a storage area.  "The theme is 1950s nostalgia" said Shelley, and she's using dishware that was hidden away in the storehouses, as well as retro light fixtures she's purchased.  Add to that operations involving local residents, and serving local tea, coffee and muffins they've created a relaxing atmosphere.  A fisheries scientist, Shelley moved to the area 15 years ago when the village caught her eye.  Buying the mansion after the owner passed away four years ago, the repairs have proceeded gradually.  Despite the corona virus, through word of mouth the bed and breakfast has been attracting guests from within and outside the prefecture.  Hiroko Sawamoto (73) who is helping to run the teahouse said "Its because of Shelley's personality that people are spurred to come here".  The look of the mansion, and the history and charm of Sasama are conveyed by a website created by Shelley who states "I want people to see this area as a local treasure".  Firefly Teahouse is open from 10am-4pm Saturdays. 

Chaya Hotaru on “NewsEvery”

23 October 2020

静岡の山の中にある集落で暮らすアメリカ人の女性。 豊かな自然にひかれて移住し、古民家で暮らしています。 この春、地元に観光客を呼び込もうと、自宅の離れで“日本茶カフェ”を始めようとしたが、新型コロナでストップ。 しかし、彼女は諦めませんでした。 （2020年10月23日放送「news every.」より）

Chaya Hotaru Open!

5 September 2020

御蔭様で、先週末に茶屋「蛍」がオープンして、土・日曜日に25人もの方に来ていただきました。濃厚コーヒーの味で目を覚まして、地元の煎茶の香りも楽しんでいただけたことと思います。我々は元々土・日に営業するつもりでしたが、申し訳ありませんが当分の間土曜日10~16時のみ営業することとしました。次回笹間へドライブされる場合、土曜日なら是非立ち寄って下さい。これからもどうぞ宜しくお願いします！

Thanks to your support Chaya Hotaru had a successful opening last weekend welcoming 25 people to the teahouse.  The strong coffee no doubt opened some eyes along with the wonderful aroma of local green tea.  Although we planned to operate on both Saturdays and Sunday throughout the year, for the time being we will adopt a more relaxed approach and open on Saturdays only.  Please include us in your next plans for a drive through the beautiful Sasama area.  Hope to see you soon!

Koinobori 2020

17 May 2020

五月の空になびく鯉のぼりを見ると、子供の日のお祝いを思い浮かべるでしょう。しかし、特に今年は、鯉は古来より強さや忍耐の象徴だったということも思い出したいですね。古代中国の神話によると、竜門の滝を飛び越えて激流を登り切った鯉は天の龍になると言われています。2020年サスイチの空には、高さ８メートルの新しい竿に、矢車、回転球、そして５匹の鯉のぼりが泳いでいます。(みどりくんとオレンジくんは人形店塚本さんのお蔭です！) 悩みを抱える現在、サスチから笹間と日本に向けて鯉のぼりを高く掲げたいのです。希望と活力のシンボルとして。

When people see carp streamers hoisted into the sky this May their first thought is probably about celebrating Children's Day on 5 May.  But this year in particular it is just as important to remember that the carp is an ancient symbol of strength and perserverance.  The original Chinese legend describes a carp which swam against currents and lept up waterfalls to reach the headwaters, and was then rewarded by the Gods by being transformed into a dragon in the sky.  This year at SasuIchi we have a new 8-meter flagpole with arrow-spoked wheels (YAGURUMA), a ball-shaped spinning vane (KAITENKYUU) and five carp streamers (thank you to NINGYO TSUKAMOTO for the new green and orange ones!).  We fly these flags as a symbol of hope and vitality for Sasama and Japan in these trying times.

Teahouse Renovation Complete

3 May 2020

With more and more visitors stopping by SasuIchi, we are pleased to announce there will soon be a place to pause for a tea or coffee and admire the garden on weekends and holidays.  Firefly Teahouse ("Chaya Hotaru") was been inspired by SasuIchi's former teahouse next to the fishpond.  The new design mixes traditional and modern Japanese elements including a number of antique and "Showa retro" items found on the property.  Serving Sasama tea and Italian espresso, the menu also reflects a blending of old and new.  All permits required for opening the teahouse are now in hand, but announcement of the exact opening date awaits further improvements in the COVID-19 situation.

サスイチを訪ねたいと思ってくださる人が日ごとに増える中、新しいお知らせがあります。週末と休日に、枯山水の庭を楽しみながらお茶やコーヒーで一服できる場所ができました。茶屋「蛍」です。茶屋「蛍」は枯山水の庭に隣接していて、昔は商用の接客棟として使われていました。新しいデサインは和風モダンで、伝統的な古い物と昭和レトロを織り交ぜています。笹間茶の他にイタリアンエスプレッソも提供します。これも伝統と現在を組み合わせたものです。保健所の許可は取得済みですが、茶屋「蛍」のオープンする日はコロナ禍のため、まだ決まっていません。

Sasama and Sasu・Ichi in the Primetime Spotlight

2 March 2020

Sasama and SasuIchi were featured on the TV Tokyo programme "Watashi ga Nihon ni Sumu Riyuu (Why I Live in Japan)" from 9-10pm on March 2nd.  Shot in Sasama over two days in January 2020, the show provides a 'slice of life' view of an American fisheries scientist living in the village of Awabara, renovating several buildings and interacting with neighbours.  SasuIchi's recently opened lodging (Kawasemi Cottage) and under-construction teahouse (Chaya Hotaru) were also profiled in this nationwide, primetime broadcast (via cable channel).  The preview for the episode can be viewed here:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8v1h87QK2w

BSテレ東の番組「ワタシが日本に住む理由」～大井川鐵道の里山で暮らすアメリカ人水産学者～で、笹間在住のシェリー・クラークさんが紹介されます。番組では、シェリーさんが長閑な自然と温かい人情にあふれる笹間での暮らしぶりや、笹間神楽での活動、笹間の魅力が紹介されています。
番組内容
アメリカ・メイン州の港町で育ったシェリーさんは水産資源の研究者。ベーリング海の船上で初めて触れた日本文化に興味を持つが仕事で世界中を飛び回ることになることに。その後、念願の日本へ。静岡で偶然見つけた小さな集落に魅了され、古民家を購入！長閑な自然と温かい人情に囲まれて、古民家で優雅な一人暮らしを満喫するシェリーさんの、ワタシが日本に住む理由とは？

Second Hatsu-Uma Festival held at Sasu・Ichi

23 February 2020

Neighbours and friends gathered on 23 February for the second HatsuUma festival held at SasuIchi’s renovated Inari shrine. 
The festival is held every other year to celebrate the project’s accomplishments so far and to pray for continued good fortune in the years ahead.  In addition to the ceremony led by Ieyama’s Hachiman Jinja’s priest Aoki, the gathering enjoyed refreshments by local caterers Kaka-ya, and a koto performance by Akiko Itou of Shimada with nagauta singer Masako Natsume of Toyohashi.  The blending of old and new friendships that day embodied the true spirit of SasuIchi. 

サスイチで二回目の初午祭りを行いました
 2020年2月23日にご近所さんと友達が初馬祭の為にサスイチの稲荷さんに集まって下さいました。
サスイチプロジェクトの成就と将来の幸運を祈る為に二年一回お祝います。家山の八幡神社の青木宮司の指導で行った儀式も、笹間の「母屋」という出前会社の食事も、島田の伊東明子先生の琴や豊橋の夏目雅子さんの長唄も、皆に楽しんでいただけました。 旧交を温め、新しい絆を紡ぐことは、サスイチプロジェクトの核心と深く共鳴するものでした。

Sasama Kagura Featured in National Newspaper

3 January 2020

At the start of the new year Mainichi Shimbun (one of Japan's leading newspapers) featured an article by Otani Wakako on Sasama kagura.  The Japanese text is shown in the image; an English translation follows (below).  

2020年始に大谷和佳子さんに書いて笹間神楽の記事が毎日新聞に載せられました。日本語版がイメージから読めます。英語版は下記です。

15-year resident transmits the local tradition
3 January 2020
      Boom, boom, boom--last October the sound of kagura echoed through the Hachiman Shrine in Shimada's Sasama village.  Inside the kagura sanctum wearing a red hakama and crow hat, Shelley Clarke (54) performs a prayer dance asking for a good harvest and people's safety while villagers sit quietly and watch. 
      In Sasama the kagura has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage and it is still being practiced.  Shelley, who came to Japan in 2003 as a shark researcher, became a kagura troupe member in 2009, and every year at this time dances the kagura.  "It’s a very special tradition that I really appreciate.  I am happy to do what I can to preserve the local culture".
      Sasama kagura dates back to the Edo period (1800s) when pilgrims to the Ise shrine brought back dances directly or via the Kiyosawa shrine over the mountains in the next valley.  In the chaos after WWII, the dances stopped being performed until local schoolkids revived the tradition and in 1968 re-constituted the kagura troupe. 
      Shelley was employed at the fisheries research institute in Shizuoka in 2005 when a friend introduced her to a farmhouse which took her interest in Sasama.  With a population of about 400 and facing slow de-population, the Sasama kagura troupe was continuing to have trouble keeping up the performances.  She had become familiar with the kagura through various local ceremonies and festivals and when she was invited to join she thought she would give it a try.  "I never had thought that a foreigner who had just moved there could be a part of the troupe", she said.  But even though she had those doubts, she melted into the Sasama environment and ascended into the world of kagura. 
      The first dance she learned was "Jun no Mai".  The dance involves standing in the center of the stage, with footwork facing each of four directions in turn and in repetition.  It is a basic dance but when she first started dancing she worried about "what will happen if I trod on the hakama while dancing?"
      After several months of guidance from the troupe, she made her debut in October 2009 at the Kiyosawa "all night" kagura festival.  When she finished the audience burst into applause and the Sasama troupe members welcomed her into their dwindling numbers.  She seems to be genuinely appreciated by the local residents.
      Although the Sasama kagura has about 10 different dances, including the men's sword dance that is meant to ward off devils, Shelley only performs Jun no Mai.  But this year she is planning to master the "Devil Dance" in which a devil searches for her lost child. 
     The Chairman of the Sasama Kagura troupe, Takeshi Naruse (73) said "She's doing her utmost to become a Sasama-ite and she's really a great member of our community".  Shelley said "the openness of the people is Sasama's great charm.  I want to continue to support this community however I can." 

Estate Renovation Underway

4 June 2018

An article in the Shizuoka newspaper (Shizuoka Shimbun) about renovating the estate in cooperation with local residents