 A new must-have reference for all kominka enthusiasts was published today by Hasegawa Kazuo and Museyon Publishing. Kominka: The Beauty and Wisdom of the Japanese Traditional House has three parts: an introduction that includes interviews with two foreigners who have acquired minka; a guide to 101 places around Japan that have interesting minka that can be visited; and a diary of Hasegawa-san’s project to re-locate and re-use an old minka from Niigata prefecture. The first part includes a chapter on Alex Kerr’s reflections on his houses and life journey which I’m sure will be interesting to all of his fans (note: you can also read about SASU・ICHI !). The second part is rapidly adding to my “bucket list” of must-see places and the inclusion of maps and extensive photos makes it really fun to pick up and browse. Finally, I am finding Hasegawa-san’s diary a fascinating glimpse into his design decisions and re-construction challenges. The small format and bookmark ribbon make it a very cute addition to your coffee table or gift for a friend. Be sure to check it out!  Pictures and a description of SASU・ICHI are included in Part 1.
 Sasama sprang into action as a team of locals managed to repair the bridge and clear the road leading to it using only machinery and manpower from the Sasama side (see photo above)! By dusk on Sunday (36 hours later) the road was passable and my guests returned to their home in Shizuoka. By Monday morning power and water had been restored and by Wednesday we had cell service again. (In contrast, my guests are still without water in Shizuoka city!) Although the landscape shows the severity of the storm, we can be grateful for no injuries or major property damage here. Thanks to the resilience and skill of the residents of Sasama we are safe and sound—and prepared--as typhoon season continues…
笹間側には限られた道具と人材しかないけれども、笹間の人々は直ぐに道を整備して、橋を直し始めました。日曜日夜までに(36時間を経過)道が通れるようになったのでお客さんは静岡市に帰りました。その後電気や水が復旧されて、水曜日には携帯が使えるようになりました。(一方、民泊のお客さんは静岡市で断水の状態がまだ解決されていません。)笹間のあちこちで台風の爪痕が見えても、笹間の人々の身体や建物が被害を受けなかったことをありがたく思います。笹間の人々の忍耐や技術のお蔭で、笹間は今日常を取り戻しています。同時に台風の季節が続くので次への備えもしています。 |
Updated December 2024