The beauty of kizuna (絆)

by cybersensei | April 29, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration, Language Study, Shinto

The beauty of kizuna (絆)

I believe this to be one of the most important concepts the Japanese continue to subconsciously practice throughout their lives; it’s in their DNA.

No way to express this in English, as, likely many other things Japanese, it remains unexplainable to the Western mindset, as it is not a concept which can manifested itself in the aural world.

One could say that kizuna is a feeling of connectedness and bonding.

This is something the Japanese understand without verbalizing. This is something in their own psychology, where the Japanese may not be able to put their finger on it, but is something that is there, somewhere in the Japanese “air”.

Interestingly enough, the term “air” or “kuuki” is used in a part of a not-so-endearing phrase about someone who is absolutely clueless.

“Kuki ga yomenai”, or one who can not read the “air”.

We can see this reflected in the fundamental difference between Western Society and the Japanese Way.

The Western-mind being more along the lines of “individualism” as opposed to the Japanese mindset of being “group” oriented.

The direct translation of kizuna into English and give one a reference point would be:

Bond (between people)

Emotional

Relationship

Connection

Ask one’s Japanese friend “What is kizuna?”, and you are in for an interesting conversation as this simply can not be explained in words but must be understood from within.

PS: This concept is so important it ideogram appears in the Land Of The Rising Son logo.

Can you see 絆?

Walk With Me

by cybersensei | April 25, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration, Shinto

Walk With Me

More often than not, I think the neighborhood I live in is sublime.

I walked around my neighborhood with my new found friends the other day and one of them turned to me and said “you have such a opulent walking course” and I had to agree.

Join me on a small walkabout around my neighborhood, so one can also experience to joy of a rural Japan neighborhood.

Amaterasu Oomikami shinning her life on us.
天照大御神様の輝きが私たちを照らす

Working in tandem with the Japanese government, specifically after the great Tohoku disaster to store her precious energy
特に東日本大震災以降、天照大御神様に日本政府が協力して、彼女の貴重なエネルギーを蓄えるために働く

Which one is real, the shadow or the ego
影か自分か？どちらが本物

I appreciate the hard work our farmers put into growing rice for Japan
日本のために米を作って下さる農家の皆さんに心から感謝

Lot’s of fertile land in Japan
日本の肥沃な大地

Clear soaring in the pristine blue sky
澄み渡った手付かずの青空

Shine on one
そして照らし続ける

The road going somewhere
どこかに続く道

Reflecting upon the reflection
心深く反射を見る

Soon to plant seedlings
まもなく始まる田植え

Before the entrance
鳥居がかくれんぼ

The entrance to my adopted shrine
私の崇拝する神社への入り口

Exquisite road
-神への道

Peeking though to you
天照大御神様が木の影から覗く

Mystic forest
神秘の森

Tough hill
険しい丘

Tough hill continued
更に続く険しい丘

Narrow pathway to the shrine
神社への小道

Mossy
苔むした坂道

Entrance to Tamada shrine
玉田神社の入り口

Serenity is now closer
自分の中の調和がすぐそこに

Old man stone
老人の石

One of the deities
神の一人

Cleans oneself before giving thanks
感謝の前に自分を清める

Power in simplicity
質素の中に力を感じる

Side shrine with more deities
神社の脇にもう一つ小さな神社

Beautiful torii back
美しい鳥居の後ろ姿

Beautiful torii front
美しい鳥居の正面

My favorite travels deities
私のお気に入りの神々

On the way out
帰り道で

Amaterasu Oomikami saying hello again
天照大御神様再び

Blue sky
青い空

Heaven and Earth
天と地と

Herons in the paddy
水田の鷺

Rustic
趣ある廃墟

Poke through the trees
木を貫く天照大御神様

The moon
月

The road home
帰り道

Humanity’s common Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Oomikami going down to rest one more time; she’ll be back
私たちの天照大御神様は、再び休むために隠れ、そして再び戻って来る

Miraculous Rock Art

by cybersensei | April 11, 2020 | Art, Blog, Inspiration

Miraculous Rock Art

You could consider Akie Nakata to be a rock star of sorts, but not the one that usual comes to mind.

Akie Nakata is a self-taught artist creating realistic animal designs using small stones and pebbles to make incredible art which you can hold in the palm of your hand. She started this quirky journey as a stone artist in 2011, while taking a walk along a river bank, she came upon a particular stone that looked like a rabbit. In true Japanese spirit, she is inspired by the natural shapes of each stone and chooses ones she believes already have their own destined characters. “Stones have their own intentions, and I consider my encounters with them as cues to go ahead and paint what I see on them.” From cats and dogs to owls, mice, and even an entire opossum family, each of Akie’s stone animals look remarkably lifelike. Painting the eyes last, Akie considers her work complete when she sees “the eyes are now alive” She continues on, “To me, completing a piece of work is not about how much detail I draw, but whether I feel the life in the stone.” As you view these magnificent pieces, you can understand what the word “Mastery” means. Currently she lives in Sayama Saitama.

Incredible Paper Octopus

by cybersensei | March 14, 2020 | Art, Blog, Culture, Inspiration

Incredible Paper Octopus

What can you do with a single sheet of paper?

Plenty when your name is Masayo Fukuda, who, after seeing her art I now refer to her as Sensai Tensai or “delicacy genius”.

The Japanese are know to be extremely diligent and exceptionally dexterous.

Looking at Masayo Fukuda incredible art work, I would have to say the above statement to be so very true.

The art of paper cutting requires a high degree of patience and a steady hand, and the Japanese artist Masayo Fukuda has undoubtedly mastered this extraordinary skill.

In Japan it is called “kirie” or simply “cut picture” and this traditional practice involves cutting out intricate shapes from a single sheet of paper, placing it in front of a black background to highlight the drawing by contrast.

Ms. Fukuda has been practicing kirie for 25 years and recently showed what she believes to be some of her best work.

This octopus kirie is a most impressive piece of artwork.

Made from a single large sheet of paper, its details reveal the true skill of the artist, which is both astounding and breathtaking, if you even could describe this masterpiece into words.

This incredible artist has the following to say “For me, cutting pictures has become a way of dissipating all the stress of my daily life, and if you want to get started, all the basics you need are tant paper, a cutter, matte, and a good light source.

Fortunately for me, I happen to live just an hour just outside of Tokyo and was able to see the prodigious artwork of Masayo Fukuda at Mason de NEKO on February 21.

Sensai Tensai Masayo Fukuda’s art was everything and more when seen with ones own eyes. The extreme attention to detail of each piece was simply sublime!

Sensai Tensai Masayo Fukuda, was very down-to-earth and truly happy to see us at her exhibition.

Also, thank to Mr. Kentaro Kashimura who is the President of Kabushikigaisha Kazaana, for holding this event and giving Sensai Tensai Masayo Fukuda inspirational art the exposure she deserves for creating such incredible art.

I hope to have featuring Sensai Tensai Masayo Fukuda on a Hidden Gems segment as she talks about her amazing journey and her inspiration to become a master of kirie.

Heartfelt thanks to Land Of The Rising Son web developer Victoria Gazeley of Cabin Design Studio for suggesting Masayo Fukuda and this extraordinary art.

Spirit Of The Word

by cybersensei | February 29, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration, Shinto

Spirit Of The Word

One’s wise wife often chides when the Occxie savage, who stinks of butter, has unthoughtful things to say.

Swear Words

In where she always reminds me of kotodamashi or “the spirit of the word.”

Most of us (unless you are a psychopath), know the power of language, and what it can do both in the positive, and for certain, and in a much more powerful sense, negativity.

One can commit to someone for the rest of one’s life by saying a vow to only them.

On the other hand, one can crush someone’s heart by a few flippant words, leaving emotional scars that may never heal.

This becomes much more problematic when you are speaking a different language, especially Japanese in which the words carry so much weight.

Japan is ridged hierarchal system, and even something as seemingly innocuous as not adding a title to someones name, or misreading the social status of someone, and using the incorrect level of Japanese when addressing them is traumatic experience for all involved.

trauma

One’s wife also mentions hitokoto ooi or “saying something extra and unnecessary.”

And after reflecting on what was said, she is right, again.

The interesting thing about the Japanese is they are really prefer, in as much as possible, to communicate non-verbally, and this is written into their DNA from millenia ago when ones loose lips could get the head slices off in an instant.

Here is a post about Japanese communication called shin denshin, or, “Japanese telepathy”.

This describes how the Japanese use non-verbal communication based upon unwritten social conventions.

Telepathy

Moreover, there is a fascinating phrase kotodamashi no sakiwau kuni, or “the land where the spiritual power of language brings happiness to life.”

Remind oneself daily of the power of the word, and to use this power today while we citizens of our shared earth spread the spirit of goodwill and our common humanity inside the very important realm of kotodama.

Shoten: Laugh Point

by cybersensei | February 22, 2020 | Blog, Inspiration, Language Study

Shoten: Laugh Point

There is a very interesting and long running TV program that has been running since May 15, 1966, called laugh point (shoten).

Old Shoten Picture 笑点

In fact, the show has been going so long that I am on my 3rd host since coming to Japan. They don’t quit the job, they quit when they die. Now if that isn’t dedication to ones craft then nothing is.

My wife and I always, have this time together to have a good laugh to end up of the week every Sunday evening at 17:30.

This show is very amusing, but difficult to understand as they often use old Japanese. Sharp wit, a tart tongue, and insulting other members is all part of the fun and entertainment. Great for those studying Japanese and at level where they can dig into some finer nuances of the Japanese language. Try it you might get hooked.

The MC offers up scenarios and the 6 rakugo story tellers, all dressed in different colour kimono come up with jokes, puns, and insults to tickle the funny bone of the Japanese. There are lots of running gags and they like to pick on the zabuton (cushion) boy.

Okay, so what is the cushion boy? If the story teller makes a particular funny joke, the MC direct the zabuton (cushion) boy to bring a cushion to add to their pile. On the other hand, if the jokes is a groaner, then the MC will order one of the zabuton away. The first rakugo story teller to accumulate 10 zabuton is the winner but no one ever makes it to 10, thus a long, very long running TV series.

I am so glad have a great sense of humour having it rubbed off onto me from my very funny, if not somewhat prickly grandad, and finding no matter what, one has to have several laughs every day as essential food for your heart and soul, and that is my laugh point today,