April 28, 2007

• In the town where  I lived most of the time on my last stay in Japan, a local club hosts an annual party so that foreigners can have the opportunity to be dressed up in kimono and have a tea ceremony.  To me the most interesting part of this occasion in the location in which it is held.  Several years ago a wealthy local man had a huge, 250 year old village leader’s farm house (called Matanosansou) in Niigata, Japan, moved to the small town of Niihama.  I can not imagine what an event this was considering the vast distance between the two cities.  The house has been splendidly preserved and period pieces accurately adorn the house.

  The first picture is an upstairs window which overlooks the town and ocean below.

  

  
  Here is a picture of two of my friends getting dressed up and posing with their dresser.

      
  

  
  Here is a good view of the tea ceremony masters preparing the ingredients and sweets.

  

  
  This is a traditional fireplace know as irori in Japanese.  There is no flue or chimney.  Since natural charcoal is burned, there is very little smoke produced.

  

  
  Here is a detail shot above the fireplace.  I have no idea what this item is called nor what it is used for.

  
  

  
  Here are two of the volunteers explaining to use some of the lore of wearing kimono.

  

  
  The following picture was not posed.  I love how this picture how eagerly Japanese share the parts of their culture that their are knowledgeable of and are proud of.

  

  
  Finally, the ladies get dressed up in kimono as well.

  
  

  
  

  • 11:50 pm
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