born in
That's me all wrapped up, sitting with Mama-san in 1967.
I'm not really sure how it happened. Maybe it had something to do with being born in Yokosuka, Japan, and spending the better part of my first two years there.
Perhaps it was because I spent much of that time with the Japanese couple next door to where we lived in Hayama, whom my parents always called "Mama-san" and "Papa-san".
Maybe it has to do with past lives, who really knows . . .
My whole life I have been fascinated with Eastern culture, primarily Japanese and Chinese aspects of just about anything, from the martial arts, to asian food, architecture, and art. Although my passions have been largely Japanese culturally and geographically, there is something about older cultures in general that becons me back to that inner sense of tradition and simplicity. I find more and more, through the yogic practice and lifestyle, a clear voice calling me back to a place where we all stand quietly on ancient ground.
grounding
An image from the book
Japanese Style, showing an example of synergy between inner and outer space.
Warm wood tones and a shoji screen define space in this entrance hall in a house in Kyoto. Photo from
Japanese Style.
Just visible, through the gate leading into this quiet little courtyard, is the curbside of a busy street. Photo from
Japanese Style.
Japanese architecture is notable for its beautiful combination of old and new, and for making excellent use of space. With such a dense
population living in a limited geographical area, it has always been of utmost importance to try and create interiors that are open and bright, regardless of
dimension.
I was fortunate enough to return to Japan to work for seven months in 1997-1998, in Nagano. It was the first time I had been back since being born there. I had a chance to tour a traditional Japanese home in a rural area just outside of Nagano. The house was very old, and was the central building on an estate, surrounded by apple orchards. The house was so intimate, with its natural colors and materials, its grass straw roof and earthen floors.
It is no surprise that when our dwelling places are made mindfully, with natural, sustainable materials, and in sync with the local natural environment, there is an inherent depth of peace and quiet within and without those walls. The walls of such homes serve nothing more than to shelter us. They do not further separate us from nature, as do the walls of so many homes.
anime and
An image from Miyazaki's
Totoro, symbolic of the simplicity of living in nature.
Another image from
Mononoke. There is a small temple, set upon a flat stone near the base of the trees, honoring the forest.
An image from Miyazaki's
Totoro, symbolic of the simplcity of living in nature.
An image from Miyazaki's
Totoro, showing a temple path entrance similar to what I saw near Nagano.
I've been enjoying anime (Japanese animation) for twenty five years, ever since my friends introduced me to
Akira and
Totoro. I have watched Japanese anime become more mainstream here in the U.S. Hayao Miyazaki is the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, and his animated films have
appreciated U.S. exposure and high acclaim. Miyazaki and his talented artists manage to create such detailed environments and atmosphere, always capturing the mood of so
many aspects of Japanese nature and culture, often taking us back in time to remind us of a simpler way of life.
Miyazaki also creates stories that are inherently spiritual, often making statements about the relationships between humans and our natural world. Totoro is a magical Miyazaki classic that is enjoyable by children and adults alike. I don't know how many times I've seen this one - it never ceases to amaze me. It will speak to the child in anyone.
When I was in Nagano, I remember driving up into the Japan Alps, and feeling the ancient peace permeating the hills and trees. It felt as if there was a warm, energetic blanket softening my nervous system. On one particular outing, I remember seeing an entrance to a path leading into the woods and up a mountain to a temple. The path entry was marked by a simple wooden archway, nestled among dense, peaceful trees at the bottom of a small canyon. The temple was in a small opening in the trees, high up on the mountain face. I remember wanting to stop the car, forget about work, and go find that path and make the ascent to that temple.