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The Japan Australia News March 2011

IN JAPANRed-hot topicsfrom JAPAN

A journey through nostalgic Tokushima Part 2 Kate Dzienis

The island of Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s four islands, and the fresh air of the mountains in Oboke Koboke allows humanity to breathe new life into its soul, and show the true nature of a rural backwater that remains elusive and genuine.

I continue my journey through this sentimental

happiness in Japan has turned into a love affair. The people of extraordinary manner are feeling like family, and I am quickly gaining momentum on wanting to live on the land like they do.

included adventure in the wilderness and feasting

this scenic world continues on the fourth day, with a visit to Kazurabashi Bridge in Iya, a 45 metre long suspension bridge made with woven vine stretching across a valley 14 metres above a serene river below.

There is a beautiful history behind Kazurabashi; it is said the Heike clan constructed the bridge with their distinguishable warrior-like hands, out of the Shirakuchigasura plant to help them run from enemies – they would then frantically slash the bridge behind them, ensuring no movement across the river was possible.

Nowadays in modern Japan, the bridge is reinforced with steel cables and rebuilt every three years in the name of safety. Nevertheless, it is still an enthralling, jittery experience to walk across Kazurabashi Bridge, with each wooden plank set a few centimetres apart and even a slow walk across setting a swaying motion to and fro – an exhilarating experience for those without fear, and wanting to get as close to pristine

one’s stomach. A short minute’s stroll along the trails behind

A short bus ride’s distance lies the most dangerous spot in the Iyakaido Valley. A succession of sharp cliffs lines a steep gorge whittled out of the mountains by the Iya River. As a symbol of innocent courage, a statue of a peeing boy stands at the edge of a 200m precipice that is also noted for the seven curves along its rim. Long ago, boys of the region would compete with each other by standing at the edge of the cliff and urinating as far as they could; today, the statue assumes the position, reminding visitors of antique bravado and boldness.

Along the journey to witness Iya’s largest Samurai residence, the Kyu Kitake, we stop to meet American ex-patriot Alex Kerr, who has made it his life’s ambition to preserve hundred year old houses and the Japanese rural life. His foundation, the Chiiori Trust, assists in creating unique and forward looking projects to revitalise villages, and this American is a friendly, yet conservative individual.

Built originally in 1763, Kyu Kitake was a hiding place for mountain warriors to live. It is a locality where visitors can get a very intimate and personal encounter with the art of thatched

Kayabuki-yane. A staple of traditional Japanese architecture, thatched roofs, made up of dry vegetation such as straw or sedge, can last up to 30 years before re-thatching is necessary. Even then, only half the roof can be dried and reused – the rest must be harvested and collected until there is enough to remake the roof. Thatched roofs in Japan are considered a rarity, and standing at Kyu Kitake, I am in the great spiritual presence of villagers who have continued this tradition.

Kyu Kitake was built by the Samurai headman of Oeda, a descendant of the feudal lord Kita Rokurosaburo. Although empty and without much furniture, the home breathes an aura of notable strength, and as I stand at the doorway, closing my eyes and taking in the cool mountainous air, I can almost sense the noble Samurai. Their heaviness and nobility presents itself on all the land this residence sits on, and Alex tells stories of the grand family that lived in this home so many years ago. A history many Japanese should be proud of.

Vine bridges and warrior waterfalls

Valleys of innocence Samurai legendsKazurabashi Bridge, lies the spectacularly active, yet tranquil, waterfall Biwa-no-Taki. By no means is this waterfall a raging torrent of angry stream, harpooning what falls in its direction like those found in South America or the Scandinavian countries. The gentleness of Biwa-no-Taki is a place where the Heike clan could reminisce of their old days and bathe in waters

all days of the year. Standing at the edge, one can feel the presence of great warriors unwinding and letting go of a hardened day.

Kazurabashi� Vine� BridgeKazurabashi� Vine� Bridge Statue� of� Peeing� BoyStatue� of� Peeing� Boy

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The Japan Australia News March 2011

STATIONERY� SHOP� OF� THE� MONTH今月のステーショナリーショップ

by Wallaby You

Melbourne in 2001 before expanding

into Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and

Perth. kikki.K has now even gone beyond

Australia, venturing to New Zealand and

Singapore.

kikki.K stationery has simple, gentle

colour schemes of which you will never tire.

From diaries and notebooks to desktop

are looking for. Why not pop in for a look?

more informationwww.awanavi.jp/english/index.html

The hotels in Tokushima prefecture capture the essence of simplicity, yet hospitality, food, service, and views are all of high calibre. Hotel Sun River Oboke provides the option for foreigners to choose from traditional style or modern and contemporary rooms. The communal baths are spotless, and remain quiet throughout the day, however visitors also have the option of staying at the nearby Hotel Obokekyo Mannaka, where the food is exceptional and the service at its upmost in hospitality. These two hotels represent the smaller side of tourism, catering to small groups and providing personal service unforeseen elsewhere.

Following the visit to Kyu Kitake, lunch is served at Hotel Kazurabashi, where a beautifully slender Japanese woman in sky blue kimono serves us a feast of natural blessings – naruto kintoki (sweet potato), lotus root, Iya soba noodles, miso soup, sudachi

Living like royalty

Getting thereby airTokyo(Haneda) → Tokushima Nagoya → Tokushima Fukuoka → Tokushima

by trainShin-Osaka Station → Okayama Station / Takamatsu Station → Tokusima Station About 3 hours and 20 minutesby highway busKyoto Station → Tokusima Station About 2 hours and 50 minutes (7 services a day)Kansai International Airport → Tokusima Station About 2 hours and 45 minutes (10 services a day)Herbis Osaka/Hankyu Umeda → Tokusima Station About 2 hours and 30 minutes (7 services a day)

by JR busJR Osaka Station → Tokusima Station About 2 hours and 25 minutes (20 services a day)

Cooperation:� Shikoku� District� Transport� Bureau

tofu, and Boke green tea. There

my meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner – the food is so organic,

that it only balances your body and creates it into a healthily rich source of earth roots.

Hotel Kazurabashi is larger in scale, but still has that touch of personality to it, and sleeping in a traditional room for the third night in a row is starting to grow on me.

you, and I couldn’t think of a better way to dream of the next day.

Samurai� House� by� Chiiori� TrustSamurai� House� by� Chiiori� Trust

Harvesting� Woman� near� Samurai� HouseHarvesting� Woman� near� Samurai� House

文房具を選ぶ時の一番重要なポイントは何ですか？　機能性？　それともデザイン？　学校やオフィス、家庭でもいつも使う

ものだから、手元に置いておくだけで楽しい気分になって、その上使い勝手も良かったら最高ですよね。スタイリッシュでクオリティーの高い文房具は友達や同僚にも自慢でき、プレゼントとしても喜ばれるでしょう。今回は、オーストラリアのすてきなス

テーショナリーブランドをご紹介します。kikki.K はオーストラリア在住のス

ウェーデン人、Kristina� Karlssonさんが 10年ほど前に、スウェーデンにあるような、おしゃれで美しい文房具やオフィス用品が欲しくて、自らデザインして始まったブランドなんです。ちなみに kikki は彼女の小さい頃のニックネームだそうです。

2001年にメルボルンに第１号店がオープンし、その後シドニー、ブリスベン、アデレードそしてパースへと店舗を増やし、現在はオーストラリアだけでなく、ニュージーランドやシンガポールへも進出しています。飽きのこないシンプルで優しい色使

い。スケジュール帳やノートをはじめ、デスク周りのオフィス用品やアクセサリーまで、あなたの欲しい物がきっと見つかるはずです。一度ショップに足を運んでみてはいかがですか。

kikki.K GARDEN CITY

kikki.K ENEX 100

kikki.K KARRINYUP

kikki.K DAVID JONES

CLAREMONT QUARTER

www.kikki-k.com

What's the most important thing when

choosing stationery? Is it functionality? Or

design?

Because stationery is something that

you are always using, be it at school, in

course, are those that not only give you

to boot. You can show off such stylish,

high-quality stationery to your friends and

colleagues or be sure that it will make a

pleasing present.

This month we feature a wonderful

Australian stationery brand: kikki.K.

kikki.K is a brand started around ten

years ago by Kristina Karlsson, a Swedish

resident of Australia who wanted the

equipment she was used to in her

home country and so decided to design

it herself. Incidentally, "kikki" was her

nickname as a little girl.

kikki.Kキッキ・ケー

kikki.Kキッキ・ケー