Other Side of the Leaf. . . or a walk in the Park

Mokuren at night

 Why is it so hard for me to grasp is how how different worlds cans be. Here, south-west of the wounded Tokoku region, life, amazingly, goes on at much the same tempo as before. Conversations often get pulled into the tragedy-- the suffers, the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant, etc, but still spring pushes it's renewal. Cherry blossoms burst forth white and pink in a magnificent and delicate resurrection.

Looking NW from the guide way bu

Yesterday we traveled north on the Guide Way Bus (a bus that rides on it's own special elevated road) north to the Shonai Gawa (Shonai River), the park, and a Tibetan Buddhist Temple. The first thing we discovered as we moved into the green of bamboo and woods was a patch where a very kind and cheerful man (Mr.Muramatsu) was working in his rice field. He took time to talk to us, to show us some of the water life in the irrigation canals and tell us about how he's been growing there for 15 years and never has used any chemicals on his plot. It was so nice to be walking on the good earth with tadpoles, little crayfish and shrimps swimming right there here still in Nagoya. Mr. Muramatsu said he would see if he could find an open plot for me to work. Such a lovely area and only about 15-20 minutes ride by bicycle.

Mr. Muramatsu at work in his rice

Mr. Muramatsu shows Yumiko some water life

We then wandered down to Obata Ryokuchi Koen park proper and while enjoying our onigri, tea and sembe we happen to hear the strains of a violin emanating from the woods. Tracking the sound down we came to a small pagoda with two smiley musician (Yuu and Yuhei  aka  Sora Tobu Kujira-Sky Flying Whale) enjoying the spring weather and the music they were skillfully making.

Sky Flying Whale--Yu and Yuhei

I shot them while they were busy playing. A Minor Swing 

Came back later to get their names chat more and then shot: A Sentimental Mood.

(You can follow the links above to hear them.)

looking down at the Shonai River in Nagoya

and in the NW view across the river . . . mountains

My head was filling so full of the honey of blue skies, spring air, trees, walking, and swing music. Now on to temples and a look over the river valley in front of us.

 Chanbarin Temple

in Chanbarin Temple

Siddhartha

We came home tired and complete. . .full of the realization that within a short bike ride from our home in Sunadabashi there were many treasures to find, maybe a garden to grow and very warm human music springing and singing in the woods to be heard.

peace and happiness. . .