初心忘るべからず (Remember Your Original Intention)

A Happy New Year !　あけましておめでとうございます

How did you spend at first day of 2012 ?

I am planing what is my aim in this year. It is my health. We can do anything if  we are healthy. What should we do to keep my good health

 1. Don't eat too much.  
 2. To have good posture.
 3. Get some exercise, walking, running, playing table tennis (this is a recent boom for me)....

As to No.2, I recently read a book that written by Japanese Noh player. I have seen a performance of noh once when I was a student. However, it is traditional performing art and we rarely see it in daily life. The motion and posture of Noh performance is good to health. Some noh players can play until old age. The secret of their health is the motion and posture. This book is useful for me.

A Japanese phrase is written in the book. It is 初心忘るべからず Shosin wasuru bekarazu. It is a phrase of Zeami 世阿弥 who was aesthetician for Noh. This original means "Remember your original intention." However, there are three meanings in it. I knew at first time.

初心忘るべからず　Shoshin wasuru bekarazu

I decided that it is my slogan in 2012. Don't be afraid my first challenge remembering my original intention.

The site of Noh 能       

Villon's Wife ヴィヨンの妻

Dazai Osamu is very famous and popular novelist. He or his works is often picked up this year because 2009 is 100th anniversary year. "Run, Melos" (走れメロス) or "No longer human" (人間失格) is his masterpiece.

I saw a Japanese film, "Villon's Wife", yesterday. The background is postwar Japan. The story of this film is based on his work of same title. It is a love story of one couple. Leading male character is a talented author, has a girlfriend. He always thinks to want to die. He is the worst husband, however his wife loves him. Also his wife is a woman who he really loves.
His wife is old styled and typical Japanese woman, obedient, however very strong. Just like Japanese adjective, Shinayaka しなやか or Taoyaka たおやか.
Her line in last scene is unforgettable.

Takako Matsu, plays his wife, is a beautiful actress and her performance in this film is excellent. She is so talented and I like her.
I could know Tokyo after World War Ⅱin this film. People was very poor, however, lively. Also you can enjoy a world of Osamu Dazai and old life in Tokyo.

Villon's Wife website

Relax in Autumn

Now it gets cooler and air is so clear and fresh. Kinmokusei (Osmanthus fragrans) is good smell and we fell autumn.
I went to Obuse in Nagano prefecture this weekend. Nagano is a place that Olympic winter game was held in 1998. Obuse is very small town in countryside. Special products of this town are grape, apple and chestnuts. They are autumn foods. I like autumn season because we can eat abundant and delicious foods.

Beautiful Apples in Obuse

The motif of this shop curtain (Noren) of Japanese sweets is three chestnuts.

I visited a museum of Hokusai , Hokusai kan and Gansho-in (I'm sorry for no English site). Hokusai is very famous Japanese artist as you know. He had visited and stayed for several years after he was 80 years old in Obuse. He drew celling painting in Gansho-in when he was 89 years old. The selling painting (Happo Nirami Houou zu) is vivid color and I couldn't feel that it was old work. I was touched.

Autumn is good season for travel. I can so relax. Eat delicious foods and feel good arts or nature... It is very excitied and delightful thing.

Orizuru

Origami is Japanese paper art. Orizuru (Crane of Origami) is very typical item and we have make Orizuru once in our childhood. I have liked to make Origami. Origami art is very creative because one work is made by one piece of paper. Other typical works are balloon (Fuusen), armor (Kabuto), frog (Kaeru), flowers.

Tsuru (Crane) is very auspicious bird in Japan and it is simbol of longevity. (Tortoise is also a symbol of longevity in Japan.)

Senba-zuru is special work. When someone is hospitalized, we make Senbazuru. It is for our wishes to recover from disease soon. It is not easy to make a thousands Orizuru. We make them with out whole heart. Therefore, making a thousand of Orizuru represents strong feeling for the patient.

Senbazuru is a symbol for peace. Though this is not thousands of Orizuru, I offer Orizuru for today and world peace...