Sado Island in 30 hours

Hospitality has just reached brand new dimensions, with a production crew of 7 devoted volunteers, making the Sado Island experience beyond compare. Eyes as Big as Plates rocked two shoots in record speed, just in time for the noon banquet kindly provided by Ms. Ohsawa. The forecast was for snow and stormy winds and it was questionable whether our chosen location was safe for our priest. We were silly to even worry about it, as she is a lady who can clearly stand her ground and is a beacon for her temple goers. Out on the Kasugazaki cliff, she joined the tough seaside vegetation with all her might.

One of the regulars at the Horinji Temple is Mr. Hanyu, who is a tea ceremony master. Apparently you train as an apprentice for ten years to become proficient in this art and another ten years to potentially become a master. Tea ceremonies are about clearing the mind. It’s more of a meditative affair, where discussion (if any) revolves around the tea and the equipment used to making it. We saw Mr. Hanyu sit in his immaculate tea ceremony position and got inspired.

© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Braving it towards the Kasugazaki cliff © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
It had to be installed in the shelter of the cliff, it was way too blustery © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Yet another classic pose by Karoline © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Tough as nails… © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
…and the most contagious laughter © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Hats off to Ms. Ohsawa© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Location scouting is always a serious business  © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
We had seen a beautiful doll exhibition in Aikawa the night before and wanted to try some of those overflowing hems at today’s second shoot. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Bamboo picking © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Riitta was left alone in the forest for 15 minutes © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
And this is what the entourage came back to find. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
We wrapped up the shoot as the snow arrived. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
What a lovely presence © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
All that was left in the forest behind the Honenji Temple. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Let the feast begin! © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Sake, sake, sake. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
The Sado Island team, photographed by the famous Mr. Fujii © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
The Sado Island team, photographed by the famous Mr. Fujii © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Photographers are hard to photograph. There's always a camera in the way. Mr. Fuji was a total miracle, gifting us with his time, kindness, memory card full of video footage and photography equipment as a leaving present. Man of the year! © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Photographers are hard to photograph. There’s always a camera in the way. Mr. Fuji was a total miracle, giving us his time, kindness, memory card full of video footage, driving help and even photography equipment as a leaving present. Man of the year! © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen

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