The cedar woods of Miyama

Mr. Nakano decided to get involved in Eyes as Big as Plates after a call from his good friend and artistic collaborator Mr Maruyama. Mr. Nakano has been doing pottery since he was 23 and has loved living in Kyoto for the last 30 years. We hopped to the backseat of his car in the center of Kyoto and before long were out of the hustle and bustle. Speeding through wild and winding roads through impressive vertical woodland landscapes we moshed to the beat of a Swedish A Capella choir and Keith Jarret. Stopping only at Miyama to pick up our very own information officer and Mr Nakano’s good friend Ms. Yagyū, we continued driving until the road ended.  Ms. Yagyū led us to the Ashiu cedar woods, where a young tree is 100 years and the oldest ones a mighty 500-800 years old.

© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
It’s spring break and also the cherry blossom season in Japan, which means that everywhere is packed and booked. These are some of the fabled blossoms in Kyoto. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
This is where the road ended and we had to continue by foot. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Collecting branches of Japan’s national tree, sugi.  © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Lovely studio for the day © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
These woods are owned by Kyoto University. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Mr. Nakano was quietly humming to the beats of the forest. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
The south side of the mountain still had some snow on it © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Midori of Miyama © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Mr. Nakano exhibits at the Honen-in Temple in Kyoto every December. This is his memorial piece for the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
© Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen
Another one of his works at the same temple. The dusk made it hard to catch the beauty in its full glory. © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen

 

Leave a Reply