Pat's Blog

And that’s a good name for this area, ‘The Kagawa Discovery Zone’ on the 3rd floor of the Sunport Symbol Tower near the Takamatsu JR Station.
Quite an enjoyable trip into Takamatsu’s past, replete with reconstructed facades, windows and memorabilia from the pre and post-war periods.



This was a very different time for Japan and also the twilight of the mechanical age as our world was about to enter the electronic one. Japan was to assume world dominance in this area. Sentos (bath houses) were the way everyone kept clean and a common phrase to describe keeping up with the Joneses and the new life was to talk about the 3 treasures. “A television, refrigerator & washing machine.”



We’ve come along way since then and most people have their own baths, numerous televisions and the days of calling on the neighbors to watch TV shows have long gone. I must admit I remember that age and the visiting neighbors, which gives away my age, I’m sure.



I wouldn’t say this was a better age but it was a far simpler one and communications were much more open, numerous and available. People talked to each other freely and as there were no air-conditioners, we often sat on the verandah in summer and made small talk with people strolling by.




In our insulated housing nowadays, we fret about any intrusions on privacy and want a sanitized and homogenized life unaware of all the neuroses and loneliness that comes hand-in-hand with it. Many fret about how we must be ‘more careful’ about the bad world outside. Bunkum … There is far too much unnecessary ‘fear’ in modern Japanese life and while this is good business for the security companies who all profit handsomely by sending a message that we can’t be too careful. It is all largely based on media-fanned fear. Japan isn’t a dangerous country at all.



On display, there’s even a ‘kamishibai’ which were bicycles ridden around by storytellers and with a mini-stage on the back of the bicycle. The storytellers would stop somewhere, kids would gather and a picture story told in exchange for small donations. These stories often had lessons on social mores, manners and responsibilities. Gee, there ain’t too much of that around through the media these days …



Outside the permanent exhibition on the same floor, there are other things to see about Kagawa. There’s even a model of our social camp, Takamatsu and the time taken to visit this 3rd floor of our Sunport Tower Building is well worth it.





So until next month, keep all your cards n’ letters coming in. Until then, bye!
  

I can’t remember who wrote this but it’s a perfect haiku for another look at our beloved Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu.
Now’s the season for irises and they’ll be out in a few days. Van Gough had a thing for them too and little wonder, as their beauty is so attractive. Van Gough’s captured this with his own distinctive energy. Something between passion & ecstasy and at times just bordering on radioactive ..




Well they’re now out and here for all of us to see and enjoy. While I was there I imagined they were letting out little sighs of disappointment to each other and whispering; “why are we blooming for this old fool?”


bring myself here to paint often and I met this familiar face on a previous occasion and offered a few tips on iris painting.
Lot’s of こもれび (komorebi) (light filtered through leaves) here which I wrote about last month and just love to enjoy.


This is such a good time to do things like paint, and it really doesn’t matter if you’re good or not as it’s irrelevant and besides the pleasure is just so great. I’m sure this young woman friend was enjoying her own painting session just as much as we were.



Ritsurin is a garden of moods, seasons and ever changing aspects. Every few meters or so, the ‘aspect’ changes and that’s a part of it’s design I heard. Much of what we can see here is smaller, less obtrusive and whilst not hidden, obverse in the sense that while it is turned towards the observer, takes a little time to find and away from the recognized scenic spots there.
How many shades of green can you see in the patina of the bronze bridge post cover? Lots, I’m sure … it’s the less obtrusive stuff in Ritsurin that I dig and would like to share.




I'll be back with another blog for the city soon. So until then, please go and enjoy the irises and the smaller, less obtrusive beauty of this place.Take along your watercolors and paint away. Oh, and keep all those comments and letters coming in. Until then ..