26 iunie - Calatorie imaginara in Hakone si Nikko

Ne apropiem de o perioada foarte solicitanta pentru studenti, sesiunea de examene, dar la finalul careia ne asteapta vara, cu soare si caldura, experiente noi, specifice verii, unele memorabile, altele regretabile, insa care atunci cand vom trage linie, toate ne vor face sa zambim. Dar pana atunci dorim sa oferim o delectare, cu caracter constructiv in acelasi timp, pentru studenti si pentru oricine doreste sa se relaxeze savurand o portie de cultura japoneza in acelasi timp.

Cercul Prietenii Japoniei isi propune ca in aceasta sambata, 26 mai, pe Calea Motilor, nr. 48, intre orele 18:00 – 21:00, sa organizeze o intalnire in care vom viziona doua documentare de cate 30 de minute, despre Hakone si Nikkō, o regiune, respectiv o localitate din apropierea capitalei Tokyo, despre care vom afla diferite lucruri interesante.

Si intalnirea s-a desfasurat astfel, dupa cum frumos a descris d-l Radu N. in articolul de mai jos:

In data de 28 mai a avut loc cea de a doua intalnire de cultura japoneza organizata de Cercul Prietenii Japoniei in aceasta luna, data in care am hotarat sa mai facem un pas inainte spre a descoperi Japonia, ca si o tara turistica de data aceasta, intalnirea facand astfel parte din seria de intalniri pe care noi am numit-o sugestiv „Descopera Japonia”.

In acest scop am proiectat in cadrul intalnirii doua documentare realizate de NHK World, din seria Journeys in Japan (Calatorii in Japonia), in care diferite persoane viziteaza diferite locuri din Japonia. La aceasta intalnire am vizionat doua calatorii, in Hakone si Nikkō, insa inainte de a viziona documentarele si de a calatori in Japonia cu ajutorul acestora, am pornit intr-o calatorie a visurilor fiecaruia dintre noi. Tonul calatoriei a fost dat de un citat citit de catre dra Minodora Buta, care ne indemna sa cautam in noi adevaratul nostru ego, si care ne provoca sa avem curajul si increderea sa il urmam, sa ne descoperim adevarata valoare prin introspectie si curaj, si nu in ultimul rand sa punem pe primul loc lucrurile cu adevarat valoroase. Odata tonul dat, fiecare participant a putut sa isi impartaseasca unul din visele sale, legate de cele mai multe ori de Japonia, si locurile pe care ar vrea sa le viziteze acolo.

Dupa acest moment introductiv de cunoastere atat personala cat si de cunoastere a celor din jur, a inceput proiectia primului video, despre Hakone. Am vizitat astfel, virtual, urcand cu telecabina pe versantul muntelui, pana intr-un loc parca aflat intr-o alta lume, o zona foarte populara pentru turisti, unde se mananca kurotamago, oua fierte in apa termala, coaja innegrindu-se astfel datorita mineralelor din apa. Mai departe am vizitat lacul Ashinoko cu barca, descoperind pe malul acestuia locuri interesante, cum ar fi un templu al cuplurilor si un izvor de munte care se varsa in lac. Dupa plimbarea cu barca am trecut printr-o reproducere fidela a unui punct de control din perioada Edo, un loc istoric la granita dintre Kyoto si Edo de atunci. In final am mers cu bicicleta printr-o padure de pin japonez, ajungand la un maestru tamplar care confectiona obiecte din lemn folosind tehnica yosegi, renumite in regiune, tehnica ce foloseste alaturarea lemnului de diferite culori pentru a crea modele exceptionale.

Dupa proiectia primului documentar, dra Minodora Buta a povestit publicului despre experienta personala a dansei in Hakone, din urma cu cativa ani. Publicul a putut studia si cateva pliante si ghiduri turistice din regiune, amintiri personale ale drei Minodora.

Cea de-a doua calatorie a avut loc in Nikkō, o regiune la nord de Tokyo, la 140 km de capitala Japoniei. Acesta a fost si este un loc important in Japonia si in lume, fiind un parc national si patrimoniu UNESCO, unde se afla cateva constructii vechi impresionante. Calatoria noastra insa, facuta cu ajutorul documentarului, nu a vizat insa aceste monumente, ci a fost o calatorie prin natura, admirand peisajele si viata la munte.

Calatoria a inceput cu calatoria cu autocarul pana in muntii din Nikkō, ajungand la un magazin de suveniruri, cu felurite mancaruri conservate din regiune, cum ar fi inago, lacuste caramelizate in sos de soia dulce, sau kyarabuki, cozi de brusture japonez fier timp de 3 zile in sos de soia. Am putut vedea apoi si privelistea oferita de muntii si lacul din apropierea magazinului de suveniruri, dupa care am pornit la drum mai departe prin munti.

Dupa catva timp am ajuns la o coliba de la marginea drumului prin padure, unde se vindea carne de vanat, vanata in padurile din regiune de catre masaki, vanatori foarte priceputi. Indrumati de catre bucatar, am ajuns la casa unui astfel de vanator, care ne-a invitat la o calatorie prin padure, pe urmele vanatului. Am descoperit multe lucruri interesante in padure, fructe delicoase cum ar fi yamabudō, struguri de munte, ciuperci comestibile, un copac sacru, am invatat sa respectam natura pentru tot ceea ce ne ofera, si chiar daca lucrurile se gasesc acolo din belsug, sa nu luam niciodata mai mult decat avem nevoie. Trebuie sa aratam respect padurii si tuturor lucrurilor care ne inconjoara.

La finalul calatoriei ne-am oprit la un onsen, o baie termala in mijlocul padurii unde masaki obisnuiesc sa se opreasca si sa se relaxeze. A fost o calatorie foarte linistitoare si plina de inspiratie.

La finalul documentarului dl Radu Nedisan a aratat cateva fotografii cu atractiile turistice obisnuite din regiune cum ar fi Nikkō Toshōgū, mausoleul lui Tokugawa Ieyasu, unul din marii shōguni din istoria Japoniei, taiyuinbyō, mausoleul unui alt shōgun din shogunatul Tokugawa, si templul Rinnoji, construit in secolul 8 cand buddhismul a fost adus in regiune.

In final, chiar daca fizic am ramas pe scaunele noastre, cu imaginatia am putut calatori si noi acolo, si poate chiar mai incolo decat ceea ce documentarele au aratat. Consideram ca fiecare participant s-a intors acasa cu inca o amintire placuta.

*******English Version bellow: ******* 

On the 28^th of May took place the second meeting of the month, organized by Japan’s Friends Club. This time, we decided to make another step toward discovering Japan, this time as a tourist friendly country, thus the meeting could be considered part of the “Discover Japan” series.

To do that, in this meeting we projected two documentaries realized by NHK World, from the Journeys in Japan series, where different persons visit various places in Japan. This time we travelled to two regions called Hakone and Nikkō, but before watching the documentaries, we started an imaginary journey in each other’s dreams. The tone of the journey was given by a quote read by Ms. Minodora Buta. The quote invites us to look into ourselves and find our own original ego, our own value through introspection, to find the courage and will to follow the values we believe in, and learn to value the things that have real value. Once the tone was given, every participant had the chance to share one of their dreams, which were most of the time linked to Japan, and also share the places in Japan they would like to visit.

After this introductory moment of self awareness and acknowledgement of the dreams of the other participants, the first projection about Hakone started. We visited thus, virtually, a very popular spot for tourists, riding the ropeway up to the top of the mountain where we found a scenery from a different world, where people eat kurotamago, eggs boiled in thermal water, the shell of which darkens due to the minerals in the water. Then we visited Lake Ashinoko with a boat, discovering different hidden spots, like a shrine of matchmaking and a mountain spring which flew into the lake. After the boat trip, we passed through an accurate reproduction of an Edo checkpoint, an historical place at the border between old Kyoto and Edo. In the end we rode the bicycle through a majestic pine forest, reaching a yosegi craftsman, who was crafting wooden objects combining different colours of wood to get beautiful patterns, a craft for which the region is renowned.

After the first documentary Ms. Minodora Buta shared some of her personal experience in the region, a few years ago. The public could also study some original fliers and brochures brought from the region, personal memories of Ms. Minodora.

The second journey took place in Nikkō, a region some 140 km north of Tokyo, the japanese capital. Nikkō was and still is an important place in Japan and around the world. It is a National Park in Japan and part of UNESCO World Heritage, where a few impressive old monuments are built. Our journey however, made with the help of the documentary, did not have as object these well known and extensively visited places, but we headed deeper into the nature, admiring natural views and the life in the mountains of Japan.

The trip started with a bus trip to the mountains of Nikkō, at the destination finding a souvenir shop where different kinds of local preserved food was commercialized, like inago, caramelized locusts in sweet soy sauce, and also prepared, like kyarabuki, stalks of butterbur simmered in soy sauce for 3 days. At the shop we could also enjoy the view offered by the mountain and the lake nearby.

We went on walking the mountain road, and after a while we reached a hut by the road where game meat was being sold, the game being caught right in the nearby forests by masaki, experienced hunters in the region. With the help of the cook, we found such a hunter, who invited us to take a walk in the forest, to have a glimpse of the masaki life. We discovered many interesting things in the forest, delicious fruits like yamabudō, mountain grapes, some kind of edible fungi, a sacred tree, and we also learned that even if there is plenty of everything in the forest, we should never take more than we need. We have to pay respect to the forest and all that surrounds us.

At the end of the trip, we stopped at an onsen, a Japanese hot spring resort, in the deep of the mountains, a resort where masaki use to stop and relax after their hard work. It was a pleasant and inspiring journey.

At the end of the documentary, Mr. Radu Nedisan showed to the public a few images with the touristic attractions in the region, like Nikkō Toshōgū, the mausoleum of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the great shōguns in the Japanese History, the mausoleum of another shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate, and Rinnoji temple, a temple built in the 8^th century when Buddhism was brought to the region.

In the end, even though our bodies remained on the chairs, our imagination travelled far away, maybe even farther than the documentaries showed. We consider that every participant returned home with a new precious memory.