Karuizawa, Japanese Printmaker, and Double Dutch Japan

I've been lucky enough to have the past 5 days off, however I was just as busy!
At 8am thursday (10/09) waka chan and her husband showed up at my house to take me on a 2 day one night vacation in Karuizawa. I read 2012 on the way there since the car ride was about 2 or 3 hours, although we stopped a couple times for coffee and soba. When we got into Karuizawa, two other couples (close friends of waka) and the 3 of us went grocery shopping at a large super market even though it was the same size as a stop and shop or hannaford, thats considered huge in Japan. OUr next stop was to Ama yama (ama mountain) park. I found myself feeling as though I had been temporarily transported back into Maine/NH because for as far as I could see were mountains covered in colorful trees, blue skies and colcanic rock (okay so the volcanic rock is unique to japan's volcanic landscape but you get the point) All the rocks ere covered in several varieties of moss and lichen (including glowing moss..soo cool) We went on an hour long walk through the windy mountain trail before heading to waka's vacation appartment.
At 14 stories tall, the resort appartment was one o fthe only buildings that could be seen across the mountainous landscape. the room was tiny but fully loaded with 2 couches/beds, tatami room (with room for 3 futons) a kitchen, toilet & shower/bath rooms, and a patio. The building also had a hot spring bath in the basement and observation deck on top. The first night there we enjoyed a few beers and an enormous diner. I was pretty tired from the journey, the fresh air and trying to take in all the Japanese. After diner, waka chan and I went to the onsen which I followed up with a few minutes in the sauna.

I stayed up that night reading 2012 until midnight thinking I'd be able to sleep in until at least 7:30. But to my suprise, waka chan threw the lights on at 6:30am with an enthusiastic "OKITERU JESS!! OHAAIIOO!" (Wake Up Jess! Good Morning!) After tossing and grumbling for about 20 minutes I finally woke up to a huge breakfast spred.
After eating, a few of us went to go check out the observation deck. The morning fog and clouds were still lingering but within 2 minutes we watched as it miraculously cleared to reveal an awe inspiring view of Asama Mt. This stoic mountain stod strong in the panorama, steeming forth clouds of smoke resembling a gun after firing a bullet.

We got in the car soon after and drove to a neer by town. IT was a picturesque mountain side town with its aparent claim to fame situated at its center: a sulfer hot spring.
if you could put the overwhelming stench of rotten eggs that permiated the whole town, it was quite charming and wonderful. The color of the rocks affected by the sulfer were a beautiful aqua emerald green color. After taking pictures in fron tof the spring we walked the streets. This humble town turned tourist spot sold various japanese goods ranging from lucky cats, clothes, and food. One store was cooking dumplings out side the store and had merchants greeting the passer byers with a hot cup of green tea and a free sample of their dumplings. I also noticed a man sitting on the side of the road selling various herbs, spices and small vegetables on a rug.

It was a wonderful afternoon and to top it all off, Waka chan and I took a quick dip in the local onsen. This time, instead of feeling like a hotel jakuzi, this onsen was an outdoor onsen much like the one i experienced 2 years ago, except way bigger. we stayed int he onsen for about 30 minutes (which is actually considered quite a long time. I had started to get dizzy by the time we left) We finished our time in the town at a ramen shop before heading back to the apartment. We left Karuizawa around 4 and I didn:t get back to my house until 8 (since we stopped at a rest stop restraunt and had tempura)

On saturday I went with Yuyu and some Hippo Friends to a Japanese Printmakers House about 2 hours away from my house (near Tama Hills if you are familiar with Pom Poko or Whisper of the Heart) He is a pretty old man who has lost the use of his hands and legs, but he was still very excited to have me there and to share a boxed set of his prints. He made a series of over 20 images that incorporated the use of poetry (all japanese of course) and text book imagery of machinery and various biological diagrams. it was so exciting to be able to see this body of work so up close and personal. I was the only one allowed to touch the prints out of all of us since I had washed my hands, used a special powder on my fingertips and because I think he knew that since I:m a printmaker too, I knew how to handle the paper properly without damaging it. He also invited me and my hippo friend Yuria (who is my age) to go to his studio in Chiba. I would really like to go!

After the visit, we made our way back to hippo club. This time I was able to muster the courage to ask a couple girls in the club if they would take me to Harajuku some day soon since I need boots and some new winter clothes. they agreed so i:m really looking forward to it!

Yesterday, after sleeping in a bit, Yuyu and I headed to Shinagawa to meet up with some other Hippo members to go to the Double Dutch Tokyo finals. Kazu, a hippo member, is in his university's Double Dutch team and had made it to the finals. The top 3 teams will be going to NYC in December for the World Finals. The whole experience was quite strange from an American standpoint since the auditorium was packed with Japanese students decked out in hip hop clothes. The MCs were over teh top hip hop and the whole tournament had that feeling. I understand that a lot of Japanese young people like American Pop Culture but it was still quite strange feeling. All the double dutch teams were really good. And I do admit that i found it really fun to experience despite its overwheling hip hop flavor. Kazu's team had really great concentration and was one of the only teams that had a flawless performance. After about an hour of watching all the teams, there were a couple hip hop dance performances before awarding the prizes. To our excitement, Kazu's team got 3rd place, and will be going to new york!

Today I worked on my moku hanga drawings and we went to Nakano Broadway for a little shopping since today was a holiday in Japan. It's sports day, so all the tv programing was about the 2008 olympics.

phew,
long post
i can:t really focus any more. i:m pretty tired and ihave work tomorrow so i:m going to leave it at that for now.

check flickr.
word

xoxo

jess