Kamakura : Visit to a Traditional Japanese Farmhouse

The Looking to rediscover Japanese Culture, the ESUJ outing on March 29 (Sat) was a visit to a traditional farmhouse in Kamakura, where the cherry blossom was in full bloom. Under a deep blue sky, our 30-member group arrived at the home of architect Yoshihiro Takishita on Genjiyama, which has a fine view of Sagami Bay.

With the group fully assembled, Takishita-san began his tour of the interior of the house, speaking humorously in fluent English. Around 40 years ago, this mid-Edo era gasshozukuri-style house was moved to Kamakura from Izumimura in Fukui Prefecture and reconstructed to fit present-day living conditions, creating an amazing 'new' old farmhouse. Under the high ceiling of the house's steep-sloping-rafter roof, the group could appreciate the warmth of the wooden pillars and beams from huge trees.

We were reminded of the wisdom of the Japanese of that era who used various stratagems such as constructing the house without a single nail to provide a place for several generations to live comfortably together with nature. Considering present-day Japan with its environmental problems, one felt there was a lot to learn about the Japanese sense of values, aesthetics and appreciation of nature from these old homes.

As the representative of the Association for Preserving Old Japanese Farmhouses, Takishata-san is active in conveying to the younger generation and the world the Japanese way of life based on living with traditional wooden architecture born of endemic Japanese features. Looking at the large garden from the gasshozukuri room, one could see the white Oshima cherry blossoms, one of Japan's 400 varieties, we were told.

When the tour of the house was over, the group was treated to a very special talk in a large hall on Japanese byobu screens, about which Takishita-san is an expert. From the 100 or so screens he has preserved, he chose several to speak about in detail, which dated from the 1600s to the end of the Edo era. Byobu screens were painted taking into consideration a room's lighting conditions as affected by shoji paper doors and andon lanterns in the evening.

Finally, we were served coffee and dessert made by Mrs Takishita while Takishita-san carefully replied to the various questions of the group.

Latest JITOW Column
http://www.esuj.gr.jp/jitow/eng

English Club

On English Club took place on March 18 (Tue) at Nikkei Notio in Marunouchi Oazo. The room was full, with 60 ESUJ members and others from the general public attending.

Our speaker was Mr Matthew Setterfield, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Consultant of the Clean Energy Finance Committee, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, speaking on the topic of "The Fight against Global Warming―Can Carbon Trading Play a Role?" Regarding emissions trading, Matthew explained the supplementary mechanism for the fulfillment of obligations and objectives of each country based on the Kyoto Protocol while providing examples of real techniques for emissions reduction such as EU-leadership in Cap-and-Trade Programs and a pig farm in Cambodia.

Despite the fact that the talk was at a high level and in a rather specialized field, there was a passionate Q&A session, helping to improve the understanding of the still rather unfamiliar field of emissions trading, demonstrating the concern of the audience about this topic.

Next English Club meeting: April 15 (Tue) 18:30-20:00 (Full House)
Speaker:Dr. Enrico Martini, An Invitation to Itary's Treasures
Notice!! Nikkei NOTIO will be closed on April 30.

English Club Meeting in May: Wed. May 21 18:30-19:45
Nissay Life Plaza Marunouchi (next to Marunouchi Oazo Bildg)
Speaker: Ms. Michelle Arnot, "An American Juror Offeres Insights for the future Saiban In System"
(Deadline for application: Fri. May 9)

Future Activities

Haiku in English Part 5 by Ms. Emiko Miyashita
April 23 (Wed.) 18:30-20:00 Japan National Press Club
To attendee: Write a hiku on a postcard and send it to ESUJ! (Deadline: April 14)

May Evening Gala 2008 〜ESUJ 10th Anniv. Gala Dinner Dance〜
May 27 (Tue.) 18:30-20:30 at Meiji Kinenkan
Jazz band! Dance! Door Prize! Black tie welcome!!
Deadline: May 19 (Mon.) Details: Click Here!

ESUJ Debate 2008 (Shakaijin Debate)
Participants Wanted! (Deadline: Wed. May 7)
June 7 (Sat.) 10:00-19:00 at KFC Rooms (Ryogoku)

ESUJ AGM and Lecture (Details will follow)
June 19 (Thu) AGM: 17:30- Lecture: 18:30-19:30 at International House (Roppongi)
"Climate Change: why need to act now" by H.E. Sir G. Fry