50 years for 1cm

What is ”50 years for 1cm”? It is the speed of the growth of a stalactite hanging from the cave like an icicle. Not 50cm per year but 1cm per 50 years…. It is an unbelievably long time. Stalactite cave is a cave made by limestone that was eroded by underground water. If the stalactite took 50 years to grow 1cm, how long did it take for the cave to get to its current size? In Iwate Prefecture, there is a famous stalactite cave. It is Ryusendo located in the east in Iwaizumi city of Shimohei county. We eagerly go to the cave looking forward to the adventure.

“Ryusendo” is one of the largest stalactite caves in Japan

Ryusendo is said to be one of the top 3 stalactite caves in Japan. It was designated as the nation’s natural monument titled as ”Iwaizumi Wakkutsu (old name for Ryusendo) and bats” in 1938.
The characteristic of the cave is in the altitude difference of the highest and lowest points, about 250 meters. So there are many staircases, and you will be surprised by the depth of the cave. And to add to this, it is famous for the underground lake. They have counted multiple underground lakes and of those, 3 are open to the public. The third underground lake is 98m deep. It is rich in clear water and the view is mystical. As a matter of fact, the water has been chosen as one of the 100 best water in Japan. It is that clear.

There were people living in the cave?

Ryusendo has a stalactite cave called Ryusen Shindo (Ryusen New Cave)　which was discovered in 1967. We visited there as well. We first saw the site of bats.
”They are asleep”, said Sono Yaegashi calmly as he guided us. Nevertheless, the eerie atmosphere of bats in the cave made us nervous.
According to her, there was also evidence of human life in the cave in the past, not just the bats. They found some clay potteries and bones of animals which was probably their food. ”The cave must have been more comfortable to live since the temperature does not change as much as the outside world”, she explained.
Considering the fact that it takes 50 years for the cave grow 1 centimeter, it made us wonder about the tremendous amount of time for any changes. That means the view here has probably not changed that much since those days. We don’t know what kind of people lived here in what condition, but in front of us, the vision we were sharing was the same view that hadn’t changed for thousands of years. It was a space where we could feel the grandness of nature with our skin.

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The most famous Amber producing site in Japan

There must be many people who have heard of ”Kuji Amber” before. Kuji city has the biggest amber producing site in Japan, on the northern coast of Iwate. We visited ”Kuji Amber Museum” where they excavate, research, and exhibit amber.
Amber is a type of fossil that is the petrified resin of the trees that existed when the dinosaurs were alive several millions to billions of years ago. Normally when the plants are buried in the soil, the bacteria breaks down and carbonize the resin, and with time it is returned to soil so it is rare to see a fossil of plants. There are many places in the world where amber was discovered, and here in Kuji a lot of amber was discovered also. It is considered to have a huge reserve. Sometimes there are insects trapped in the amber and in recent years, there have been research extracting the DNA from the fossils which provides important information for the field of biology.

What color is Amber?

The 1st floor on the main building of the museum is an exhibition room called ”Message from the past”. You can learn about how amber is made within the history of the earth and see the exhibition of various ambers with gem stones and insects inside.
Here is a question. What color is amber?
In fact there are more than several hundred colors of amber. It is because the color changes depending on the type of the original tree. In Japan the term ”amber color” suggests a warm tone of yellowish brown, but in reality they have excavated clear, solid brown, or multi colored ones that are red, green, black and white.
On the 2nd floor on the main building of the museum, there is an exhibition room for ”Man and Amber”. It follows archeological and cultural aspect of when humans started using amber. Around the world, there have been amber products that were excavated from ruins that are older than 10 thousand years. In Japan, they have found ”magatama” balls made of amber from a ruin older than Jomon Period, 20 thousand years ago (Pre ceramic Age).
There are also studies on the stone balls that was excavated from a ruin in Nara from the Tumulus period (3 to 7 centuries AD) which were made from amber from the Kuji area. Amber mining became commercialized in Kuji area in the Muromachi Period and became controlled by Nambu Clan as their regional specialty in the Edo Period. In reality, amber has been cherished as a valuable item and was traded among the people since olden times.

There are still many new discoveries

Within the museum, you can look at the mining trail that was used for amber mining and also experience digging the stratum from Cretaceous Period. Nakata also tried excavating with a staff from the museum. It was only for a short time but he dug out a small piece of amber.
There was a major discovery from this mining site in 2012. A boy who joined the excavation experience discovered a small fossil of bone. After further study at the research institute, they found out that it was a bone of a foot from a small carnivorous dinosaur. It was the first time that they found a carnivorous dinosaur in the Tohoku region, and they are paying attention to future excavation and research.
From old times, amber has been treated as valuable gemstones. At the Kuji Amber Museum, you can experience the charm of amber and feel the history of the past. And there may even be major discoveries that can change history.

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Yokohama – Center stage of opening Japan to the world!

Yokohama, Kanagawa is a port city which started the opening of Japan subsequent to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States. In an era where every aspect of culture, such as ice cream, jazz, and fashion was modernizing at great speed, Yokohama was at the center of the movement. The art world was also changing greatly. Many foreign engineers and artists came to Japan on merchant vessels from abroad and introduced new ways of expression.
Yokohama Art Museum, which opened in 1989, features the historic background of the city. Its permanent collection consisting of both western and Japanese art from the late 19th century and contemporary pieces are displayed at this museum. We interviewed Eriko Osaka, Director as we took a tour through the exhibition.
”The portraits currently on display are influenced by western oil paintings. The perspective method also came from abroad. It was a mode of expression that did not exist in Japanese paintings.” You can see how Japanese artists learned from western art while western artists were also influenced by Japanese art. The museum’s permanent exhibit is changed 3 times a year. There are also four special exhibitions each year. The museum introduces new artists when they hold large scale contemporary art exhibitions. (*1: We visited in mid March 2012. For the latest information on exhibits, please refer to the museum’s website.*2: left picture by Yasuyuki Kasagi)

Observing the development of photography

Yokohama has close ties with photography. Photographic techniques were introduced to Japan by Dutch merchant vessels through Nagasaki’s Dejima at the end of the Edo era, but Yokohama is the location of the first photo studio. Yokohama Art Museum focuses on the development and artistic quality of photographic culture, and continues to add to its collection of photographs. Having an exhibition room solely for photographs is quite unique. At the time of our interview, the exhibit was made up of photographs taken 100 years ago at scenic sites within Kanagawa by foreign photographers. They were not just photographs, but pigment was applied on black and white photographs to make them look like colored photographs. Perhaps the photographer wanted to retain the colors of the scenery at time when colored photographs did not exist. The museum retains and exhibits photographs since the founding period of photography to contemporary photographic art pieces, and introduces the appeal of photography to the public.

A comfortable room, an atelier for children

Yokohama Art Museum has another aspect. Nakata had the chance to visit ”Citizen’s Atelier” and ”Children’s Atelier.” Citizens are able to engage in creative activity in ”Citizen’s Atelier,” a comfortable spacious work space surrounded by a high ceiling and white walls. Here, a work facility which would otherwise be difficult to privately own is open for citizens to use for various genres of art, such as print making, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Assistance from the atelier’s instructors is offered as well as workshops by various artists. ”Children’s Atelier” has a multipurpose space where children can move around energetically, and is also used for various workshops for children.
Junichi Seki, the leader of the Creative Assistance Group told us, ”We opened 23 years ago so people who participated as children now bring their children.” It is important to see art pieces not just passively, but to actually experience art. Yokohama Art Museum is adored by many people as a museum that actively fosters cultural experience.

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Glass showroom

Glass studio SILICA is built on the Akane Daira hill where the entire city of Kitaibaraki can be viewed. Its name derives from the silica sand which glass is made from. Its title ”Glass Studio” comes from the showroom where you can see glass works collected from all over the world. Various genres of works displayed range from blown glass, cut glass, and to kiln work where various colors are generated by reheating and fusing combined cold glass. Fujiko Enami, a glass craft artist, showed us around the facility. (We will visit Enami on our trip to Kanagawa Prefecture. )

The glass ”jubako” （stacked food box)

One of the items that caught Nakata’s attention was ”Kazaribako Kohaku bai”　（Decorated box; Red and White Plum Blossoms). It looks like a ”jubako” but instead of the conventional lacquered wood, it is made of glass. They use black on the inside, decorated with lavish gold leaf and colors that inspires red and white plum blossoms on the outside.

Enami explained ”it is glass so naturally, its translucent. That makes it so beautiful. ”A SILICA staff opened the glass door for us and let Nakata hold it. He walked up to the window and held it up against the sunlight. A purplish black color became visible and the work emitted a sort of divine atmosphere.

Experiencing glass

The final step of the tour was a view of glass craft in action. Enami joined in the work. That day, all of the workers were women. We were surprised by the large number of female workers when we toured another glass factory elsewhere, but here again, women. They were taking the glass out of the kiln, and all of them called out loudly ”I’m taking this out!” ”Yes, OK!” and worked together in harmony. This work can be seen by any visitor, and is a rare occasion to have a direct look at the actual work of creation, but a look at the actual work may be overwhelming.
At SILICA you are able to experience various hand-on glass making with prior reservation. It is a workshop where you can learn about glass, admire the works, actually make glass crafts, and experience the entre world of glass.

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Foundation of Japanese modernization

Japan’s first silk-reeling factory established in 1872. The Meiji government built this state-run silk mill factory as a way of promoting strong industry and increasing country’s wealth, .

Until then, silk-reeling required human labor in Japan, and therefore the production quantity was small, and there was an issue with stable quality. So the Meiji government asked French engineer, Paul Brunat, to direct the construction of the factory to introduce the latest silk-reeling machines and the use of steam locomotives. Hence the first silk-reeling factory was built in Japan.

Registered as World Industrial Heritage

At Tomioka Silk Mill, there are a series of brick buildings that bring images of the Meiji era. The West Cocoon Warehouse, built with wooden frames and bricks, is a unique building that retains most of its original state. Other buildings, such as the silk-reeling factory constructed before 1875, have been designated as Important Cultural Properties.

We went inside the silk-reeling factory with a guide. This building also remains almost as it was when it was built. The inside walls are painted white which looked very modern, and there were many rows of milling machines in this large space.

The Tomioka Silk Mill operated for 115 years up until 1987. The machines you see now were introduced in the Showa era. It was once filled with the sound of silk spinners and several hundred women attending the machines.

In 2007, ”The Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Industrial Heritage” was tentatively enlisted in the World Heritage. Later, it was officially registered as a World Heritage in 2014, and became the second Industrial Heritage in Japan following ”Iwami Ginzan”. This heritage shows the scale of the huge industry that once promoted the high-speed modernization of Japan.

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A gathering of ceramics related institutions

It is said that ceramics started in Shigaraki in the Muromachi period. It has an unprecedented history. The region’s ceramics industry flourished because of its proximity to Kyoto and Osaka, as well as being blessed with good quality clay fit for pottery. The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park Foundation was established in 1990 to build understanding and affinity for ceramic art and culture.
Its main function is for cultural preservation as a museum, but they also hold numerous courses such as ceramics lessons for people to become familiar with ceramics. It also functions as a park. It is a place where you can enjoy a full day as a museum, school and a museum shop.

Accepting artists and helping them develop

As the name ”Cultural Ceramics Park” implies, it is also equipped with a training center for ceramic artists and potential artists. Artists who participate in the ”Artist in Residence” program actually live within the premises, and are able to make ceramics using the kiln. Famous artists are invited for events, such as lectures and performances. It is actively involved in promotion and interaction on a global scale to maximize the future of ceramics, in addition to cultural preservation. To know what has been handed down through history. To develop and pass on that knowledge. Shiga ceramic art is handed down to the next generation with the Ceramic Cultural Park as its main platform.

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