Oh I’ve finally found Kerr in TH-cam. Thank you for such a delicate and skillful presentation. Not disappointed. Enjoyed your book Lost in Japan years ago and now eagerly awaiting the Another Kyoto. Making day trips there as often as I can, your book will greatly enhance this secret passion of mine. I’ll also slowly watch all your videos here with much enthusiasm. Thank you for all your work sir.
I really love your books and videos. From the way you speak about things and describe them you can feel the sense of warmth and affection towards history and Japanese culture. That’s really inspiring! Also, this house looks co cozy, spending time there must be a wonderful experience❤️
Thank you. Chiiori really is unique. I was just there a few days ago (when we filmed this episode), and the house, and the mists in the hills, never fail to inspire me with their magic..
Thank you very much. I don't know why, but Japanese antique objects are like alive with a soul. I have seen charcoal used as plaster in the garden. It would be interesting to know if it has a special meaning. Thanks again, looking forward for your next video.
Thank you. Yatate is an interesting idea, but I don't have any! So far my approach has been only to talk about objects belonging to me in my near surroundings. But there's also a "karma of things". The way it works is that no sooner have you mentioned yatate, then one will enter my life. Let's wait and see.
Thank you Alex for another beautiful video. The sumibana I found particularly fascinating, I had never come across it before so will have to look for some charcoal and try it myself. The owner of the ryokan I work for is a nagairebana master and he has considerable distaste for kenzan as he feels it causes unnecessary damage and distress to the flowers. He has his own more natural methods of keeps flowers in position when using wider necked vessels.
Ever since Kawase taught me sumibana, I've never used kenzan again. The one in the video I had to go out and buy for demonstration purposes. Sumibana is a pleasure and a challenge for the reason that the sumi has its own say, and it doesn't go as planned.
@@alexakerr1 I can't say I have ever seen them for sale in my town before, which kind of shop would stock them? Sumibana really appeals to me precisely because of the interaction between sumi and flower and how they are in control. As a beginner in nageirebana I find it hard to build confidence because I am always second guessing myself.
@@gentlemaninjapan I don't think you'll ever see this kind of sumi in a shop. But you can get it from Rakuten or Amazon. They might be called 切炭 (kirizumi), or 丸炭 (marusumi). In tea ceremony they might be called 風炉用炭 (furo-yo sumi); the name for the bigger ones used in tea ceremony is 丸毬打 (maru gitcho). The beautiful ones are called generically 菊炭 (kiku-sumi, "chrysanthemum sumi"). For reference, here are some rakuten links, but you could also do a search on amazon. item.rakuten.co.jp/papyrus-two/275000253000/ ,item.rakuten.co.jp/bokotan/10000034/ , item.rakuten.co.jp/jubishi/10002211/ ,
and................charcoal for digestive problems and to treat poisoning by mouth............usefull stuff really. The Welsh writer C.W. Nichol who lived in Nagano in the Japanese Alps and who recently sadly passed away employed a specialist charcoal burner to make charcoal on his land.
👍🏼👍🏼 I read your two books, 'Lost Japan' 'Another Kyoto'. Enlightening and mind opening. If i am not mistaken, you mentioned about this house in your book 'Lost Japan'. Is this the same traditional house?
Pardon my ignorance, but are higanbanas really suitable for sumibana or ikebana in general? Or did you just deviate from the norm and made the art flourish in new directions? I'm just curious because of the connotations of the flower.
A lot of Japanese feel nervous about using Higanbana for flower arrangements because of the name Higan, which means "the other shore", a term used in Buddhist to mean the afterlife. Actually Higanbana is just a nickname, due to the fact that it blooms at the Equinox, which is also called Higan. So they've mixed up the two meanings of Higan. In any case, the real name of this flower is Manjushage. I use it regardless because it's simply splendid. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet".
@@alexakerr1 I spend a lot of time with my charcoal and experiment with the Khantal wire and stainless Steel. I am just trying to get down to earth. Sustainable energy and the appreciation of the natural resources. I have a lovely fossil of a knotty tree with the bark and worm holes in my lounge. Apparently its worth a fortune. I may donate it to the Japanese embassy in London one day
Found you through Tokyo Llama and just fell in love with your restoration work 🥰
Thank you!
Oh I’ve finally found Kerr in TH-cam. Thank you for such a delicate and skillful presentation. Not disappointed.
Enjoyed your book Lost in Japan years ago and now eagerly awaiting the Another Kyoto. Making day trips there as often as I can, your book will greatly enhance this secret passion of mine.
I’ll also slowly watch all your videos here with much enthusiasm.
Thank you for all your work sir.
Thank you. It's been a while since I uploaded a video, but I hope to get back to it soon.
what a story you are a legend for me
Thank you! I've stopped doing Secrets of Things for several months, but you inspire me to start doing it again.
Wow
Thank you.
The sound of the charcoal is very soothing. The charcoal is beautiful
Thank you. I think sitting around the irori takes us back to our prehistoric ancestors sitting around a fire.
I think this is my favorite episode so far! And it was nice to see Chiiori.
Thank you. It's always a joy to be back in Iya.
I really love your books and videos. From the way you speak about things and describe them you can feel the sense of warmth and affection towards history and Japanese culture. That’s really inspiring! Also, this house looks co cozy, spending time there must be a wonderful experience❤️
Thank you. Chiiori really is unique. I was just there a few days ago (when we filmed this episode), and the house, and the mists in the hills, never fail to inspire me with their magic..
Beautiful film, Alex, we can see the passion in your face while you explain.
Thank you. Maybe being in Chiiori brings that out.
Thank you very much. I don't know why, but Japanese antique objects are like alive with a soul. I have seen charcoal used as plaster in the garden. It would be interesting to know if it has a special meaning. Thanks again, looking forward for your next video.
Thanks. Wonderful. I hope to hear about many more "secrets of things". How about yatate at some point?
Thank you. Yatate is an interesting idea, but I don't have any! So far my approach has been only to talk about objects belonging to me in my near surroundings. But there's also a "karma of things". The way it works is that no sooner have you mentioned yatate, then one will enter my life. Let's wait and see.
Beautiful. It is simple grace, warm, and beautiful. Specially with the set up in Shiiori. I wish to be there one day in the not-so-distance future.
Thank you. I hope you can visit Chiiori some day.
Thank you Alex for another beautiful video. The sumibana I found particularly fascinating, I had never come across it before so will have to look for some charcoal and try it myself. The owner of the ryokan I work for is a nagairebana master and he has considerable distaste for kenzan as he feels it causes unnecessary damage and distress to the flowers. He has his own more natural methods of keeps flowers in position when using wider necked vessels.
Ever since Kawase taught me sumibana, I've never used kenzan again. The one in the video I had to go out and buy for demonstration purposes. Sumibana is a pleasure and a challenge for the reason that the sumi has its own say, and it doesn't go as planned.
@@alexakerr1 I can't say I have ever seen them for sale in my town before, which kind of shop would stock them?
Sumibana really appeals to me precisely because of the interaction between sumi and flower and how they are in control. As a beginner in nageirebana I find it hard to build confidence because I am always second guessing myself.
@@gentlemaninjapan I don't think you'll ever see this kind of sumi in a shop. But you can get it from Rakuten or Amazon. They might be called 切炭 (kirizumi), or 丸炭 (marusumi). In tea ceremony they might be called 風炉用炭 (furo-yo sumi); the name for the bigger ones used in tea ceremony is 丸毬打 (maru gitcho). The beautiful ones are called generically 菊炭 (kiku-sumi, "chrysanthemum sumi"). For reference, here are some rakuten links, but you could also do a search on amazon. item.rakuten.co.jp/papyrus-two/275000253000/ ,item.rakuten.co.jp/bokotan/10000034/ , item.rakuten.co.jp/jubishi/10002211/ ,
@@alexakerr1 Thank you, that is extremely helpful!
and................charcoal for digestive problems and to treat poisoning by mouth............usefull stuff really.
The Welsh writer C.W. Nichol who lived in Nagano in the Japanese Alps and who recently sadly passed away employed a specialist charcoal burner to make charcoal on his land.
Iya used to have dozens of charcoal kilns. I'd love to revive that some day.
👍🏼👍🏼 I read your two books, 'Lost Japan' 'Another Kyoto'. Enlightening and mind opening. If i am not mistaken, you mentioned about this house in your book 'Lost Japan'. Is this the same traditional house?
Thank you. Yes, Chiiori is the house in Lost Japan.
Nice mood, nice informations :)
Thank you.
👍👍👍👍👍
Love this EP, make me learn more about the charming of charcoal and how Japanese value it.
Charcoal is a beautifu thing.
Pardon my ignorance, but are higanbanas really suitable for sumibana or ikebana in general? Or did you just deviate from the norm and made the art flourish in new directions? I'm just curious because of the connotations of the flower.
A lot of Japanese feel nervous about using Higanbana for flower arrangements because of the name Higan, which means "the other shore", a term used in Buddhist to mean the afterlife. Actually Higanbana is just a nickname, due to the fact that it blooms at the Equinox, which is also called Higan. So they've mixed up the two meanings of Higan. In any case, the real name of this flower is Manjushage. I use it regardless because it's simply splendid. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet".
ITHINKIVEFOUNDANEWFAVORITECHANNEL!!! Subscribed!!!
Thank you. I'm sorry that I've been busy and haven't done any "Secrets of Things" episodes for many months. You inspire me to get back to it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here's my gaigin version
th-cam.com/users/shortsft-1ygcbJj4?feature=share
Updated for our modern times.
@@alexakerr1 I spend a lot of time with my charcoal and experiment with the Khantal wire and stainless Steel.
I am just trying to get down to earth. Sustainable energy and the appreciation of the natural resources.
I have a lovely fossil of a knotty tree with the bark and worm holes in my lounge. Apparently its worth a fortune. I may donate it to the Japanese embassy in London one day
@@peetsnort It's all about trying to get back to the earth.