Introduction:
Shigeri Kawarabayashi is a local meister living in Keihoku town, which is a rural satoyama on the outskirts of Kyoto that has been surviving and thriving sustainably for at least 1000 years. Keihoku implements “Circular Edonomy”, which is a system of economy hailing from the Edo period of Japan that repairs and returns in order to restore the town and the land it occupies to a better state. Although Kawarabayashi himself doesn’t occupy a large presence online, his town is decently well known as somewhat of a haven for shokunin looking to connect their craft with nature. Keihoku also is home to the activist organization ROOTS, which aims to “grow together with the local community of businesses and creators… making use of the local resources to create, grow and promote local businesses & tourism to share Keihoku with the world”.
Along with being the source of a wealth of traditional knowledge about local food, lifestyle, and culture, Kawarabayashi is also the owner of a 650 year old kayabuki thatched house, making him a resident of tradition within tradition.
Question:
- Do you think Keihoku benefits or is negatively impacted by being shared with the world?
- How does living in your home affect your relationship with the rest of the town/land?
- Do you consider yourself a shokunin, due to your position as meister?
- What impact do you hope to have on visitors that you share your knowledge with? What would you like them to come out of the experience with?
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Reflections:
On January 17th we visited Kawarabayashi san’s house. He lives in a traditional home with a hay roof in the town of Kaihouku. Kawarabayashi san told us about life in the countryside and spoke about the aspects he values of his life. He says that city people are less healthy because we do not sweat. We are always physically comfortable, and do not use our bodies to make things. Kawarabayashi san makes many things in his daily life. He told us that he has to harvest hay for years in order to be able to maintain the roof of his house. Although he lives a life that some might find difficult, he is extremely happy. He challenged us to give him advice on how to lead a happier life, and we could not come up with anything.
After visiting his house, I found myself questioning the pace of my life, and of life in general. I think, in order to live more sustainably and in more harmony with nature, we need to live slower. The pace of life is too fast, and the planet can’t keep up. Fast modes of transportation are more polluting, and fast modes of communication allow for the expectation that our needs be met immediately. Cycles of production are sped up, facilitated by fast modes of transportation. Kawarabayashi san’s life depicts a life led at the pace of nature. He relies on his environment in order to be able to meet his needs, so his needs are met at the pace of nature. It encouraged me to question the pace of the life I want to lead.