A story of living in “Craft Comfort” in Tokyo, Japan
Text by Miki Numata | Translation by Suzi Yamaguchi | Photographs by Teruaki Kawakami, Takuya Furusue
Recipe & Styling by Saiko Hashimoto | Courtesy by R100 Tokyo
The Comforts of home
Each house holds a story of its inhabitants; a real life scene with an underwritten script. The following is from a series of short stories that depict scenes from the enriched lifestyles of the residents of R100 TOKYO. In this installment, we would like to give you a peek at the story of our home; the inhabitants are my wife, who is an aromatherapist, and me, an owner of an IT company, along with our treasured Japanese folk art and old household items lovingly exhibited. This first scene is a weekend afternoon where we have the pleasure of entertaining guests. We are surrounded by my wife’s delicious vegan cuisine and enjoying the serenity of the moment. A clock ticks softly in the background while a large MINO, a traditional Japanese straw garment hanging ornamentally in the living room appears to be watching over the gathering.
Hanging on the wall is an Aomori "Date Gera", a mino garment. It is said that they competed for the most beautiful pattern around the neck.
Balance Living: Boosting Happiness and Creativity
Weekend lunch with a friend and his wife
My wife, inspired, suddenly suggests, “shall we invite someone to have lunch with us on Sunday?” I had not cleaned the house since the traditional end of the year cleaning (in Japan), so I thought it would be a good idea to do so, and at the same time, I could also organize my study, killing two birds with one stone.
My wife has recently started to learn how to cook vegan cuisine. Her hobbies have apparently expanded from aromatherapy, her main business, to include dyeing and weaving with plant dyes, cooking with natural ingredients, and making sweets.
In the past year I have been working from home more and more, so we have been spending more time together than ever before. Perhaps my wife is getting a bit fed up with this, but I am grateful for the change of pace, and it has a positive (and delicious) effect on me!
“I have to start with a welcome fragrance", she excitedly announces, taking over the bedroom in the morning to do what is in my opinion a chemical experiment. It is her theory that the first thing to welcome a guest is the fragrance.
“There, it's done! Bergamot, mint and lemongrass for early summer,” she notes. “Wow, that's refreshing. And it also seems delicious,” I chime in, swept up in her enthusiasm. “Yes, that's important!” she calls back pleased with herself.
The vegetables we order weekly from the farmer have arrived and they are clearly freshly harvested and fragrant. It was a pleasant surprise for me to be able to really feel the seasons just by the contents of this regularly delivered box, as prior to this time, I was mainly facing a computer in an office in the middle of the city.
“Excellent vegetables! Now I'm feeling inspired, so let's get cooking,” chirps my wife.
The aroma coming from the kitchen smells wonderful. Vegetables, herbs, spices and aromas combine to make me feel like I'm in a foreign country.
Surrender your heart to the pleasure of working with your hands.
“I'm going to get some tidying up done. If you need someone to taste test, don't hesitate to call me,” I tease before tending the cleaning. Surrender your heart to the pleasure of working with your hands.
I was born into a family of multi-generational farmers. Our lifestyle was for the most part easygoing, but after moving to Tokyo for university I became an IT enthusiast and decided to become a programmer. Now, the company I set up with my friends is doing well and has a good number of employees, so I am busy. I am not dissatisfied with this life, and it is fulfilling, but in this digital world that is constantly evolving and moving, I sometimes find myself missing the lifestyle left behind.
It was at this time that I first opened my eyes to handicrafts. Handicrafts made by concentrating on the sensations of the hands, craftsmanship learned naturally by heart, folk art and daily utensils handed down from generation to generation. When I interact with such things, I can feel the presence of people, I feel calm and relaxed. The power of the human hand, the warmth of the hand, has a power that cannot be measured by numbers.
“Would you like a taste of my beans?” my wife calls. “I'd love to!” I exclaim. “I like them a little on the soft side, don't you?” She queries. “They are boiled just right. I like them simple. In fact, I could drink to that,” I chide. “That's all you think about. It's only noon!” She teases back easily.
Symmetry
Making Time to Eat Right! Nourish your living and soul nutrition.
There was another reason for inviting our guest today. I wanted to show a friend of mine who works with antiques, this clock that I recently acquired. This clock, called "Yatagarasu", has a timeless story. The Nixie tube, once used all over the world, died out in the 1990s. The oldest digital display in history has been revived and beautifully restored by Yatagarasu! It’s a work of art created by craftsmanship and technology. As someone who works with digital technology, I was shaken when I heard this story.
“How is that clock you’re so proud of doing?” My wife calls out. “It’s perfect, Displaying the time perfectly in a beautiful orange hue.” I proudly call back.”
"Well then it's almost lunchtime. Will you set the table? She requests, eager to deliver a glorious meal. “Yes, ma'am!” I say as I hop to the task.
Today's menu is focused on colourful vegetables. We begin with ground fava bean soup, followed by spring cabbage (resembling a steak) and steamed carrots marinated in dill, sautéed mushrooms with wild rice and dried tomato sauce, orange lentils and brown rice with azuki beans. A platter of cobb salad with salted malt dressing and fried tofu croquettes and pinto beans round out the feast.
“Is this all vegan? No meat, no fish?” Our guest inquires. “Yes, it is. I'm a bit addicted these days. Please enjoy it.” I respond eager to tuck in.
I've known my friend, who runs a small gallery selling antiques and folk art, for about five years. We met when I was drawn to the Mino garment that was on display in his shop when I dropped in, and that's when I bought it. His wife is a textile artist and also my wife's dyeing and weaving teacher.
As we enjoyed the meal my friend commented, "I'm glad to see that you've kept the Date Gera (Mino garment) on display. It looks much better than when it was in the shop. You collect a lot of things, don't you? From folk tools to art, it's like a gallery.”
“Oh, a compliment from a professional,” I must admit I felt pleased by the remark. “The clock under the Mino is a bit unusual, I hope you'll take time to have a look at it later.”
It's nice to have a relaxed meal with friends who have similar tastes to your own. And I realize the importance of meeting people in person. These days we work remotely and have meetings over the screen. It's a wonderful evolution to be able to communicate in real time with people who are far away, but it's only when we meet face to face that we can truly interact.
Our guests were full of compliments after the meal.“We had so much food and it was really delicious. You are a very good cook. I would like to learn from you next time,” my friend’s wife graciously exclaimed.
“Thank you for the delicious meal, I am so full. It was beyond my expectation for a restaurant,” my friend added.
Beaming my wife replied, "Oh, thank you. It was worth the effort then. After dinner let’s have a cup of tea over there. It's not quite medicinal, but I have prepared a tea that will help your digestion after your meal.”
The comfortable place to live in Harmony
The balance of living in a natural environment and the surrounding community
I spend most of my time at work and only sleep at home. There were days like that in the past. And while I believe that this is also an important experience, I now truly feel how important it is to have a comfortable home to live in. Whether you are working or living, the temperature and texture of the air created by a place will deeply affect you. When I experience the comfort of living surrounded by things that match my wavelength, I am convinced that this is where I belong, and I feel at ease.
For me, this is living with crafts and folk art that are made by human hands and that speak to me. I was a little intimidated by that front at first, but now I feel at home. It looks like it's really comfortable.
The gentle light of early summer warmly illuminated our room.
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