Kamikatsu is headed to Tokyo
Happy earth day & other April updates
Dear friends,
Happy Earth Day, wonderful earthlings! I draw on a quote from Atmos: The Earth is not a day or a month, it's something we belong to. Now more than ever, it needs our love—and protection.
While I didn’t participate in any Earth Day celebrations, I recently have been deep diving into the intersections between our food systems and climate change (supercharged by reading this article by the Guardian ‘Our food system isn't ready for the climate crisis’). So it was my personal earth day commitment to learning more about the critical role that the food system plays in both slowing down and adapting to climate change.
In reflecting on Earth Day, I also think of the book ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ (which I highly recommend!) that reminds us “that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world”.
Groundwork for our rice field
Like most projects that I’ve started in the countryside, it all begins with a deep desire to do things with my own hands. In this past year, I’ve admired the small and big ways locals chose to be self-sufficient—a theme I come back to time and time again. One of the first things that impressed me the most when I moved to Kamikatsu was the farmers who were growing and harvesting rice.
Being born and raised in an Asian (Japanese/Cantonese) household, rice was (without a question) served and eaten every night. “How can you be full with anything other than rice?” I remember my family joking. It wasn’t just white rice, my mom made brown rice or mixed it in different grains, which changed the taste and nutritional benefit. I love rice.
While I understood on a (shallow) level how most vegetables I was eating were made, I had no real understanding of how rice was produced. I could draw on images of beautiful rice paddies, but what did it take to make a bowl of rice?
There is a beautiful area in the furthest corner of Kamikatsu called Yaeji. Perched on the mountaintop are breathtaking terraced rice fields. If I close my eyes and think of the most Kamikatsu-like place, I think of these rice fields.
Unfortunately, all around Kamikatsu (not only in Yaeji), there is a shortage of people to take care of the rice fields and farmland. Early last winter, the leader of the Yaeji rice fields asked if Linda and I wanted to make make our rice. We decided to join forces with Narumi, an organic farmer in Kamikatsu, and borrow one rice field together to make our organic rice.
A couple of days ago, we visited our field to do the first weeding and prepare the soil. Even though we’re renting one field, we’re connected to the other fields through shared water and land—so this effort is far from an individual endeavor but a collective one with the community. I’m excited about what’s to come!
Kamikatsu is headed to Tokyo!
The countryside is limited in places to eat and gather, so people come together in each other’s homes. It’s one of the things I love most about living in the countryside.
About a month ago I hosted a dinner and invited photographer Shumpei Ohsugi and other friends to my home. For the past year, Shumpei has been visiting Kamikatsu several times each month to photograph the village’s landscape and people.
Over that dinner, we talked about his upcoming exhibition in Tokyo (May 3 - May 8) where he would debut the photos he’s been taking of Kamikatsu. Shumpei invited us (Linda and I, on behalf of INOW) to participate in the photo exhibition to give an English talk about Kamikatsu, and to also sell our (traditional awa bancha) tea! I was floored at his generosity and very quickly we were looped into the exhibition.
So… I am so excited to share that I will be in Tokyo on May 7 & 8 as part of 「KAMIKATSU」an immersive and interactive photo exhibition by Shumpei Ohsugi.
If you’re a reader from Tokyo, I’d love to meet up! Check out the information below.
Tuesday, May 3 - Sunday, May 8
11:00-19:00
Daikanyama Garage in Tokyo
https://m.facebook.com/events/705771870566097/
There will be recorded sounds of Kamikatsu and craft workshops hosted by Kamikatsu residents. I am so excited (and proud) to share this beautiful village, I’ve had the joy of calling home, with so many people in Tokyo.
Gratitude for so many things. Today I’m thankful for my chickens. And all the bees. Thank you, Earth.
Sending love,
Kana
I have slowly, slowing been reading Braiding Sweetgrass and it is so good. I cannot imagine how labor intensive producing rice, and farming in general, is. The sounds cool. It also sounds like you and the photographer should collaborate on a book about Kamikatsu!