Today, (Monday, August the 1st) I had my 3rd chemo. Everything went well. You are there the whole day, but they take good care of you. The medications also keeps you going. So, I quickly want to show you some pictures of the decorations I finished on 3 big plates. They are still green ware, not fired yet. The clay has a red color and on the 3rd plate you see it is still drying. The 1st and 2nd plate I already put the black slip on (a liquid paint able clay which you have to put on before the 1st firing).

19.75″ x 2.5″; 50cm x 6cm

It is already Friday. I didn’t succeed to put on the pictures. The chemo got to me, especially yesterday and today. Tomorrow, may be better.

21.25″ x 2.75″; 53,5cm x 7cm

The engravings on the plates are inspired by the Flower of Life symbol, which dates to at least 400AD, and is possibly much older that that. Throughout human history, philosophers, artists, and architects around the world have known the Flower of Life for its perfect form, proportion, and harmony. It is considered to be a symbol of sacred geometry, depicting the fundamental forms of space and time. It is the form beneath our being and points to a divine order in our reality. It is a visual expression of the connections life weaves through all mankind. A Flower of Life pattern can be constructed with a pen, compass and paper, by creating multiple series of interlinking circles. The Flower of Life can be found in the temples, art, and manuscripts of cultures all over the world.

21″ x 6,5″ ; 53cm x 16,5cm

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I arrived here in Miharu, Fukushima last Tuesday to work, throw some pots, at Kusakabe-san’s place and fire a kiln.
Miharu means “Three spring”: the first 3 blossoms in spring are: plum, cherry and peach: “ume, sakura and momo”. The “ume” blossoms already finished, but the Sakura is in full bloom and the peach like here in the entrance to Kusakabe-san farm house, is starting to bloom.

We also saw some wonderful sakura trees and the surroundings here is completely engulfed by the colors from white, light pink to dark pink. It is beautiful.

Cherry tree lighted up at night.

Kusakabe-san entering a temple.

Jasmin and Kusakabe-san underneath a Sakura tree.

The city Miharu: In the far back everything is pink also. Only it is not easy to see. (Click for enlargement).

And this morning at 6 am, we went to the “Takizakura”; the waterfall Sakura tree, here in Miharu. This tree is 1200 years old and poles support the heavy branches. It is a historic monument. Already so many people were up to admire the tree. This weekend lots of people will be visiting this Sakura tree. And the roads will be blocked all around town!

After being in the US for a while, I finally returned to Kamakura, Japan.
Three years ago when we moved partially to Kamakura, we were just in time to see some “Sakura” and the Spring parade. It was a wonderful start to enter Japan. Now again, after making the decision that I’m going to start a studio here, I feel really blessed by all those falling Sakura leaves and joy of spring!

We went to the Hachimangu Shrine with the big pond. Incredibly beautiful.

And then of course, we went to our favorite neighborhood Komiyoji Temple. The path toward the main temple is adorned with “Sakura”.

All those falling leaves!!!!

On that day, when I bicycled on the Hachimangu grounds, I discovered eight installations of Japanese gardens along a path.

In Japanese culture, garden-making is a high art.Though often thought of as tranquil sanctuaries that allow individuals to escape from the stresses of daily life, Japanese gardens are designed for a variety of purposes. Some gardens invite quiet contemplation, but may have also been intended for recreation, the display of rare plant specimens, or the exhibition of unusual rocks.
Strolling Gardens require the observer to walk through the garden to fully appreciate it. A premeditated path takes observers through each unique area of a Japanese garden. Uneven surfaces are placed in specific spaces to prompt people to look down at particular points. When the observer looks up, they will see an eye-catching ornamentation which is intended to enlighten and revive the spirit of the observer. This type of design is known as the Japanese landscape principle of “hide and reveal”.

Stones are used to construct the garden’s paths, bridges, and walkways. Stones can also represent a geological presence where actual mountains are not viewable or present.
The raked gravel or sand simulates the feeling of water in Karesansui gardens. The rocks/gravel used are chosen for their artistic shapes, and mosses as well as small shrubs are used to further garnish the Karesansui style (Japanese Lifestyle). All in all, the rocks and moss are used to represent ponds, islands, boats, seas, rivers, and mountains in an abstract way.

A water source in a Japanese garden should appear to be part of the natural surroundings; this is why one will not find fountains in traditional gardens. Man-made streams are built with curves and irregularities to create a serene and natural appearance. Lanterns are often placed beside some of the most prominent water basins (either a pond or a stream) in a garden. In some gardens one will find a dry pond or stream. Dry ponds and streams have as much impact as do the ones filled with water.

Green plants are another element of Japanese gardens. Japanese traditions prefer subtle green tones, but flowering trees and shrubs are also used. In addition, bamboos and related plants, evergreens including Japanese black pine, and such deciduous trees as maples grow above a carpet of ferns and mosses, which give a broader palette of seasonal color.

The tradition of the Tea masters has produced highly refined Japanese gardens of evoking rural simplicity. Chaniwa Gardens are built for holding tea ceremonies. There is usually a tea house where the ceremonies occur, and the styles of both the hut and garden are based off the simple concepts of the tea ceremony. Usually, there are stepping stones leading to the tea house, stone lanterns, and stone basins “tsukubai” where guests purify themselves before a ceremony.
After the tea ceremony was refined by Sen Rikyu, the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, the tea garden, house, and utensils all served as a way to “awaken consciousness and to realize with humility our relationship with all that is around us and with the universe itself(Miller).” Also, tea ceremonies were partly designed to teach participants how to gain absolute control over body and mind. As a result, “it emphasizes not disconnection but connection between body movement and mind. Culturally, the Japanese followed the five Confucian virtues (loyalty, righteousness, politeness, wisdom, and trust) to ground these tea ceremony ideals off of. In short, the tea ceremonies were a cultural activity to teach Japanese/Confucian virtues that were important for life.

In the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1185-1573), a great many gardens were created during these two time periods due to improved garden techniques and the development of Zen beliefs and the refinement of the tea ceremony. Another factor that allowed gardens to flourish stems from the fact that the shoguns simply enjoyed gardens.

It was a wonderful treat.

Bird of Paradise Flower.

Some beautiful Geraniums.

And the Irises stand so majestic!

One of the gardens.

The Museum of Man in the Spanish Revival style, a richly ornamented eclectic mixture of Spanish and Latin American architecture.

Lupine Flowers.

A beautiful fountain in the shape of a star.

The Mingei Museum.

Just incredible!

This is part of the moat going around the Imperial Palace.

And so many people come to look at the cherry blossoms!

The  Yasukuni Shrine:


Everybody wants to sit underneath the trees and eat or drink and come together in groups.

Plum and Azalea

The “Torii” of the Dankatsura street, going all the way to the Hachimango Shrine.

Dankatsura by night!

Enjoy the following pictures:

I feel very fortunate to be able to live at this wonderful place on this big, great globe.

There is always this serene quietness. The inside of the temple is beautiful. The temple is surrounded by two beautiful gardens. Kishu Teien with a lotus pond and Sanson Goso Raigo in the Karesansui (a dry landscape garden) style. The “Nelumbo” lotus water lilies in the pond had all withered away and the big pod seeds are all changing into this dark brown dry color. The big leaves are turning brown. Autumn is on its way.

But 3 weeks ago before I left for Mashiko, the pond looked like this: the walkway to the pond.

At the pond.

A golden coy fish in the pond. (Also, look on my blog of May 24).

The water lilies.