100% Renewable future

Kuzumaki, Iwate is a small town of 7,000 people but known to be ‘100% Natural’ as with its energy and food. In fact town is capable of producing 180% of energy from its wind, solar, biomass, and produce dairy products and wine. Interesting points are that some 200 new born dairy calves are sent to Kuzumaki for two years and their waste is used to produce methane. The wind is produced from the mountain grapes once considered to be a pest for logging, as their vines get tangled in the woods. One of the five high schools is equipped with solar panel, and more installation is planned. Thinning of the woods also produce materials for wood pellets. The self-claimed ‘nothing’ town is full of creative ideas and innovation for future.

Amenimo makezu (Miyazawa Kenji 1896-1933)

Not yielding to the rain

Not yielding to the wind

Having a strong body

That can cope with snow or summer heat

Having no wants

Never to be angry

Always wearing a quiet smile

Eating four cups of brown rice a day

With a little miso and vegetable

Listen and understand everything

Without counting myself in

But not forgetting things

Living in a small thatched shed in a pine forest

If there is a sick child in the east, go and care for him

If there is a tired mother in the west, go and carry her loads of rice

If there is a dying person in the south, go and tell her never to fear

If there is a fight in the north, go and tell them to stop being silly

In the drought, cry with people

In the cold summer, wander around feeling powerless

Being called useless

Not being praised

Nor disliked

Such is the person

I want to be

The Pine Tree

The pine tree is the sole survivor of the 3.11 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in Rikuzen-Takata, Iwate and now a symbol of reconstruction for the city as well as for the whole Tohoku. Rikuzen-Takata lost almost 10% of its 20,000 people. The pine avenue, renowned as Takata Matsubara (pien tree avenue) was once a popular tourist site also enjoyed as a local recreational venue. Only one survived out of 70,000 over 2km, some of which were over 300 year old. Nearly a year and half has passed since 3.11 devastation. On this August day, the sea was so calm and the sky so so blue as if nothing has happened – but still nearly 2,000 people are missing, 340,000 in evacuation and for 160,000 people in Fukushima, it is not certain when and if they can see their home again.

Blue Sky

18 June in Otsuchi, Iwate, we had a clear blue sky with beautiful gentle breeze. It was the 100th day from the March 11 disaster. A group of us was there to clean the Otsuchi-gawa River, where tsunami travelled upstream. The surrounding communities as far as 5km were devastated. Although the river water is cold and clean, the riverbed is filled with pieces of glasses, nails, roof tiles and fragments of household goods and industrial materials. On both sides of the river stand the Otsuchi Primary and Secondary. In the coming warmer months, we hope children can enjoy cool clean water in a safe environment. As we were finishing for the day, a string of kites flew straight up into the blue summer sky, as if to free the soul of those who were lost and the grief of their families and friends.

Suikinkutsu in Broome

The Suikinkutsu at the entrance of the Broome Shire Council,WA was installed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Broome-Taiji Sister-town Relationship. Simon Wearne, who has learned the art of Suikinkutsu making from Master Kubo, completed this installation using all local materials, plus stones from Taiji (grey stones in centre). The installation coincided with the naming of the street in front of the Taiji Town Council as "Broome St". The Broome suikinkutsu features special stones permitted from Yawuru People, the traditional owners in the Kimberley region and native plants, showing distinctive Broome landscape. This is the 5th suikinkutsu by Team Kubo, who has been installing this beautiful land art with a specific aim to communicate and celebrate the importance of peace, friendship, natural environment and local culture. With this installation, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, and the Japanese ancestors who came across the sea, worked hard in a foreign land, many of whom never saw their homeland again.

Industrialisation and Human senses

Shukuho is one of the traditional sake breweries remaining in Wakayama city center. The brewery was established in 1886, whose wooden structure partially remains. The current brewery built in 1965 is an example that human senses and abilities were still controlling the machines. The large scale factory was still serviced and controlled by workers, who lived in the building for the six months while sake making was in process using the barrels, ladders, buckets etc all made with wood. The time was a major industrialisation but was still pre-computer control, when humans were in control of machinery, not being overtaken. The critical senses in sake making, feeling of the temperature and consistency, visual clarity, taste and smell - were controlling the machine.

Suikinkutsu in Taiji

The town of Taiji, Wakayama and its Australian partner town Broome (WA) are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their formal tie, which actually dates back to mid 19c when Taiji fishers went to Broome for the pearl diving industry. Apparently Japanese divers, many of whom were from southern Wakayama, excelled in their work - they were also diligent workers, some of whom apparently played hard as well. Many families in both towns share the same heritage. The relationship became threatened and was nearly lost when Broome felt the mounting opposition against the whaling & dolphin hunt, in which some Taiji fishers are engaged. The Broome council's decision to put the relationship temporarily on-hold was reversed and met with clear community opposition, and this year, the two towns want to renew their commitment to the friendship. The Suikinkutsu installation, proposed by Simon Wearne and helped by the usual suspects - Mr Kubo, Hide, Simon and the new gang Roku, was completed in time to welcome the Broome delegates arriving in early June. Its sound certainly reminds us of the importance of peace in our mind and people's connection, which was so prevalent at the time of recent disasters.