October 31, 2005
Fishes' eyes are filled with tears
It didn't surprise me that the Fuji mountain was (is) considered holy and that it inspired so many different art forms. When you see it looming in the horizon, you truly get a very humble feeling of belonging to this insignificant human race.
To appreciate Fujiyama in all its glory, I went up to the hills to the 5 Fuji lakes area. But the mountain was shy - covered in clouds the whole time. I got to see (and take a picture of) Fuji only from the shinkansen (bullet train) on the way to Kyoto. However, Kawaguchiko lake and the nature around was one of the most amazing shights during the trip.
First of all, because autumn was a bit more advanced in the highlands. The temperature dropped down to some 10C degrees in the evening and some trees were already getting autumn colours in their leaves. I didn't quite realize how much I missed seasons untill I saw autumn.
Besides beautiful colours, Japanese nature is unbelievably cute! Even after some 4 hours hike into the forest the trees seem to be trimmed to please the eye. I went a bit overboard with hiking (Kaj wasn't there to stop me:) and completed a 6 hour hike in 4 hours. At the worst times when I thought I wasn't going to make it, I'd have a bite of rice crackers from Asakusa and carry on forward.. :) However after that day I had sore muscles for the rest of the trip (to the extent that I'd walk with completely straight legs (they wouldn't bend at knees) and not be able to go downstairs without holding the rail with both hands..)
It is very easy to understand how the Japanese came up with all their most sensitive art forms - looking at foggy rice fields, listening to the crows, feeling and knowing that time passes. Like these haiku, I can trully appreciate them. This is how it feels in Japan. Really.
Autumn wind.
Two plates,
Their designs differ
--
Sekitei Hara
A bubble grows.
A thin ice plate moves a little.
--
Suju Takano
A crane
Shading in the evening twilight
Trails its smokelike wings.
--
Kakio Tomizawa
Yeah, in many places in Kawaguchiko I had my eyes tearing.. The beauty and feelings it provokes is almost unbearable. I couldn't believe that the Lithuanian painting and musical genius Ciurlionis hasn't been to Japan. Many of places in Japan actually look like his paintings!
Its difficult to feel all these things in Leijonakaupunki. Its scorching summer all year round and you have to hide from nature as much as possible, because its threatening, damaging and inconvenient. ah.. I just miss waking up in the morning and checking weather forecast for the day.. Or hoping that the sun will shine on the weekend.. It gives you some kind of sensitivity..
If you ask me, Japan nature beats many places on Earth. Its of the same league as Nida in Lithuania and m¨kki in Finland..
Spring departs.
Birds cry
Fishes' eyes are filled with tears
--
Basho Matsuo