Ancient Stairway

Kokage Shrine

Offerings for abundant cocoons

Ancient Custom Hanging on by a (Silk) Thread

Long before Japan was exporting Toyotas and Sonies,its most important foreign exchange earner was silk. Until about fifty years ago most farmers in the Kanto area supplimented their incomes by raising silk worms. Ten years ago I was still able to find the huts where these plump
caterpillars were grown and the sound of their loud munching on mulberry leaves still rings in my ears whenever I think about the times I came upon them. Now, even the mulberry groves which were a typical part of the Tsukuba landscape have all but disappeared.

Today,March 28th, I braved thunder and lightning to negotiate the steps up to Kokage Shrine and join the priests and 3 older, local gentlemen to give offerings for abundant rice crops and silk production and think back upon the heyday of Japans fling with the worms and their precious cocoons.
Kokage Shrine is yet another Tsukuba superlative. It is the oldest shrine in Japan dedicated exclusively to sericulture and once attracted thousands of worshipers, many from the textile
towns of Nagano and Gunma.
Located in the beautifully rustic Kangori(神郡) district of Tsukuba,the shrine is reached ascending ancient and uneven stone steps through an even more ancient sacred grove. It is said that the sea once reached this site and that an Indian princess who had set sail for Japan was dead upon arrival. Her ship was made of mulberry wood, and the locals imagined that she came from a land of abundant silkworms. They buit a casket for her and filled it with mulberry leaves.
To the right of the shrines main hall ,under an enclosure I found an undated E-ma painting depicting this scene.
I had a chance to chat with the Kanshushis(Shinto priests) as they were setting up the offerings on the altar. They were actually sent by The Tsukuba-San Shrine, as the Kokage Shrine has nearly been forgotten with the pricipitous decline in sericulture in Japan over the past few decades.
Now there are priests at the shrine only 2 days a year, March 28th for the spring offerings, and then November 23rd for the shrines festival. They explained to me how special the silkworms(kaiko) were to the Japanese, as they were the only domestic animal actually raised in peoples homes.They are also the only animals which normally are referred to using an honorific - O Kaiko-Sama, though the local people usual shorten this to O Ko-Sama.
As the time came to commence the ceremony only 3 old men had battled the stairs and settled inside the shrine for the ceremony.
This being a mere shadow of the crowds who would be there in former days.
First,a purification rite was carried out, and then offerings of cocoons, fruit and sacred sakaki leaves were made. O-miki(sake) was then drunk, and commemorative towels given to the few of us present. After the ceremony, we clambered down the steps as the local men reminisced about the shrines glory days.
Now the wooden buidings which would have been used by numerous vendors on this day were virtually falling apart. One man mentioned that a movie had been shot on this staircase, though he could not recall the title. Another man mentioned how just the other day the Emperor and Emperess performed a similar ritual for silkworms, which he had seen broadcast on TV(the Imperial Couple raises rice and silkworms for ritual purposes).
We reached the bottom of the stairway huffing and puffing. We entered the dilapidated old shop which once served the throngs of pilgrims who would flock here. They still sold a special souvenir- Kokage Yokan(beanpaste).
As a breeze entered the shop it gently lifted the paper displaying the price of the yokan. I noticed that for that day they had raised the price by 100 yen, taking advantage of the ceremony. Unfortunately,only 3 locals and I had shown up.
Times change, things change, and this ancient rite is certainly hanging on by a VERY thin thread.
　　

Bitter herbs in this season`s sweet

In Tsukuba, as the days get longer,here and there,slim shafts of greenery begin pushing up out from the snowless,brown, gray and straw-colored winterscape, giving us relieved assurance that once again, spring has come.It is in this time of year that many Japanese can be seen scouring the roadside, field edges or riverbank, as if looking for a lost object.
In fact, they are in search of yomogi(蓬), a wild herb which is gathered to make this season`s sweet - kusamochi(草餅), a distinctly green hued(perfect for St Paddy`s Day!) mochi-rice cake, sometimes filled with anko-sweet bean paste, or covered with kinako-soy bean powder.
Since yomogi(mugwort in English, though that word does NOT sound very appetizing), becomes inediblly tough quite soon after sprouting up, it has to be gathered when still very small ,young and fresh.
(I remember doing this years ago, for the first time, in the field behind the Tsukuba Central Police Station!)The herb is then boiled to make it less bitter, and then mixed into mochi(pounded rice cakes) and molded into small roundish patties.
　　This gives the mochi a slightly bitter and grassy taste.
It is because of this flavor that the custom began in the first place in ancient China,
where bitter grasses were believed to be effective in expelling
impurities and evil spirits. This notion was imported to Japan in the Heian Period(794-1192)
though a different type of herb was the most common ingredient(母子草 hahakogusa or gogyou).
It was only in the Edo Period (1601-1868)the yomogi became the commonly used ingredient.Yomogi is also an important component og the heated acupuncture called moxabustion. This English term derives from the Japanese word mogusa, which is the dried
mugwort used for this traditional medical treatment.
These days kusamochi is also available at most convenient stores in this season and can of course be found at wagashiya(Japanese sweet shops).
I had one today. Why dont you enjoy the season and the tradition and try it for yourself!

Avi Landau

Jenny belts it out

In the dressing room

Thomas between takes

Michael Frei lays down the sax

Jenny recording

Jenny and Takumi in the studio

TenGooz in the woods! @Capio Hall

Busy we are! Four Tengooz and guitarist Thomas Mayer have joined forces to create and perform the music to Ki no Ballad, or as I translate it- Ballad in Wood.
It has not been easy trying to blend narration, projected images, sculpture, dance and music, but the show went quite well and should be much better for our next performance on the 22nd.
We have gotten lots of positive comments on the music, and we hope that the extra two weeks will give us the time to pull everything together and create something really special.
Its a great thrill and satisfaction to have Jenny sing our songs. She is truly STAR material with her rivetting stage presence and almost uncontainable passion.
We will be recording tommorow night and hope to have CDs ready for next Friday nights show as there have been some inquiries about getting the music which we perform in the show.

In the picture sent to us by Dan, you can see the general merriment which we whipped up in the 3rd act of the show. Lots of kids,parents and seniors romping on the stage. What could be better!

Avi Landau

pic from Dan - hope it is the same one!

Something Smells Fishy-Its Setsubun!

Most of the world cultures that I can think of have (or had)　their own special ways of keeping evil spirits at bay,　or even better,far away. Japan is probably the industrialized　country with its traditional demon-fighting repetoire most intact. One of the most important and popular of the occassions on which excorcisms are appropriate is SETSUBUN(節分)usually celebrated on February 3rd, the day before the first day of spring(risshun(立春).The main technique used is bean-throwing(豆まき）,highly effective and plenty of fun!

Usually,Dad wears a demon(oni)mask,easilly purchased at any convenience store, and the kids procede to pelt him with dried soy beans(from packets available at the same stores).While they do this,they shout-oni wa soto!
Fuku wa uchi!(Evil out, Good Fortune in!)This is done at the entance to the house, and then in the other rooms. When the beans are all used up, they are gathered up and each family member usually eats the same number of beans as his/her age.Beans can also be offered to the Shinto
and Buddhist altars.

This ceremony remains one of the most popular of the traditional evil fighting customs and you can enjoy the ceremony in various forms at temples and shrines throughout Japan as well as on
TV(you might catch a scene of sumo wrestlers in masks being pelted by excited kids).

One of the other techniques of keeping evil away in this season has not fared as well as the bean throwing. Im refering to hiiragi（ヒイラギ）, the holly and dried sardine amulets which in not very former times would adorn the entranceways of most houses in this area.

Since holly has thorned leaves, it was thought to repel demons who were afraid to get poked in the eye,and the sardines would do the same job with its unpleasant,fishy smell.
Though the use of these amulets has decreased rapidly over recent years, I have still found a few around town.

Ive also taken some pictures of SANPO, containers for soy beans made out of origami paper by nursery school kids.

Another way to celebrate SETSUBUN (or desacrate it by joining in on its commercialization) in to buy the EHO-MAKI(恵方巻き）sushi rolls which are being sold at all the convenience stores and being promoted as efficatious for bringing good fortune by pointing the roll in the properly auspicious directions.

So,There you have it. Take YOUR choice of how you want to keep EVIL away!

Avi Landau

LIVE at last,recording, and event at Capio Hall

Felicitations to all!
The TenGooz had there first gig of the year at Hot Stuff last Friday night. Lots of people came out to the show and I hope we were able to overcome the rust acquired over the long layover and please everyone.

We will also begin recording again,in earnest, this week. We will try to lay down our new ballad,which will be used in Ballad in Wood an event which will be held at Capio Hall.
We will also be putting out a remix of a song I wrote with Ascelin several years ago(autophobia).

We will also be driving out to Ishioka to Elizabeth Robless' studio to develop a feel for her sculpture instruments.
Sounds Like a busy week!

Cheers

Avi Landau

Getting ready for special event at Capio Hall

Four members of the TenGooz, Hase G, Michael Frei, A-Chan and myself(Avi) will be making the music at Capio Hall as part of Contemporary artist Elizabeth Robless'multi-media happening-Ballad In Wood.

The interesting thing is that we will mostly to musicating on sculptures which Elizabeth has created especially for the occassion. Much of what happens will be improvised, so we are looking forward to two very adventurous evenings.

I was first drawn into the singular world of Elizabeth Robless' artistic vision several months ago while on my way to the library, which happens to be located in the same building as The Tsukuba Art Museum.
Just as I was about to walk through the doors that lead to the books, I gave a glance to my right. What i saw stopped me in my tracks. I stood and gazed down the long, narrow corridor leading
to the exhibition hall where Elizabeth's works beckoned me to enter, which I did.

I cant recall now what I had wanted to study at the library on that day, but I will long remember what I came upon there in the art museums inner-sanctum.

For that show Elizabeth had turned the gallery into a magical forest, reflecting her powerful inner-light and visions. Darkly hued wooden planks, boards and posts of various sizes,which she had shaped and embellished upon, sometimes ringed by carefully placed pebbles, were arranged on the walls, floor and in the air,suspended from the ceiling.I could at once feel the time,energy and passion that went into the creation of these pieces.

I also found that her works inspired music in me, with many of them looking like newly invented, still-unnamed instruments, begging to have sounds coaxed out of them.It was difficult NOT to beat,tap, or scratch them.

Of course, I was not the only one to get excited. Dance artist Mako Karasawa visited the show on another day and simply could not control her urges. She began to dance among the pieces.
Elizabeth took the cue and started to improvise an acompaniment on various sculpture-instruments.Many of the visitors then present joined in. It was a magical and cathartic moment for everyone there.

It was also the inspiration for the upcomming events.

Feb. 8 and 22
Capio Hall

Hope to see you there.

Back in action! Coming of Age Day!

New Years Greetings to all you TenGoophiles out there!
Im glad to inform you that we are back in action and FULLY ENERGIZED after the rather lengthy holiday layoff that we had.
We had an invigorating and encouraging practice session thursday night and we are revved up and ready to go for next Friday nights gig at Hot Stuff.
With other news, my young cousin Noam is in Tokyo on business and I gave him a whirlwind tour of the Eastern Capital (Tokyo). Luckilly for him, that day was Coming-Of-Age-Day in Japan, the day on which all 20 year olds celebrate their official entrance into adulthood.They do this by dressing up and attending a ceremony at the city office etc.
Later most of these youngstersgo out and party for the first time(legally)!

These are some of the happy New Adults we ran into on that day.

Avi Landau

New Years Decorations Go Up In Smoke

In Japan seasonal decorations are not simply thrown in the garbage. They are disposed of respect at a ceremony called dondo-yaki. This usually takes place in the middle of January when it is time to take down all the New Years decorations.
I attended such a ceremony which took place near my house ( a place where the TenGooz have enjoyed many a barbecue) on a frosty and windy Sunday morning.
The first point of interest was that now there are restrictions on what type of gargage can or cannot be burned so all bundles grought for incineration on that day were checked, in a way reminiscent of airport security, for any plastics etc.
The decorations, consisting of sacred ropes, wreaths and last years daruma dolls were piled high in a teepee shape. This was done under the careful supervision of the fire department.

Then you could go to the reception desk and recieve a free omochi-rice cake and a very long slender bamboo pole.

It is believed that eating mochi roasted in the heat of the dondoyaki guarranties good health for whole year!

The firemen doused the pile with kerosene and set off the blaze. Fire is always fascinating and the crowd gathered round it were mezmerized by the flames, all holding their long rods with rice cakes at the tips like an army all primed to roast marshmellows.

When the fire burned down everyone stuck their mochi in, and I must say it was deelish!

To the rescue! Please join our efforts!

The birds will be coming soon,in great abundance. Flocks of migrators will surely be in need of some rest during their amazing journey, and historically they have found this on and around Lake Kasumigaura in Ibaraki Prefecture.
This year,thousands of weary travellers will be caught in deadly nets, which are literally protecting nothing, as the lotus roots have all been harvested, and will die slow and horrific deaths,dangling for days by a wing or a leg.

Now it is January and there are much fewer birds than will soon be arriving. Everyday however, some are being caught. Maurice,Dr. Kasuga and I found hundreds, mostly dead, in just a few fields. Looking towards the horizon we saw hundreds more.

We brought gear and began freeing all the birds which still had life in them. This did not amount to much, in terms of number, but it did feel good to get them off the nets and set them on the lake.

Please contact us if you would like to join us.

We need lots more volunteers.

Thanks

Avi Landau

Two-Legged Daikon Radish and Dosojin-A Local Custom

Let me tell you about a fascinating local custom,since the band is still in a new Year hiatus.
It involves FUTAMATA-DAIKON(二股大根),which is the Japanese term for a double-pronged daikon radish. These two-legged curiosities turn up at a surprisingly high rate when farmers harvest their daikon crop in late autumn.The abberant shapes are caused by small rocks,hard clumps of soil or fertilizer,insects, or uneven distribution of irrigation water.
The futamata daikon cannot be found on sale in stores or stalls , and in fact, though perfectly edible, they are traditionally NOT eaten. When I asked several local farmers why this was so, they all came out with the same response, in tones implying that I shouldnt have had to ask
such a question-we dont eat them because they look like peoples legs!
Due to this resemblance to the lower half of the human body, local farmers show reverence and do not simply discard these unsellable roots which are not to be eaten, for it is believed that the disrespect of doing so would bring on leg or foot trouble.
What is done then with these significantly shaped vegetables?

In Tsukuba, the rest of Ibaraki Prefecture and in some outlying areas farmers offer the futamata daikon to a type of sekibutsu(sacred stone) called a dosojin(道祖神),the protector of travellers, roads and the entrance to villages. I suppose that I dont have to point out the
connection between travel and legs(oops, I just did!).locals leave futamata daikon and a variety of foot-wear(anything from straw sandals to sneakers) in front of the dosojin to pray for healthy legs feet and lower back.

This week I have found and photographed dozens of plump and juicy offerings which are rustically photogenic.They will be left exposed to the elements and as the weeks go by they will become the dried out and scrawny shadows that you might find next summer.

Let me make one very important point clear.Though the offering of futamata daikon to dosojin is a VERY localized custom and unfamiliar to most Japanese, dosojin stones are generally known and found throughout Japan. They are most famous in Nagano Prefecture, especially around the beautiful town of Azumino.

These dosojin,however, look completely different from most of their Ibaraki counterparts and also have a totally different significance. The typical image of the dosojin is a stone carving of a loving couple, set on the roadside.Making offerings to them can be efficacious for matchmaking and fertility.In Tsukuba almost all the dosojin I have found are simple stones with only the characters 道祖神　engraved on them.
In Dejima and Yasato I have found very special dosojin with graven images of a single one-legged man.This shows further how in this area these sekibutsu are associated with legs and feet.

If you put in some leg work you might be able to find examples of this custom. You`ll be able to get some great pictures.
I'm not pulling your leg!