January 2023 - Life is a Journey

Loving Yourself Is Your Ultimate Responsibility

In response to Dancing Elephants prompt 17 of 52

When I read this week’s writing prompt “What Does Self-love Look Like To You?”, and wondered what I should about, the first scene that came to my mind was when I quit my job for the first time 32 years ago.

I was in Japan, working for a well-known investment bank, stepping up my career ladder, so it seemed. The company had even sponsored me to study for two years to get an MBA in the US. It was time to further advance my career in the company.

But instead, I chose to make a significant career change. I decided to work for a much smaller, younger company, the Japanese subsidiary of a US-based IT company, to pursue a different goal: to eventually move to the US. There was no guarantee that the young company would realize my goal, but I took the chance.

The Japanese company tried to dissuade me from quitting. I felt guilty about quitting also. The company had been so supportive of me. How can I be so disloyal? (You know, the work ethics in Japan 30 years ago was a lot different than now. Lifetime employment was still the norm among major corporations there.)

But my ultimate conviction was that there is always a replacement for the company, but there is no replacement for myself in my own life.

If I don’t love myself first, who else can? If I don’t take care of myself first, who else can? If I don’t take responsibility for my own life, who will?

My first expression of loving myself was quitting my first job to change my career.

A Guy from India, A Gal from Austria, and Another Gal from Japan Will Be Traveling Together … Guess Where?

My travel wish list for 2023

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

Our trip to Vienna last Thanksgiving was a special reunion. After over 10 years of interval, my husband and I got together with our old-time Austrian friend and had a wonderful time together.

How to Nurture Friendship across the Ocean

She was a great host. She showed us around the town, introduced us to her local friends, and took us to her favorite coffee shop and farmer’s market. After spending seven days with her, my husband and I developed illusions as if we were locals of Vienna.

Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa

The final night in Vienna. My husband and I were all done packing, but reluctant to admit we were leaving this beautiful city and our wonderful friend. When will we see her again…

Then she brought her calendar. So did we. Now the COVID lockdown is behind us, my husband and I will get back to our routine of traveling abroad for Thanksgiving. Why not she joins us next year? Would be fun to travel together! Where?

Somewhere warmer. Somewhere sunnier. Somewhere none of us have been before.

It didn’t take too long for the three of us to come to an agreement.

We will see each other again next November, in Israel!

Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash

Remembering the Last 100 Years, Dreaming the Next 100 Years

Celebrating the Centennial anniversary of Japan-America Society of Washington State

Chiyo Sanada’s powerful calligraphy art: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa

Japan-America Society of Washington State (JASSW) is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.

JASSW was established in 1923 to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington State by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information.

New Year’s party was held yesterday and many members old and new got together and enjoyed Ms. Chiyo Sanada’s powerful calligraphy art.

When talking about the relationship between the US and Japan in the last 100 years, it’s impossible to ignore World War II. Only after I moved to Seattle did I learn about the experiences that the Japanese Americans endured during the war.

Nations, after all, consist of people. How can we learn from history so that we won’t make the same mistake again? How can we expand mutual understanding and friendship beyond many borders in the world? I believe this community-level effort is vital to influence national-level relations.

4 Basic Principles of Japanese Tea Ceremony That Will Bring You Ultimate Freedom

First principle: Harmony

There are four principles that each tea practitioner has to have in mind whenever we practice the Japanese tea ceremony.

…

和(wa)

“Wa” means harmony. Over a bowl of tea, the host and the guests collaborate to create a harmonious experience together. In order to best serve the guests, the host carefully chooses the utensils appropriate for the occasion.

The scroll, the incense container, the flower vase, and the flowers. All the things placed in the alcove in the tea ceremony symbolize some theme for the occasion. So do the tea bowls and all the other tea utensils. Nothing has the same design, but everything in the tearoom is in harmony.

敬(kei)

“Kei” means respect. Respect is the sincerity of heart that liberates us for an open relationship with other people, regardless of their appearance or status.

In the tearoom, a high-ranking samurai and a merchant would be equally treated. They show respect by bowing to each other. Respect is expressed not only between people but to our surroundings, nature, and everything that is enabling us to experience our lives.

清(sei)

“Sei” means purity. The host purifies the tea container and the tea scoop meticulously with the silk cloth. The host also cleans the tea bowl with hot water and a small white cloth. Everything is spick and span before the guests arrive, but the purification process continues during the tea service and when storing the utensils afterward in front of the guests.

The guests cleanse their hands and mouths before entering the tearoom. Through the simple act of cleaning, they clear “the dust of the world.” The guests clear worldly attachments from their hearts and minds. Only after putting aside material concerns, can they sense the pure and sacred essence of things, human beings, and nature.

寂(jaku)

“Jaku” means tranquility. Tranquility is not merely silence. It is the status of the heart and mind that is liberated from any worldly attachment. It’s the ultimate freedom!

Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku… Over a bowl of tea, tea practitioners enjoy this profound life experience.

3 Basic Tools You Need to Make Flower Arrangements

Try Ikebana at home!

Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa

In my previous post, I introduced to you what Ikebana is. Originating in Japan, Ikebana is the art of flower arrangement. Also in my previous post, I listed 5 benefits of practicing Ikebana. Does it make you feel like trying it at home? Great! You want to give a new life to flowers!

Now, let me share with you what you need to prepare. What tools do you need?

Here is a list of tools you need for Ikebana.

Three Must-Haves

In order to try Ikebana, you need at least these three items:

Scissors

You need to cut branches and flowers, hence the first tool you need is a pair of scissors. The most common type is called Ikenobo hasami (hasami means scissors in Japanese). As you see in the photo above, the tip of the handles is curled up, giving appropriate weight on the handles. They are mainly made of iron or stainless steel. The size is about 6-7 inches long.

If such type of scissors is not available, don’t worry. A pair of garden pruning shears like the one shown above will work. Scissors you use for office work, however, wouldn’t be appropriate. Remember, branches are much harder and thicker than paper.

Kenzan

The pin frog to place the stems and flowers is called Kenzan. For the container with 12 inches diameter, a round Kenzan with 2.5 – 3 inches in diameter would be appropriate.

There are varieties of shapes and sizes of Kenzan. The Kenzan shown in the photo above is called Sun and Moon. I recommend this type for beginners.

Sometimes the branch you use may be so heavy that you will need some weight to avoid the heavy branch from tipping over. The moon part of the Kenzan can be a good counterweight in such a case.

Container

A round, shallow, flat-bottom container as shown in the photo above is most versatile for a beginner. Twelve inches in diameter is a good size. A square or rectangle shape will work, too. Any material would do, either ceramic, glass, or plastic.

If you can’t find any container dedicated to Ikebana, don’t worry. A pie dish in your kitchen is a great substitute. Make sure there are no holes or leakage!

Also Need to Have

Small bowl

You fill the small bowl with water and keep it beside the container. Whenever you cut a stem, you cut it under water. A bowl of 4-5 inches in diameter will be large enough.

Towel

In order to keep your scissors from rusting, you want to wipe out water from the blades after you cut stems. An old hand towel will be handy.

Nice to Haves (later, but not now)

Those items listed above are all you need to start Ikebana. As you keep practicing it, the next thing you want to add is a tall, slim container. With two containers, one flat and one tall, your Ikebana repertoire will drastically expand.

As you further advance your skills, you will find yourself adding such items below in your Ikebana tool kit: Wires, pins, staples, pliers, gloves, nails, hammers, etc.

Vegetables Bond Our Friendship

The joy of cooking vegetables to serve our friends

Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa

I belong to, not a book club, but a TED talk club.

Instead of reading a book, a host for the month picks one TED talk video and shares it with the rest of the group. Everybody watches the video, and we discuss what we learned at the meeting.

The group members take turns hosting the meeting, and it was my turn this month.

I’m the only Japanese in the group, so I try to add some Japanese flare to whatever I serve. It may be the ingredient I cook, the type of serving plates I use, or the table runner repurposed from an old Obi. Something new to the group to give a hint to start an interesting conversation before we dive into the main discussion.

When I was wondering what to prepare for the upcoming meeting, I found out about Dr. Preeti Singh’s writing prompt for this week. Vegetables! Why don’t I serve only vegetables, focusing on the cutting method into different shapes? Visual presentation is an important element of Japanese cooking!

The bright red in the center box (see the photo above) is beets, roasted and cut into cubes. I placed white goat cheese on top of the cubes and added a drip of aged balsamic vinegar. The sweetness of the beets and the vinegar, plus a hint of sourness of the goat cheese is my favorite combination.

I added steamed broccoli and cauliflower diagonally to add color variation.

Can you guess the two vegetables in the photo above?

The whitish ones are satoimo in Japanese. Taros, they are called in an Indian store. I didn’t know this kind of potato is used in Indian cooking. The color of satoimo, cooked with mirin and soy sauce, is rather dull. Cut into hexagon pieces, however, they add some charm to the dish.

The other ones are kabocha squash pieces. The vivid green outside and the rich orange color inside are great for adding accents. I cut them like a cone shape so that they stand upright.

I carved Shiitake mushrooms so that they look like flowers. Not only are they pleasing to the eyes, but the mushrooms also absorb the sauce better, resulting in a shorter cooking time. I cut carrots to look like flowers also, but I need some more training. The lotus roots with so many holes are always fun to play with. This time I cut out the outer rim alongside the holes. The crunchiness of the lotus is a nice addition to the biting experience.

My TED talk group enjoyed the food as well as the discussion. These vegetables nourished us, entertained us, and helped us grow our friendship. Thank you, vegetables!

Do You Really Need an Alarm to Get Up in the Morning?

How reliable is your inner clock?

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash

In the last several days I had special events back-to-back.

A private Ikebana workshop for employees of a major IT company, Ikebana International New Year party, Hatsugama (初釜), the first formal tea gathering this year. Each event requires preparation from the night before till late and early morning on the day of the event.

Normally I never set an alarm. I wake up at about the same time every morning, no matter how late I go to sleep the night before.

The last several days, however, I had to get up about an hour earlier than usual. Just in case I set an alarm so that I won’t oversleep.

While I was setting up the alarm, I consciously told myself to wake up at the set time. The next morning, without exception I woke up about an hour before the time I was supposed to get up. I lingered a little before I got out of bed, but I could turn off the alarm before it made an annoying sound.

Then I thought, maybe I can rely on my internal clock a little more.

A dog or a cat, your pet begs for food same time every day. Without an alarm clock, they seem to have a daily routine set up for doing when to do what.

Time, after all, is not created by human beings. Maybe we creatures were created because there is a cycle in the universe.

I’m not advocating discarding your alarm clock at all. Our social structure requires us to be super punctual. But you may be surprised by the ability of your body to tell you time. Because, you know, we human beings are part of nature.

We Are Much Closer to Bugs than AI

Remember, human beings are living creatures

Photo by Sue Thomas on Unsplash

Whenever I hear discussions about AI and how afraid we humans are to be replaced with AI someday, I feel something off the point.

Those discussions seem to assume that human beings merely consist of their brain.

AI might surpass human beings in its memory capacity and computing capability. But without power can AI function?

A bug, on the other hand, is born, eats, reproduces, and dies someday. The body returns to earth. So does a human. We are living creatures. AI is not… Will it ever gain life? More importantly, should we ever allow that?

How to Turn Vintage Obis into Art

Obis are wearable art!

Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa

If you see a woman in Japanese kimono, you also see a long, broad sash tied about the waist over it. The sash is called obi. Its function is to secure a kimono and avoid it from falling open.

Obi used to be a simple narrow sash, but over time it became wider. In Edo period (1603 – 1868), many different ways of tying obi emerged.

Now that western clothes are dominant in Japan, vintage obis are so abundant. Visit a second-hand kimono store, you will find a pile of colorful silk obis sold dirt cheap. If the craft person who painstakingly wove that obi sees his/her work in that pile, how would s/he feel? My heart hurts whenever I think about that.

People in the US, on the other hand, are fascinated by the intricate designs and colorful patterns of obi. Some use an old obi as a table runner and others hang it on the wall as a decoration.

How can I give these vintage obis a second life? What can I do to keep the original length but present it in a much more interesting way than merely folding It into two and hanging it?

I began trying to tie the obi the same way as we would wrap around the kimono and make it a hanging art.

What do you think?

Now whenever I go back to Japan, I purchase a couple of vintage obis and bring them back to Seattle. I make these obis into ranging arts and donate them as auction items at Holiday Dinner of Japan-America Society.

The obi is no longer worn, but its beauty remains on the wall in somebody’s house, thousands away from the original maker.

When Matcha Drinking Was Once Gambling

14th-century Japan was wild!

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Matcha drinking as gambling? How can it be, you may wonder.

After Eisai brought Matcha to Japan in the 13^th century, growing tea trees spread from Kyoto to various regions in Japan. The custom of drinking Matcha also spread from among Zen monks to a much wider audience like samurais, then the ruling class, and also among rich merchants.

History tells us that by the 14^th century in Japan, samurais and wealthy merchants turned Matcha tea tastings into lavish gambling events often called Tocha (闘茶).

Not all Matcha tastes exactly the same. Matcha made from tea leaves that are grown in one region tastes different from those grown in other regions. People would bring several Matcha made in different regions, taste them blindfolded, let’s say four kinds of Matcha, 10 bowls at random order, and try to guess which bowl was made from the same Matcha.

The person who guessed most correctly would win.

The prize of Tocha would be such precious items as a vase imported from China or extravagant silk garments. Often these Tocha events would accompany elaborate banquets as well as a lot of sake drinking.

Tocha became so extreme that then ruling Ashikaga clan even banned such events in 1336. This type of gambling with Matcha, however, remained popular for another hundred years or so.

Source: Omotesenke Website