|
|
|
|
Straw raincoat
Mr. Asai helps me put on his mino (straw raincoat). 99.12..14/ Temperature: -1C/ Weather: Snow/ Wind Direction: W
Start: Sumon Village Latitude: 37 21 00 N Longitude: 138 59 28 E
Destination: Hirogami Village Latitude: 37 36 32 Longitude: 138 59 32 E
Distance Traveled: 20 kmHeading toward the mountain pass at 6 A.M. this morning, I was accompanied by the bright lights of snow blowers busily spraying clouds of snow high into the air. Through the early morning darkness I could see several men and women out fighting against the quickly accumulating snow with snow shovels and small hand-plows. The snow banks reached as high as my shoulders.
There are few houses along the road over the mountain pass. Just on the other side though, is an abundance of knowledge how to live off of nature. Strolling through the center of Sumon Village, I passed a man wearing a mat jacket (kigoza). In a day and age filled with nylon, plastics, and even Gore-Tex waterproofing, I wondered why the gentlemen should wear a kigoza. "It's perfect for this weather and easier than anything else to put on," said Mr. Asai. Before I had a chance to question further about the kigoza, Mr. Asai had directed me into his garage where he had several mino (a straw raincoat) and kasasuge (backpack padding coat). "I've made all of these myself," he said. "
Kasasuge, a cushion layer formerly used when carrying heavy things such as harvest rice stalks. Detailed weaving is required to make both mino and kasasuge. Looking at the criss-crossing straw, I could not figure out the weaving pattern.The mino kept me dry when I tried it on and stood out in the snow.
Apparently, many men in their 60's and 70's still maintain such skills. Using all natural materials, the straw raincoats represent one way that man has protected himself from the hardships of nature. The mino reflects a time when man did so with little harm to the environment. With the change of time, the use of such natural materials and of traditional wear is becoming less and less heard of even in the countryside.
"Nobody really uses these anymore because of all of the synthetic raincoats available nowadays. Also, very few people still know how to make them," explained Mr. Asai. "We used to use the kasasuge to cushion our backs when we carried rice up from the paddies. Now that there are roads leading to almost every rice paddy and almost pretty much everyone has a car, there is really no need for them." Where there is no need, customs and practices change, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Mr. Arai seemed to feel no hesitation in new changes, however, Mr. Nozawa, a friend accompanying me on the day's journey, expressed his concern about the dissappearance of such skills. "These types of skills are becoming less and less known. People like Mr. Arai should pass on their know-how to younger generations."
Though it may seem as if all one can do today in Japan is to pay for products and services, it wasn't long ago that people made their own clothing and shelter directly from nature. We all may not choose to wear mino on a rainy day but there may be something to learn from providing for ourselves from nature. What do all of you think?
Greg
to Top News Page of Wisdom
< >
Copyright World School Network & ECO-CLUB, 1998-99. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
Send feedback to info@wschool.net
