Date & Time: Wednesday, March 21, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Spots: Sankeien Garden (Inner and Outer Gardens)
Visitors: 11 JICA *1 Participants from six countries (3 each from India and the Philippines, 2 from Afghanistan and 1 each from Vietnam, Indonesia and Palau)
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 21, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Spots: Sankeien Garden (Inner and Outer Gardens)
Visitors: 11 JICA *1 Participants from six countries (3 each from India and the Philippines, 2 from Afghanistan and 1 each from Vietnam, Indonesia and Palau)
Attendants: 5 KSGG members
Language: English
It was a chilly morning in Yokohama even on March 21, Vernal Equinox Day, with a bit of sleet falling. As the wind grew stronger and it began to snow, we decided to take out matcha (powdered green tea) and Japanese sweets so that the participants may enjoy indoor attractions in Sankei Memorial. Some white snow got accumulated on the top of the thatched roof of the Kakushokaku*2 and the branches of the trees in the garden, which gave us a fantastic feeling as if we had been looking at a beautiful Indian-ink painting. We were lucky enough to take a group photograph with the snow-capped three-storied pagoda in the background. Despite the very chilly weather, the participants were really delighted at the unexpected wonderful snowscape in front of them, and thus they took photographs for each other.
After having guided them around the Rinshunkaku*3, the Choshukaku*3 and the Shunsoro*4, we visited the Former Yanohara House*5. Although its roof was under repair, we all sat around a sunken fireplace toasting our cold hands by the fire and listened to the explanation about the structure of Gasshozukuri (a house with a steep thatched rafter roof), the reason why it had been moved to Sankeien Garden, and so on.
It was a very warm and precious experience. I felt like I listened to the old tales of Japan told by a storyteller. It was also very impressive to see the lots of the participants carefully listened and nod to the explanation about the Garyobai covered with snow, showing the copy of Kanzan Shimomura’s painting, Yoroboshi, in which the Garyobai is painted *6.
*1: JICA, Japan International Cooperation Agency, is a public organization which provides advancing countries with development assistance.
*2: The Kakushōkaku was formerly the private residence of the Hara family(the founder of the garden), registered as Tangible Cultural Properties by the City of Yokohama
*3:The Rinshunkaku and the Choshukaku are the houses which were originally built in the Edo period(1603-1868) and were originally owned by the Tokugawa clan, the ruler in the era.
*4: The Shunsoro is a tea house believed to have been built in the 16th century.
*5: The Former Yanohara House used to be the private home of a wealthy family in the Edo period.
*6: The Garyobai is a Japanese apricot tree in the shape of a dragon lying on the ground.