Added: Nov 16, 2009

From: Adeyto

Duration: 9:18

The world-famous Shrimp made exclusively of bicycle parts or life-sized statues of Charlie Chaplin, Yubaba, the Legend of Kusanagi no Tsumugi made of ceramic table ware are just few examples of this Japanese traditional art originated in Edo period and still available today in few cities like Hirata, Shimane perfecture. Isshiki Kazari 一式飾り can be translated as "Decoration made from a single type of goods". The Isshiki Kazari creator will at first decide what image he wants to build and what material will be used for it. Ceramic tableware are preferred because of the wide variety of shapes and colors available. One can also choose lacquer ware, tea-ceremony utensils, gardening utensils, Buddhist ceremony utensils, paper or magazines, brooms, anything is allowed as long as the goods are made of same raw material or belong to the same category/set like the tea-ceremony utensils (cups, brushes, tea containers or bags). The next rule is that one is not allowed to tear, pierce, break or paint the household goods because the goods are supposedly reused in daily life at the end of the 3 days festival. Therefore the materials will be sustained only by thin wire, no glue is allowed. The wire can be twisted around and used as much as one needs until things hold together. The basic shape of the Issiki Kazari is made of a supporting net and then one adds plates, cups, figurines, ashtrays, flower vases, chopstick-rests, bowls, candle-holders, trays, in order to finish the decoration. Japanese ceramics have probably the largest variety of shapes, sizes and colors in the world what makes Isshiki Kazari not impossible to create. However, the way of choosing and placing the items takes real genius. The Issiki Kazari are made once a year in July and displayed as an offer to the Gods, or amusement for the Gods during the 3 days festival of Hirata Tenmangu. Usually they are planned for about 2 month and created by seniors. The wisdom acquired from tryerror is passed on to the following generations. It is said to be a habit that has its origins in a statue of Daikokuten, the god of wealth, that a certain picture framer made using a set of tea utensils, to offer to Tenmangu in 1793 as a prayer for protection from a plague. The technique he introduced has nowadays reached the highest degree of perfection. Though Issiki Kazari are an artistic creation, the local people who assemble the figurines aren't pretentious "artists" and just about anyone can join their group. Presented by ADEYTO as part of the ~Visual Diary~ series. Featuring the famous yellow train Bataden (Ichibata Densha) of the Ichibata Railways. http://www.bataden.com/ This documentary belongs to a series called "ADEYTO -visual diary-" that began due to the fact that ADEYTO is to busy to actually write a diary entry. Shot by ADEYTO on a digital photo camera. Created by ADEYTO.

Channel: Travel

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