Hello. Welcome to "Bamboo Japan."
As you see, Japan is a "bamboo country" with various kinds of bamboo rooted deep into diverse aspects of our lives. Actually when you travel across the country, you'll see bamboos out there all the time.
In the spring bamboo leaves turn rather yellow. This is because they provide their nutrients to their bamboo shoots growing fast and straight. Indeed there is a saying of "bamboo autumn."
Conversely in autumn bamboo leaves get back nutrients, becoming freshly thick and green. And we have another saying of "bamboo spring", which is an autumn season word in haiku poetry, a short poem of seventeen syllables.
When visiting Arashiyama bamboo forests in Kyoto, you'll see it. So bamboo is quite unique in that it looks like resisting the laws of nature.
Bamboo or "take" in Japanese is something special in Japanese culture along with pine trees and Japanese apricots. So-called "sho-chiku-bai "(pine tree, bamboo, Japanese apricot respectively) are regarded as highly auspicious in Japan with pine trees ranked highest.
As far as bamboo with the average lifespan of about 20 years, most Japanese people feel that it has the very vital energy, growing vigorously fast/upright. They feel a real healing character, as well. Indeed whenever strolling along Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, people try to take a deep breath and enjoy feeling its healing energy.
Bamboos are also straight and flexible in nature. And we have a saying on bamboo characteristics. If you say a person is like "split bamboo," that refers to him/her as a very straight person, a nice compliment to hear.
Bamboo is not just about Japanes culture.
Quite interestingly Thomas Edison used Japanese Bamboo as a useful filament for his original light bulbs early on, which I found on display at the Smithsonian, Washington DC, in 1996.
Bamboo is seen not just at Kyoto's Arashiyama, but nationwide. Japan's bamboo forests, if put together, are about as large as two thirds Metropolitan Tokyo.
Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Importantly bamboos are indispensabale elements of Japanese-style gardens.
Here's an example of "shishi-odoshi (dear-scarer)." It makes a clapping sound at intervals, if striking a stone underneath by the flow of water which goes down through another bamboo cylinder. Actually shishi-odoshi is not for scaring dear, but for people to enjoy its taste.
As you know well, bamboos grow quickly, taking only about 55 days to reach the height of 20 meters max. Much faster than any other plant or tree. Also back in the days people believed that bamboo forests were effective as shelter from earthquakes, so they built bamboo groves across the country to make land harder like river banks.
Back in the 16th century, for instance, feudal lords had their local people plant bamboos on the banks of a river in their territory to prevent them from possible breaching and flooding the surrounding houses/fields.
Bamboo grove in Kyoto's Yura River
Now you may wonder if Japan has some old tales in the case. Exactly. The most popular is Taketori- monogatari (take standing for bamboo, tori for take/cut, monogatari for tale).
Taketori-monogatari, The Tale of Bamboo Cutter, is believed to be Japan's oldest tale written in between the late-9th and early-10th centuries. It is commonly known as Princess Kaguya, who was born inside a glimmering bamboo shoot, and brought up by an old bamboo cutter and his wife. Later Princess Kaguya was proposed by several nice young men. However, one night she went back to the moon, after declining their on-going passionate proposals.
Let me represent briefly the last scene as follows. That's enough?
Very very sorry!
While Princess Kaguya gets on the sedan chair bound for the moon, some of her waiting maids play classic musical instruments. Her parents in the foreground look weeping over their sudden farewell. Also a nobleman looks saying goodbye, and three dumped samurai on the roof appear too disappointed to face up to Prince Kaguya. Poor fellows! I do know how they feel! That's what men's life is all about!? End representation.
Just for information. Interestingly, in April bamboo sprouts (takenoko) are indispensable as spring seasonal ingredients, like boiled bamboo sprouts served with Japanese pepper plus dried bonito shavings on it, or "bamboo sprout rice"(takenoko-gohan) boiled together with Japanese pepper. Enjoy it to the fullest!
More interestingly, powder of bamboo charcoal can be used in traditional Kyoto cuisine to improve its texture.
Bamboo is also flexible, being used in many aspects of Japanese traditional culture as follows.
1. Shakuhachi: a traditional Japanese vertical bamboo flute
2. Bamboo work such as a dragonfly-shaped bamboo as a toy, lunch box, round fan, bag, and broom as daily necessities, and much more.
Dragonfly (Take-tombo)
3. Lunch box (Bento-bako) made of bamboo
4. Round fan (Uchiwa) made of bamboo and colorful paper
5. Bamboo blind
Bamboo Work Craftsperson:
Late Kazuo Hiroshima (1915-2013) from Miyazaki in southern island of Kyushu, is one of Japan's most famous bamboo work craftspersons. He dedicated his whole life, over 80 years, to bamboo work, supporting daily lives of local people. Some of his woks are displayed in the British Museum and the Sumithsonian Institution.
Latest News: November 27, 2018
The Minami-Soma Municipal Board of Education, Fukushima Prefecture, press-released an ancient basket weaved from thin strips of bamboo and bamboo leaves. The basket, 33 cm tall and 20 cm wide, is about 3,000 yo, containing hundreds of about 3.5 cm-diametrical edible walnuts.
It's amazing that back then, ancient people had their excellent bamboo-weaving skills and enjoyed eating yumy walnuts. This great finding also shows that bamboo can survive over 3,000 years under the ground.
3. Shinai or a bamboo sword used in Kendo, Japan's traditional martial art of swordsmanship
4. Frameworks for earthen walls
5. Bamboo fence
6. Kyoto's Take Yarai/Inu Yarai
In kyoto bamboo is also used as take yarai (take=bamboo, yarai =keep away) or inu yarai (inu=dog, keep away). It is a kind of bamboo fence, which doesn't deteriorate easily over rain drops. You'll see them here and there in Kyoto, especially Gion area. Now you might wonder why the bamboo fence is placed in Kyoto.
Its main purpose is for security reason, in other words, to keep away strangers. Kyoto was Japan's capital for over 1,200 years, having seen a lot of battles in its history, especially among military governors in the 15th century. This is why Kyoto local people tended to close their doors to strangers coming from Raku-gai (outside of Kyoto). The bamboo fence, placed along the walls, works very well to prevent any stranger from stepping in.
Another one might be for sanitation reason, to keep away dogs/cats. They tend to urinate anywhere/anytime they like, keeping or expanding their turf, which may rot down the foot of wooden pillars/walls.
More importantly, this is not all about only dogs/cats at Gion area. This might be about drunkards as well! So here's my question to gentlemen; if you see a drankard facing take yarai, "What would you do?" (Actually US ABC's TV program under the same title sounds so touching.) So. Gentlemen, let's enjoy drinking MODESTLY.:)
7. Kadomatsu or gate decoration at New Year's
Kadomatsu, composed of bamboo, pine branches and some flowers, is placed at the entrace of houses, and offices to drive away bad luck of the passing year and to welcome a Happy New Year. Because bamboo and pine trees have vital eneergy. Kadomatsu has a long history, dating back to the Heian Period (794-1191).
As a country kid, I used to make a variety of stuff such as a dragonfly, toy gun, fish spears, stilts, and even skies with bamboo, which was super fun. Yet Japan saw a dark past; the military crassly forced school girls to practice bamboo spears across the country at the final phase of the World War Ⅱ. Very very sad.
Finally, a little more information for those who have a sweet tooth. They serve good "bamboo ice cream" at an ice cream shop in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Most probably we can't find it anywhere else in Japan? Where is it? Oh, I miss my childhood.
After getting off at Arashiyama train station, walk to the right, north. You'll find it on your right in five minutes. I think it's worth a go as a story of your Kyoto travel.:)
Many thanks for joining. Have a nice day.:)
