On the 7th of April the staff of enjoy-kyoto helped organize a meeting of artisans at Chionji Temple in Kyoto. It was a party for people that had been featured in a TV program that introduces up and coming artisans in Kyoto There was a wide variety in their crafts, from rice cookies to wood carving, but they all use their hands and their imagination to make their works. I had an image of artisans being grumpy-looking eccentrics, speaking very little and expected that it would be difficult to communicate with them. But, against my preconceptions, the most impressive thing about the party was the wide variety of the artisans present. Some looked like professors, others, closer to my stereotype, like Zen monks.
The gathering reminded me of what an Aussie friend had said to me once, that she had been impressed by the many different types of faces in Japan.
Another friend had told me that an American professor (not Japanese, I want to emphasize) thought the reason that America and Japan are both so economically strong is that both are countries of immigrants, and have a large variety of genetics. He considered Japan a multi-ethnic country because of the large variety of faces.
Actually, Japan had several waves of immigrants who made their home in Kyoto about 1200 years ago, and came mostly from Korea. But such waves of immigration ceased a long time ago, and we don't usually consider Japan multi-ethnic. Do you think the variety among the faces of Japanese people is significantly larger than those of other countries? It sometimes seems so for me when I have travelled abroad. If somebody has any ideas on this topic, I'd like to hear your opinion.
Anyway, I'm happy to live in a country of many faces. I think being in touch with many different types of people is a big part of the joy of life.
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