in Kamiyama

The English Parents arrive in Tokushima station missing one suitcase.  They are wearing Scottish patterns and appear slightly desaturated after the long-haul journey.  After some ramen and a trip to the offy, the colour returns to their faces.  And so, their Kamiyama moment begins here.

Day One: Snow, bibimpa, Yoriiza, tyres

The English Parents stayed in bed a little longer and then pangs of hunger started bonging and the reverb echoed around the dark house, scaring the cat.  Drove to Bai-li and ate bibimpa alone in the restaurant while outside the window the snow swirled around.  Should we change our car tyres to the winter variety? Watching the sudden snow storm made our mind up.  Dropped English parents off in Yorii to show them Yoriiza.

Yui san’s art work is still there, in the dark (where is the power switch?) and once your eyes get used to the dark you see shapes.  Pin holes of light everywhere like stars.  Wide floorboards are icy cold and the metal sheet roof creaks.  Walking along the road towards the garage and I realise I don’t like snow.  English Parents get distracted by a tatami maker’s shop.  A JA man makes conversation but is scared away.  English Parents target off-cuts of tatami as potentially interesting souvenirs.  Go to bed early because you can see your breath in the house and the English Parents are sleepy.

Day Two: Hardware, trees, cakes, jurobe, ningyo joruri, farmers, indigo, udon

The English Parents wake up and drink some coffee / and or Yorkshire tea.  We have a plan to visit Jurobe Yashiki (for ningyo joruri) and the Ai no Yakata (indigo house) in Tokusima City so there is a palpable sense of determination in the air.
En route we stop by a giant camphor tree.  The English Parents collect some leaves and there is an icy wind blowing so they quickly move back into the car.

Later, @ Jurobe the English Parents watch a performance by our joruri troupe then there is a little time to fiddle with the dolls and a quick photo op:

A little later, we arrive at the House of Indigo.  The English Parents decide to try dyeing some indigo but encounter some difficulty choosing what material to work with (eventually they choose silk).  The dyeing assistant is very strict and inflexible and directs the English Parents with zeal.  English Parents sometimes find it difficult to follow rules, especially when discovering new creative techniques.

The English Parents began to feel peckish.  Noodles are something familiar and quantifiable.  Udon.  A huge feast of tempura and udon.  English parents seem slightly overwhelmed but happy.