Aiko Ichimura on thu 26 dec 02
Hi all,
I have returned from China and Japan trip recently.
I visited Kyoto, Nara, Hagi and Mashiko( next to my hometown Utsunomiya) and
met many potter friends.
I especially enjoyed Kyoto and Hagi and bought tons of ceramics there.
In Tokyo I have taken classes to learn how to mend broken ceramics with
lacquer and gold ( called Kintsugi).
I had to buy a lots of utensils and materials for it. But some of my
material such as Cashew paint and thinners were confiscated at the Narita
Airport Custom gate. They x-rayed my suitcases and there they were on the
screen looking very suspicious.
Unfortunately one of ceramic bowls I bought in Hagi was broken while being
sent via airmail. I knew how to mend it beautifully with gold but I have to
find something to subsitute the cashew paint that I lost at the Nariata
Airport. Do you anyone know what I might try?
I have 1500 digital images of China and Japan to sort-out. But each one is
so breathtaking and taking me so much time to move one picture to
another....
Although I didn't have much time in Mashiko, I visited the Mashiko Messe(?)
where the 4th International Ceramic Show was shown. There, I saw many
variety of styles, glazes and clays and actually recognized several friends'
pots in the exhibit room.
I went to Mashiko by bus. My father took me to a bus stop where I could
catch a bus to Mashiko. I called the bus company for the schedule of Mashiko
destination. I figured 1.18 pm bus will work for me. I was at the bus stop
12.50.
I realized that I only had 10000 yen - too big for bus fare. I decided to go
across the street to get change from a ramen shop. I had more than enough
time to do so - I thought. I came out of the ramen shop at 1.08 that was 10
minutes earlier than the bus's arrival schedule. But alas! I saw a bus
passing by with "Mashiko" sign on the top when i stepped out of the ramen
shop. You can't imagine how I felt. Furious of cause to put it mildly. I
thought what I could do - run after the bus? no I am not in the shape to do
so. Catch a cab and drive after the bus. No cab seen in sight. I couldn't
do anything but wait for the next bus. The next one would come in one
hour..anyway, I got to Mashiko around 3.00.
I believe the Messe closed at 4.00. I spent about one hour seeing the
exhibit and stopped by shops near the bus stop to buy a few bowls and got on
a bus around 5.20. Yes it was a very short visit thanks to a JR bus driver
who passed by the stop 10 minuets before he was supposed be passing by..
I was angry enough to make a phone call to the JR office but gave up on the
idea after talking to several people. They said " Oh, that's the way it is
in here". So be aware in Japan, busses might never be late but they could
be early and they don't stop and wait!!!!.
Rather than that, I had a wonderful time in Japan. It was very hard to pack
my suitcases keeping the weight within the allowed pounds( 2 cases 70 lbs
each ). I had to mail many pots separately
One more goofy thing I did. I lost my return ticket. I thought I mailed it
back to DC with my other papers. I thought who needs a paper ticket in this
day and age. I was wrong. I had to dish out somehow $2450.00 ( my 10 day
trip to China all 3 meals and transportation, cruise included and Japan
round trip was only $1899.00 )one way back to DC. I almost didn't make it on
the plane. Raising voices nor begging didn't help at all. You must buy the
ticket. Anyway, I found the ticket in my suitcase with other papers from
China when I got home.
I will be reimbursed for $2442.00( $8.00 for fee). I live and learn - a hard
way.
Aiko
dalecochoy on thu 26 dec 02
Aiko,
That sounds like a great trip ( and some lessons learned).
When ( if) I return to Kyoto I shall spend more time on pottery and less on
temples ( I've seen most of them now).
As per gold repairs. I saw Many antique bonsai pots with gold chip repairs
at the Kokufu-ten bonsai show in the Ueno Park museum show two years ago.
Wonderful pots!
Perhaps you could use some of the components that gunsmiths use to fill
engraving with gold. Kits for this can be purchased at any good large gun
dealer. They come with powdered gold and a thick lacquer-type agent and a
cleaner agent. Try making a few calls.
BTW, per buses. When I was in Kyoto I got and all-day pass for $5 at the
trainstation/bus depot. and a colored schedule. It was a real deal!!. Buses
were a life ( feet) saver.
Regards,
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
DaleCochoy@Prodigy.Net http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aiko Ichimura"
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 11:14 AM
Subject: Trip to China-japan
> Hi all,
>
> I have returned from China and Japan trip recently.
>
> I visited Kyoto, Nara, Hagi and Mashiko( next to my hometown Utsunomiya)
and
> met many potter friends.
>
> I especially enjoyed Kyoto and Hagi and bought tons of ceramics there.
>
> In Tokyo I have taken classes to learn how to mend broken ceramics with
> lacquer and gold ( called Kintsugi).
> I had to buy a lots of utensils and materials for it. But some of my
> material such as Cashew paint and thinners were confiscated at the Narita
> Airport Custom gate. They x-rayed my suitcases and there they were on the
> screen looking very suspicious.
>
> Unfortunately one of ceramic bowls I bought in Hagi was broken while being
> sent via airmail. I knew how to mend it beautifully with gold but I have
to
> find something to subsitute the cashew paint that I lost at the Nariata
> Airport. Do you anyone know what I might try?
>
> I have 1500 digital images of China and Japan to sort-out. But each one is
> so breathtaking and taking me so much time to move one picture to
> another....
>
> Although I didn't have much time in Mashiko, I visited the Mashiko
Messe(?)
> where the 4th International Ceramic Show was shown. There, I saw many
> variety of styles, glazes and clays and actually recognized several
friends'
> pots in the exhibit room.
>
> I went to Mashiko by bus. My father took me to a bus stop where I could
> catch a bus to Mashiko. I called the bus company for the schedule of
Mashiko
> destination. I figured 1.18 pm bus will work for me. I was at the bus stop
> 12.50.
> I realized that I only had 10000 yen - too big for bus fare. I decided to
go
> across the street to get change from a ramen shop. I had more than enough
> time to do so - I thought. I came out of the ramen shop at 1.08 that was
10
> minutes earlier than the bus's arrival schedule. But alas! I saw a bus
> passing by with "Mashiko" sign on the top when i stepped out of the ramen
> shop. You can't imagine how I felt. Furious of cause to put it mildly. I
> thought what I could do - run after the bus? no I am not in the shape to
do
> so. Catch a cab and drive after the bus. No cab seen in sight. I couldn't
> do anything but wait for the next bus. The next one would come in one
> hour..anyway, I got to Mashiko around 3.00.
> I believe the Messe closed at 4.00. I spent about one hour seeing the
> exhibit and stopped by shops near the bus stop to buy a few bowls and got
on
> a bus around 5.20. Yes it was a very short visit thanks to a JR bus driver
> who passed by the stop 10 minuets before he was supposed be passing by..
>
> I was angry enough to make a phone call to the JR office but gave up on
the
> idea after talking to several people. They said " Oh, that's the way it is
> in here". So be aware in Japan, busses might never be late but they could
> be early and they don't stop and wait!!!!.
>
> Rather than that, I had a wonderful time in Japan. It was very hard to
pack
> my suitcases keeping the weight within the allowed pounds( 2 cases 70 lbs
> each ). I had to mail many pots separately
>
> One more goofy thing I did. I lost my return ticket. I thought I mailed it
> back to DC with my other papers. I thought who needs a paper ticket in
this
> day and age. I was wrong. I had to dish out somehow $2450.00 ( my 10 day
> trip to China all 3 meals and transportation, cruise included and Japan
> round trip was only $1899.00 )one way back to DC. I almost didn't make it
on
> the plane. Raising voices nor begging didn't help at all. You must buy
the
> ticket. Anyway, I found the ticket in my suitcase with other papers from
> China when I got home.
> I will be reimbursed for $2442.00( $8.00 for fee). I live and learn - a
hard
> way.
>
> Aiko
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