Hi, there.
Now, it is “大寒-Daikan-” (the coldest season), and it’s been extremely cold. This winter, it’s been snowing more often than usual, and we can see Mt. Hiei covered with a little dusting of snow. Although we don’t really welcome this snowy weather for our work, the snow view from our office is breathtakingly beautiful.
Continued Osouji (New year’s cleaning)
It had been snowing heavily that morning, so everyone didn’t work on the site and continued cleaning up our office.
I think you wonder why we’ve been cleaning for so long, but you will see later soon!
We all moved books and bookshelves and organized tools that are no longer in use. While cleaning, I found many books about Japanese landscaping, and I thought I would look through them when I had time. The techniques and beauty of Japanese gardens don’t age: I found that the beauty of gardens described in the old books has an aesthetic sense that is still accepted today. As an artisan, I should keep my eyes open for new things, and at the same time, I need to take time to go back to the old times through the old books to see what is good and learn from them.
The Snow-covered Garden
While we were cleaning, outside was snowing, and the garden showed us such snowy scenery.
Snow has fallen on winter withered branches and leaves of evergreen trees, giving them a beautiful white makeup. It’s been snowing a lot this year, and even as I write this blog, light snow is fluttering outside.
I love the garden covered with snow because it makes a more fantasy world. When the colors become deep and a black and white world, I always think of Vilhelm Hammershoi’s paintings. The shade of light and quietness in the limited color perfectly match the poetic sentiment in winter. And the window snow scene is so magical that I feel as if I have a painting on the wall.
It’s still “大寒-Daikan-” but once “Daikan” has passed, “立春-Risshun-”(the first day of spring) is coming soon on the calendar. Spring is around the corner, so I will take my time to enjoy the remaining winter scenery until then.