Recently, I took a trip to Amami Oshima, an island of Kagoshima Prefecture, just about a 3 hour plane ride from the city. Greeted by the coexistence of nature and warm-hearted people, I was reminded of the importance of tradition and taking a break from the fast paced life…and enjoy the small moments in life.
A visit to the Oshima Textiles
The Oshima Tsumugi is a traditional textile unique to Amami Oshima Island with beautiful patterns. Mud is used to dye the silk threads into a black color and dye is added onto each silk thread to create a unique pattern. These threads are then placed onto the loom to create intricate motifs which often originate in nature, and are most often made into a kimono.
What struck me the most was the amount of work that is input to create the product. Even a single thread out of place would require the entire process to be redone so, the workers there were proceeding with such precision and concentration. Moreover, there were specific instructions on where to place each silk thread on to the loom which made me realize how the uniqueness each thread is important in creating the whole; the same goes for society in that a mix of unique individuals create a beautiful, new kind of society.
Furthermore, beyond the intricate process was the passing down of a tradition, tracing back all the way to the Nara period. Oshima Tsumugi is a tradition passed down and the workers often have inherited it from their parents. To prevent the tradition from dying, the textiles have been made into Western style clothing (such as hats and earrings) in order to appeal to a wider audience, and the tradition is being taught at local elementary and high schools. This made me realize how much adaptation is required to preserve a tradition especially at a time in which there is a decline in the appeal of tradition and how important human links are in keeping such a beautiful culture alive.
At the heart of island songs
Shima-uta, the songs specific to Amami Region are primarily about family, love. Although the words were in a dialect I couldn’t understand, I felt the beautiful soul of the performers who were appreciating every small piece of happiness in life. The incredible voice range of these performers were fascinating enough but I was drawn into a depth greater than just their voices. Unlike popular music which is catchy and upbeat, Shima-uta is slow, representing the slow-paced life and depth that cannot be found in any other genre. After a conversation with one of the performers I understood that at the heart of this glowing happiness was the embracement of the most basic morals of life and Japanese culture: concern for others, emphasis on good manners and greetings, maintaining a good heart.
In the midst of our busy lives as students we may not realize but the key of happiness is appreciation of human relationships we take for granted. Before the storms of finals approach, take a breath and destress by appreciating even the smallest joys of life.
Thanks for reading!
Click here for a Shima-uta experience:)