Anti-climactic Ending

Nov. 25, 2006

The next morning we headed up to Sakakita to harvest bamboo. It is final segment of the Trip, and my condition was still pretty rough. In fact, I didn`t even get to harvest as my body felt totally drained of energy and I still had a fever. I made it up the mountain, but all I could do was lay down on the ground as I listened to everyone else enjoying the harvesting with the happy sound of hammers hitting picks, digging out roots. Peter, being the considerate fellow he is, asked everyone to harvest one piece for me. Thanks, Peter! I eventually went back down the mountain and rested in one of the cars. Back at the ryokan, I slept all through dinner and the party (which I heard was wonderful), and through the night. But I didn`t have to go to the toilet as much as before.

The next morning was abura nuki, oiling the bamboo. I felt considerably better and even ate a little of the breakfast. I was still weak, but managed to oil all the pieces of bamboo that the others harvested for me. Murai-san would take all the pieces back to his place and sun them for us for two weeks then he will send them all to my place where they will cure till the making workshop in the summer.

Anyway, that officially ends the 2006 (Extreme/Ultimate) Shakuhachi Roots Pilgrimage in Japan. It was unbelievably beautiful and profound as usual. We made so many new friends and contacts and next year`s trip will be unique and fascinating once again, as we plan to attend the Meian-kyokai at the beginning of November, explore the relationship of folk music and honkyoku, and touch the world of yoko-bue.

I will be transfering this text to the Bamboo-In website and filling it in with more details and we will be creating a site where everyone will be able to see all the wondeful photos we took of the trip.

Thanks for following the blog and hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Alcvin

www.bamboo-in.com
ramos@dccnet.com


Alcvin