TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Garuda Indonesia (GA) held a travel seminar jointly with INFINI TRAVEL INFORMATION on August 18, providing the latest tourism information to boost sales promotion in preparation for the start of daily flight operations between Tokyo Narita and Jakarta from September 1. In the Japanese market, the airline, serving Denpasar in Bali, gives a strong image of flying a resort route. Therefore, the airline considers it imperative to attract business traffic on its new Narita/Jakarta route. Hiroyuki Wada, Sales Manager Eastern Japan at Garuda Indonesia said, “It is indeed important to establish sales channels via travel agencies,” citing that Garuda strives to expand sales through the travel agencies by, first, familiarizing them with the airline’s in-flight service for business travelers.

Currently, Japan Airlines (JL) is the only carrier serving Jakarta from Narita. In January 2011, however, All Nippon Airways (NH) is also scheduled to start operating the same route. Indonesia enjoys a robust economy and, with many Japanese companies expanding their markets to the country, all three airlines expect to boost their business traffic. Although a stiffer market competition is foreseen among the airlines, Garuda Indonesia is confident of a successful operation, appealing its excellent connectivity with Indonesia’s domestic flight network and also its excellent passenger services. Garuda Indonesia is currently serving 16 destinations via Jakarta with airfares all common-rated from Tokyo Nartita. Garuda passengers can complete the entry procedures on board the flight before arriving, if the Indonesian visa fee is prepaid at Narita Airport.

Wada said that Garuda will strive to offer viable airfares and services while sharing information on business traffic trend and challenges for its business traffic strategy by joining forces with the travel agencies in the effort to sell the products based on the company’s philosophy “through the eyes of customers.” As far as the 9% agency commission is concerned, the airline said, it will maintain the same rate commission.

At the Fifth Trilateral Tourism Ministers’ Meeting among the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea held from August 21 at Hangzhou, China, a joint statement was issued to declare that the three nations endeavor to expand trilateral human exchange to the scale of 26 million people in 2015. In line with the meeting’s theme – “Toward the future, comprehensive cooperation and common prosperity” – the joint statement underlined the following four points: (1) to dynamize tourism industry in the broad spectrum and promote mutual development among the three nations, (2) to invigorate tourism exchange and cooperation, (3) to establish a strong tourism framework in East Asia, and (4) to deal with ecology issues from global point of view.

Regarding the point (1), the three governments agreed that each nation should give priority to tourism industry’s development and see to it that the industry’s status be upgraded continually. Each government acknowledges, the communiqué says, that tourism brings about enormous economic ripple effects leading to greater employment opportunities, yet with relatively small consumption of natural resources; hence, each government gears up to make the most of the growth of tourism. It is also agreed that continued trilateral cooperation should be directed to build up ever-growing tourism industry so that peoples of these nations can reap tangible benefits from the tourism exchange and mutual cooperation.

With reference to the point (3), three ministers were in accord on activated joint promotion for better services in the tourism industry, stepped-up two-way traffic, simplification and speed-up of visa issuance procedures and immigration formalities, and cooperation for tapping fresh tourism resources in such fields as medicine, sports, and culture. The tasks of human resource development and effective information transmission were also discussed.

Further, in connection with the point (4), the statement pledged the governments would make utmost efforts to protect global ecology by joint study of environmental fallouts stemmed from development of tourism industry and to heighten awareness of ecology issues on the part of tourists as well as travel business executives. At the meeting, “Joint Proposal on Low-Carbon Tourism among the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea” was adopted to enhance awareness of carbon emission issue and to grapple with its minimization.

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Kanazawa, Home to the Gorgeous Arts and Crafts with Grace and Class – From the turbulent era ruled by Nobunaga Oda and Hideyoshi Toyotomi to Edo period ruled by Tokugawa Shogunate, Maeda Family of Kaga Clan continued to flourish for 14 generations. Though Maeda family was not a hereditary vassal of the Tokugawa family, Kaga clan yielded one million koku of rice and ruled Kanazawa and almost all the area in Ishikawa Prefecture for 300 years.

Nowadays, Kanazawa Castle, headquarter of Maeda family, has been visited by many tourists as historic park together with Kenrokuen Garden. Restored in 2001, “Hishi yagura,” “Gojukken Nagaya” and “Hashizumemon tsuzuki yagura” is illuminated at night and are now the must-visit spots together with “Ishikawa mon.” It was not aristocrats nor merchants that led the culture of this area; being one of the largest castle town in Japan, Kanazawa became the home to a gorgeous and flamboyant samurai culture and traditional arts and crafts that colored the life of a samurai.

Time-honored Kutani yaki and lacquer ware are typical representative of traditional arts and crafts of Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture, but the area produces more than that. Cultivated through active cultural encouragement policy by Kaga clan, various kinds of arts and crafts are in place, such as Kaga Yuzen dying, Kanazawa gold/silver leaf, Kaga embroidery, Kanazawa Buddhist altars, Kaga paper lantern and Kaga Ivory. Based on Japanese chivalry, these versatile traditional crafts are all classy and elegant. Here, you can see the origin of the world-class culture of Japan.

Behind the development of these industrial arts in Kaga clan in Kanazawa, there was a struggling effort made by Maeda family to escape from the vigilant eyes of the Shogunate by showing them that the clan focuses on nurturing cultures rather than its force. On top of that, the long peaceful Edo period made it possible to lift up the samurai culture to a splendor.

“Kaga Mizuhiki”

Apart from the regular ceramics and weavings, mizuhiki is a rare kind of craft you can find. In Japan, when we want to send someone a present, we have the custom to wrap it in a paper, attach a noshi (ceremonial paper) and tie a special cord called mizuhiki, in order to show our gratitude or respect. In the days of Tokugawa Shogunate, it became popular among samurais to send gifts, which lead to the development of the beautiful mizuhiki decoration that has been handed down as a traditional art. In short, mizuhiki is craftwork that assume the shape of the expressions of gratitude in Japan. From the original flat form, this accessible craftwork later developed into a three dimensional mizuhiki-zaiku in Taisho era, and was raised up to an art piece as “Kaga Mizuhiki.”

The originator of Kaga Mizuhiki is “Tsuda-ryu Mizuhiki,” a style created by the founder Sokichi Tsuda in Meiji era that succeeded in creating a unique world of art through expressing good luck symbols such as cranes, turtles, pine, bamboo and plum in its distinctive designs. “Tsuda Mizuhiki Orikata,” the specialized shop of betrothal gifts in Kanazawa, is the only place in Japan where they skillfully make the mizuhiki works using the colorful mizuhiki made of cords wrapped in thin Japanese paper.

Other than the mizuhiki on congratulatory gift wrappers and betrothal gift ornaments, the shop exhibits artistic mizuhiki works such as those in the shape of unique dolls or Oriental Zodiacs. It is worthwhile seeing the craftsmanship of briskly tying up mizuhiki right on the spot as soon as they receive orders.

“Kanazawa Gold/Silver Leaf”

Another noteworthy traditional culture original to Kanazawa is “Kanazawa gold/silver leaf.” Gold leaf still has a short history as an industry, but it traces its roots to Azuchi Momoyama period (mid to late sixteenth century). In Meiji period, not only did the industry flourished having the history of being the castle town of Kaga clan, but it rapidly developed by Kanazawa having suitable climate for making gold leaves, high techniques, and good quality water. Nowadays, gold leaf have evolved into a gorgeous craftwork that Kanazawa boasts to be No. 1 in Japan in both techniques and production volume. Gold leaf artisans are a part of the indigenous industry representing Kanazawa; now, more than 99% of gold leaves and 100% of silver and brass leaves are made in Kanazawa.

The gold leaves used for lacquer ware and buddhist altars are those gold alloy beaten into extremely thin sheets up to a millionth of 1-2 mm which is too thin to be handled with a finger that you can even see through to the other side. Using its non-oxidizing and colorfast characteristics, silver and gold leaves are used on various arts and crafts including buddhist altars and ornaments, folding screens, and lacquer wares. These days, it is also used in a new way, for edible purposes, cosmetics and interior accessories.

Face blotting paper is also famous as a byproduct of gold leaves. The paper used in the in ingot beating process has been diverted to be used as blotting paper as it absorbed sebum. Being used for more than a decade, this hakuuchi paper (gold beating paper) is also known as a luxury item “Furuya-gami.” Also, many gold leaf shops are open to visitors to experience gold leaf pastings.

Discovering the Expert’s Techniques in the Sanctuary of Woodturning

Located in the southeast end of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kaga City is used to be a 100 thousand-koku producing castletown and a branch clan of Kaga-hyakumangoku castletown, Kanazawa. Kaga City is a town with onsen full of nature and traditional cultures though it is only 30 minutes away from Kanazawa. Yamanaka Onsen, in the mountainside of the city, is known for its lacquer ware as well as being the cradle of the pottery, Kutani-yaki. Remains of Ko-kutani kilns are seen in the upper stream of Taiseiji River that flows into the onsen area.

“Yamanaka Lacquer Ware”

The history of Yamanaka lacquer ware dates back to the late sixteenth century around Azuchi-momoyama period when they started to make lacquer wares in Yamanaka for the visitors to onsen. Then, in Edo period, high-leveled craft such as “painting” and “maki-e (gold or silver lacquer)” was introduced, which raised the lacquer ware to an industrial level.

There are four processes when making lacquer ware; making the wood base, priming, coating and lacquer painting, but it takes seven to eight years to acquire each of these skills. The characteristics of Yamanaka lacquer ware is the art of “woodturning.” Artisans turn the lathe and carve out the wood so thin that the carved wood almost looks transparent. Yamanaka lacquer ware is unique in that it has a process of continue applying and wiping off raw lacquer to show off the beauty of the grain and the high technique of the woodturning.

Pick up the finished product, and you will know that it is surprisingly light in weight. It is astonishing that the feudal lords used such delicate and expensive wooden lacquer ware for their daily use. However, after Yamanaka lacquer ware grew popular nationwide, Yamanaka started to produce synthetic resin lacquer ware in addition to those made out of plain wood. In “Rokuro no sato Kogei no Yakata” in Yamanaka Onsen, tourists can also experience the art of lacquer guided by skilled craftsmen (reservation required). By actually experiencing the traditional crafts, I am sure you will feel more familiar to the world of Japanese artisans.