I found this old garden along a very lonely road in the high mountains surrounding Shizuoka, Japan. This area is rather remote and I have never seen another person while exploring the area, though there are several tea fields which appear well cared for. Before embarking on this particular hike I asked a man I met at the last village I passed about what I might find in the mountains beyond. He gave me a puzzled look and simply replied in Japanese that I would find…nothing. What I think he meant was that there are no people living in this area, though there does remain much evidence of people who did once call these mountains home. Abandoned houses and farms are found at intervals along the road, along with various structures such as farm sheds, carefully constructed stone walls and even a hidden Shinto shrine I spotted from across the canyon, but which I was unable to reach due to the steep cliffs and heavy brush which seem to guard the shrine from access (don’t worry, it’s in my plans to reach this shrine eventually!). Numerous trailheads can be found along the road which are marked by old machinery rusting in the dense green foliage. Each of these trails undoubtedly leads to some cleared farmland or terraces long ago cut and cleared from the mountain slopes above. I’m certain that an exploration of any one of these trails would yield a wonderful experience in uncovering the life work of a proud farmer from Japan’s past who is now gone and perhaps nearly forgotten.
The concept of forgotten is the subject of this particular video. I shot this footage after spending some time on my return hike examining an old fence-like structure situated near some abandoned buildings along the road. After a while I decided that the fence surrounded a plot of land which must have once been a garden, possibly a kitchen garden for one of the empty homes nearby. The land within the garden plot had been almost completely reclaimed by nature with the exception of patches of pretty yellow and white flowers seen here and there within and outside the fenced plot. The flowers could be found in little clumps within the immediate area though no such flowers were seen anywhere else during my hike. The evidence of the flowers in conjunction with the garden fences and gates gave rise to some whimsical thoughts which I would like to share with you now via the video. I hope that you enjoy this small glimpse into the life of some unknown Japanese farmer who once cultivated this little patch of mountain paradise, and who’s memory lives on each spring in the colorful faces of his now-feral flowers.
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Welcome to Abandoned Japan. My name is Kurt Bell and I am delighted that you have taken some time to share a little of Japan’s lost and forgotten places with me. I’m available on social media at the links below and can be reached via email at dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com.
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THE PATH OF WILDNESS
The Path of Wildness is easy to find
The course of a stream
Leaves blown in the wind
A beast’s track through the brush
And the direction of our first inclination
The Path of Wildness is an answer and response to a prescribed way of life which may leave some individuals with a sense that their living is little more than a series of pre-determined, step-like episodes between birth and death. The stages of living between these events: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, parenthood and senior are themselves natural and in accord with the needs of the species and most individuals. Many find their satisfaction in living this course and to these individuals I have little or nothing to say. Others though long for something more; something innate, genetic and seemingly calling. Adventure and change can give a degree of satisfaction and relief yet even these may seem too tame. To those who feel drawn to something beyond the entertainment and stimulation of senses I offer a walk along The Path of Wildness. Don’t bother penciling the event in your schedule, preparing a pack with goodies and supplies or even inviting a friend along, for this experience is along the course of your first inclination and you must surely always go alone.
Learn more about The Path of Wildness here:
http://wp.me/P5A2F-As
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CHANNEL CREDITS
“Japanese Falls” image is by the artist Lane Brown. See more of Mr. Brown’s work at the following URL: http://lanebrownart.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html
Channel Theme Music “Song For Kurt” used with permission by Nowherians. Discover more about the artist and their music at the URL below.
http://nowherians.bandcamp.com
13 Comments
A sad thought. I wish more would move to the countryside. Then again, I think the same thing here. Hhmm…. there's an idea for a video! ^^
~Kat
You're an english teacher, right? Can your wife draw? If so, you now have material for an award winning children's book.
Beautiful, thank you mister Bell.
Very beautiful place for a garden great setting.
Very nice Kurt! That reminds me of some beautiful Iris flowers that my mom planted at my dad's house. She's been gone for almost 10yrs but, we enjoy them every springtime still today!
Great clip.
I think like your reflections over these flowers even more than the video.
Thanks for the food for thoughts.
thank you for posting this. made my day =]
Thanks for the reminder.
Im so glad you are capturing these parts of Japan.
My favorite parts. Nature there is quite powerful which is likely not the typical thoughts of Japan!
why is everyting abandoned!!! cmon lol u can live there.. just build a road XD
I would have a field day stealing sooo many plants. :'D
Hey Kurt, your videos always capture me with their beauty and poetic insights on life. Your commentary makes viewing the scenery in these videos so much more meaningful. This is one of the first videos of yours that I came across years ago and I come back to it periodically. It really exemplifies why I like your channels so much in general. If you happen to see this comment I just wanted to say thanks for sharing all these great moments and thoughts with us. Viewing them has been a lovely experience for me over the years.
Thanks for the flower videoing