Washi: Sekishu-banshi

Like washoku, UNESCO added washi (Japanese papers) to their list of intangible cultural heritage.

Here is a problem in reporting. It wasn't all the traditional Japanese papers being selected but only three kinds: Sekishu-banshi, Mino-shi, and Hosokawa-shi. So it should say three washi instead of washi. I smell the problem in the leadership, which tried to make it sound all washi were selected. I think the problem the government had was that Sekishu-banshi was already selected in 2009 by UNESCO. I let you imagine the scene how they handled the problem when other two paper people claimed to be a part of the UNESCO list, too. I guess they didn't think ahead enough and probably didn't have a sound process to apply for the UNESCO's list.  If they did, they didn't need to reapply for it.

"Wa" means Japanese and shi, papers. Many hans(samurai domains) proudly created their own papers but only few survived for financial reason. This article explains the difference among those selected, and it seems Sekishu-banshi comes to top in quality and technique and the natural resources that are available in Iwami(Sekishu's other name). Yay! My ancestors belonged to Hamada han that created and developed the paper. Iwas's pink letter I introduced here and in my blog before was perhaps written on a Sekishu-banshi. Iwa is my great great grandmother.

Congratulation to the people of Hamada! Your washi paper is number one!

http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2014/11/26/japanese-paper-washi-unesco-heritage-list_n_6228190.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

The Ruins of the Hamada Castle

 After I stopped at the Hamada city library, I climbed up to the ruins of the Hamada Castle.  The library was very small, and I met only one assistant.  The person in charge was out although I had told I would be there.  I gave her my phone number.

Above the stairs, this shrine appeared before my eyes.

Then I came to this gate.  This was not the gate of the castle.  Someone moved this old gate that used to belong to Tsuwano han.  The sign explained that it was transferred to Hamada han.  Tsuwano and Hamada han must have been like brothers, not only because of the fate of this gate, but some new information I gathered right before this trip, and luckily, I confirmed it during this trip.

  

Climbing up these steps was my good exercise.  I opened and closed both my palms as I went up.   Then I lifted my arms up like a jet plane and rotated my shoulders.  I was pretty sure nobody was around.

I loved it although it was a bit cold.

How wonderful it was to reach the top!

This view was on my left.

This was on my right.  It was unreal to me.  Waves hit the frame of the bay throwing up white splash. The sign there said, in 1626, a Spanish missionary named Diego de S passed this spot.  He reported he saw a fine castle.  I'm sure the Hamada han's samurai were looking down with their curious eyes.  I wonder if any of them went down and said hello.
 

I've never seen this flower before.  I thought it could be from a foreign land.

The ground I walked on was soft, but it was windy.  I wanted to stop at one more place, a local research center, if I needed to leave Hamada rather than staying one night.  I received a call from the person in charge at the library.  She said it would take a long time even if I showed her my family certificates.  She probably has never processed this kind of request.

Probably I'll have a chance to step on the beautiful ground like above again.  Nothing is in hurry for me.  I'm just surprised at anything I've seen.

At the Hamada station, I found only one bakery where I had some sandwich, a sweet, and coffee.  The bakery was a part of a hotel.  I asked an assistant there if they had a vacancy.  They were all booked except one smoking single room.  No, thank you.  I rather stay at a clean and reasonable business hotel free from cigarette smoke.   I found one next to the Shin Yamaguchi station.   Looking at these photos, I want to go back there again next year and travel further along Japan Sea.