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[Ice Cream Spoon]

Am I the only one who becomes excited about ice cream and soft serve when the temperature rises above 20°C (68°F)? It is something I tend to overlook during the winter, but once the warmer days arrive, I find it difficult to resist. In the middle of summer, people often crave something with an icy, slightly crunchy texture, and they end up eating ice cream quickly because they are concerned it will melt in the heat. For this reason, I believe that this time of year, when it is warm but not excessively hot, is ideal for slowing down and fully appreciating the rich flavor and creamy texture of ice cream.

What I would like to recommend here is Sori Yanagi's Ice Cream Spoon. Sori Yanagi is an industrial designer and the son of Muneyoshi Yanagi, who is known as the father of the Mingei (folk craft) movement. The products he introduced more than fifty years ago are both functional and beautiful, and they continue to receive high praise both in Japan and abroad.

The Ice Cream Spoon is always on display at the Wakamatsu showroom, and customers who happen to stop by often have the opportunity to purchase it casually. I have been working in the showroom for three years, and this is the first time I have purchased the ice cream spoon for myself. Until now, I believed that having one favorite dessert spoon was sufficient, and I had not given much thought to what made a dedicated ice cream spoon different. However, when I used this spoon for the first time this season to enjoy a cup of ice cream, it tasted significantly better than before. I felt a strong desire to share this experience with others.

The flat part of the spoon, which resembles a spatula, along with the length of the handle, allows just the right amount of force to be applied when scooping ice cream straight from the freezer, making it easy to shave off the surface smoothly. When placed in the mouth, the shallow indentation of the spoon and the thinness of the stainless steel create a very pleasant sensation on the palate, without interfering with the smooth texture of the ice cream.

Ice cream is generally said to taste especially good when the temperature is around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. I was quite surprised to learn that ice cream in winter is exceptional in northern countries, where people tend to feel cold. It is also interesting to enjoy ice cream in a heated room. According to the Japan Ice Cream Association, the Golden Week holidays are the perfect season to enjoy ice cream. I found this information very convincing.

When you visit our Wakamatsu showroom, please take a moment to look at the Ice Cream Spoon. This carefully designed and beautiful cutlery series has been loved by many people for nearly fifty years since it was first introduced in 1974. How about enjoying some ice cream this season?

Sori Yanagi's Ice Cream Spoon
https://www.shokunin.com/en/yanagisori/cutlery.html
Hirota Glass's Sori Yanagi Wine Glass
https://www.shokunin.com/en/hirota/wine.html
Wakamatsu Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/wakamatsu.html

Reference
https://www.icecream.or.jp/iceworld/qa/08.html

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[Sutra Copying Experience in Kyoto]

Kyoto has finally started to show its lush greenery. In the short period between the end of the major holidays and the beginning of the rainy season, young leaves are growing in the mountains and the city, and a fresh breeze is blowing through the air. The freshness of early summer blends with the dignified air of Kyoto and makes me fall in love with this ancient city every year. Recently, I had a chance to experience the beauty of the fresh greenery not only through my eyes but also through my ears.

In Kyoto, there are several temples where you can experience sutra copying. Sutra copying refers to the careful transcription of Buddhist scriptures, either word for word or in the form of sutras that convey the Buddha's teachings on life and the path to enlightenment. Before the advent of printing technology, copying scriptures was a way to spread the Dharma and accumulate spiritual merit. Today, the most widely practiced sutra is the Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra), believed to have been translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Xuanzang, a monk of China’s Tang Dynasty. In just 262 characters, the sutra distills the core Buddhist concept that “all things are empty of inherent existence,” teaching liberation from suffering and attachment. Today, the benefits of sutra copying are once again being recognized—it stimulates the brain by enhancing concentration and offers a moment to quietly turn inward.

The other day, we visited Rozan-ji Temple, a Tendai-sect temple located on the east side of Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, to experience sutra copying. It was once the residence of Murasaki Shikibu and is known as the site where she wrote “The Tale of Genji.” The temple was originally built in the southern part of Funaokayama during the Tenkei era by Ryogen (also known as Ganzan Daishi). The temple was later rebuilt by Kakuyu and named Rozan-ji after a Buddhist lecture hall in Lushan, China. At Rozan-ji, which boasts a long history, there is a dedicated room for sutra copying where visitors can borrow tools such as pens and sample sheets after paying a small fee. The activity typically takes about 60 minutes. As a beginner, I chose the tracing method, placing a semi-transparent sheet over the sample and copying it carefully. After taking a deep breath to calm my breathing, I straightened my back, cleared my mind, quietly placed my palms together, and began the sutra copying.

At first, I couldn't even control the brush strokes of tome, hane, and harai—the fundamentals of Japanese calligraphy—and was surprised by the flood of thoughts that kept arising one after another. But eventually, my breathing settled, my thoughts quieted, and my mind became calm and clear. As I wrote, I could hear the wind blowing through the garden, shaking the leaves on the trees. At that moment, as the wind brushed against my cheeks and the rustling of leaves reached my ears—more delicate and dimensional than ever—I realized that my ears and skin were gently opening to the world around me, even though my focus was supposed to be on the tip of my brush. The sound of the leaves seemed to be clothed in light and color, even without looking at them, and I was enveloped in an extraordinary, almost blissful sensation—as if the vibrant greenery was seeping into my body through my ears. It was one of those moments when something small and easily overlooked revealed its vivid presence, sharpened into focus by the clarity of mind that comes from being fully present in the here and now.

The quiet time spent at a temple, writing sutras with a brush and a calm mind, can offer a special way to experience Kyoto that feels more personal and reflective than typical sightseeing. Through our sutra copying experience at Rozan-ji Temple, we were able to step away from the rush of everyday life, reflect inwardly, and connect with Kyoto’s natural beauty more mindfully and sensitively. How about taking a moment to face the words of the sutra and your own heart, and to experience the quiet flow of time and the changing colors of the seasons?

Rozan-ji Temple *Sutra copying is available from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
https://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~rozanji/51syakyo.html
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/

References
https://fudepen.kuretake.co.jp/write/230/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%86%99%E7%B5%8C
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%88%AC%E8%8B%A5%E5%BF%83%E7%B5%8C

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[Tsuno Daishi]

When you walk through the streets of Kyoto, you frequently see chimaki decorated for the Gion Festival at entrances, and statues of Shoki glaring at you from the roofs. Even in Nishijin, where the Imadegawa Showroom is located, you see these statues on a daily basis. Another impressive feature is the “Tsuno Daishi” talismans, depicting demons with unique and powerful brush strokes, which are pasted at entrances and doorways. In fact, although I had been curious about their existence for some time, I did not know much about their detailed origin and meaning.

The Tsuno Daishi is a talisman depicting Ryogen, a high priest of the Heian period known as Jie Daishi or Ganzan Daishi, in the form of an ogre. Ryogen is considered to be a restorer of the Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple and was known for his spiritual power to ward off evil and misfortune.

There are various theories as to the origin of this amulet, but it is said that during a plague that was spreading in the capital, the god of plague attacked Ryogen, and when he tried to confine the god of plague in the tip of his little finger, he felt intense pain all over his body and developed a high fever. When Ryogen gathered his disciples together and began praying for the plague to disappear, his appearance in the mirror was quickly transformed into that of a demon. Ryogen had his disciples copy the image and print it on woodblocks, which were then affixed to the doors of private homes. The talisman was then called “Tsuno Daishi,” and was affixed to doorways as a charm to ward off evil.

Even today, temples of the Tendai sect offer Tsuno Daishi talismans to ward off evil and protect families. The figures depicted on Tsuno Daishi talismans vary slightly from region to region and from temple to temple. It is believed to keep away bad luck and protect the house, especially when placed at the gate or entrance. Prayers for protection from misfortune and peacefulness, contained in Tsuno Daishi talismans, continue to quietly protect people's lives over time.

Imadegawa Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/imadegawa.html

References
https://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~rozanji/index.html
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%89%AF%E6%BA%90
https://souda-kyoto.jp/blog/00958.html