Join me, once again, as we go a’callin holler-style, this time to visit my friend, and fellow hollerer, Junko!
300 Year Old Temple Kannonnji Tokyo with Buddhist Priest (Photo/Description Junko)
Junko is very close to her family and returns to Japan at least twice per year and attends each of her father’s Buddhist funeral ceremonies, which have occurred so far on the day of the funeral, the seventh day, the 49th day, and the first, third and seventh year, respectively. The above photo shows where the priest reads the sutras at the ceremony. (Photo/Description Junko)
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When I moved into The Holler almost 5 ½ years ago, I was quite intimidated. Although the house was new, there was a scorpion problem. I soon met the resident coyotes who loved to come up way too close to us, unnerving me. There were tarantulas. The rattlesnakes also made themselves known in a most disconcerting manner. The first encounter occurred when I went to throw out trash in one of the garages in my flip-flops and came within inches of stepping on a quite aggressive Southern Pacific Rattlesnake who refused to leave. I now wear handmade Chippewa Rattlesnake boots whenever I go out.
In addition to the snakes and insects, there was property to look after, landscaping to be completed with drainage before rainy season, extensive brush to clear in preparation for fire season, and orchards to maintain. There were septic systems and propane tanks. There were free-ranging cattle that liked to break through their fence and eat our grapefruit trees. There were abandoned dogs that people dropped off since it was an isolated area. Very thoughtful of them I know.
As if all these “challenges” were not enough, there was a quite complete lack of neighbors, which of course, was one of the major reasons we moved out here. But it also meant there were no people in hollering distance of our holler i.e., we were on our own. We did have one set of neighbors, but they were more than a mile away. Still they were the only people around, and had moved in several months before we did, so they were more experienced with rural life here than we were. Their names were Kevin and Junko. Like everyone out here Kevin and Junko have a very protective dog. Meet Kuro, who doesn’t hesitate to challenge coyotes or pit-bulls (I owned this breed once and can attest to their boldness and protective natures.)
Yep, Kuro the Pomeranian, holds her twelve-year old-own, out here, and Junko and Kevin adore her!
Since we first met, more than 5 years ago, Junko and I have become very good friends. Junko was born and raised in Japan. She moved to Australia in adulthood and lived for a while on The Gold Coast. She then moved to the Bay Area in San Francisco where she met and married Kevin. Kevin spent part of his childhood growing up in Montana so he liked the rural isolation and beauty of the holler and was experienced with country life. Junko having lived in Tokyo was not.
Hence this friendship was born between a city woman from Tokyo, and a city woman from San Diego, both of us, at sea in this rural environment. I remember thinking if Junko can do this, so can I. The Holler was in so many ways different from her life in Tokyo. She was already acclimated to living in the US, but now she had the additional challenge of country life and the, uhhh, unusual county folks that choose to live out here, and of course their animals.
Whenever anything weird happens out here, and weird stuff happens constantly, she looks to me for verification of whether or not this is normal behavior for Americans. Usually I can reassure her that it is not. I can only imagine what her mother makes of all this when she visits from Tokyo!
Junko and I are now fully adapted to holler life and we have lots of fun together. Junko comes from a long history of Japanese artists. She paints, does traditional Japanese flower arranging (Ikebana) which she has studied for more than ten years, is devoted to yoga, and is a wonderful cook, both of her husband’s beef dishes and her fish ones. Check out some of her paintings:
I am the only member of my family that has not spent significant time in Japan. My children spent a summer alone together in Japan, in college, traveling all over, and my mother spent part of her sabbatical year living in a Buddhist Monastery near Osaka where the monks had all taken a vow of silence (See my prior post about her sabbatical.) My grandparents also spent a lot of time in Japan and collected some wonderful antique art, which I treasure. Someday I would love to visit Junko in Japan. Check out more photos of the beautiful, historic temple Kannonnji:
Gorgeous Golden Chandelier. (Photo/Description Junko.)
The priest reads the sutras while the attendees listen on these chairs.
(Photo/Description Junko)
Junko’s beautiful ceremonial kimono:
Junko leaves us with this link and says, “This link has information about Japanese death anniversaries. It might be a little different from yours. I would like to tell you how ours are.”
The Holler is full of surprises isn’t it? And Junko was, and is, a wonderful surprise. Cheers to you Junko and thank you for sharing this with all of us!
I can take spiders but not snake. I do not hate them but I am so afraid of them for some reason :}
Love the temple pictures and the dress.
I don’t hate them either and like the non-venomous ones, the big slow rattlers don’t bug me too much, but the fast, aggressive southern pacifics, they I am NOT friends with!
What an interesting place you live in. Everything from “A” (Animals) to “Z” (Zen).
So clever my clever friend~
Tranquility in Buddhist temples is unparalleled. Paintings are fascinating. Great post!
Thank you….gotta go to Japan!! Junko will hopefully read your comments & cheers to you~
Aw! Then also do tell, she is a gifted artist. Her choice of vibrant colors, detailing, fancy for round arches is eye-catching.
She will be honored…Junko are you reading this???? Thank you!
Quite a story about the move and transition to rural living, cuz. Your friend Junko sounds very interesting and her paintings are wonderful.
Paul
Hope she reads your comments & thank you for them!
Thank you so very much for sharing……
I will pass on your thanks to Junko or she will just read them. Thank you just the same for your awesome support & cheers to you!
I am very fearful of snakes. Childhood thing; long story! This was a breathtaking post Cindy. I loved the photos; especially the paintings. Thank you!
Junko gets the credit. I confess to not liking poisonous snakes so I completely understand!
The Holler is full of wonder and wonderful people.
It is!
I meant to add that Jim & I just came back from walking the whole property today for the first time Iin 5 1/2 years! I found all sorts of interesting things, but haven’t looked at the photos yet…..everyday is something new! Cheers & thanks my friend~
I had my fill of water moccasins when I lived in Georgia so I can empathize! I loved this post Cindy — hearing your stories — and Junko sounds like a wonderful friend!
Thank you! She is a wonderful person. Water moccasions…no fun at all!!!
How fortunate for you and Junko to have found each other. You must go to Japan, Cindy! Now that you have Junko, you will have a more meaningful visit.
You are always right on track with me Fae…..I must go to Japan & visit Junko there!
Scorpions? I don’t think I could handle that…… I’d be on the next plane to Japan!
Hilarious!!! The scorpions did not make me happy, but they are gone now. We did find a smooshed one that my son stepped on barefoot in the middle of the night without knowing what it was. I showed him and he was completely unconcerned. He said, “oh, that’s what that was….” To funny…….
This morning I will launch a post nominating you for the “Illuminating Blog Award.” Everyone has an individual leaning one way or the other about these awards. Even if you do not accept it, please know that in the nomination comes a heartfelt appreciation for the chance to know you and your work through this blogging life.
I do know and I am very honored! Thank you for the appreciation. It means a great deal to me. I am quite behind on the awards and need to try and find a way to catch up. Thank you very sincerely~
I watched a show where a Realtor had bought a home and had a scorpion infestation. She has done all she can to live in the home. And is fearful that she actually has to stay there because if she ever went to sell it she would have to disclose the problem. And since it was, I believe a custom home….who would want to take on all the efforts she has to keep it scorpion free?
Traditions of honoring death are interesting. Please thank Junko for her link and her art.
Some traditions say the whole body must be buried, but the tome stone may not be placed until after a year. Others recommend leaving a stone on the grave marker when you visit as a sign to the deceased that you have been there. And others light candles as well as say prayers on the anniversary of a loved ones death.
Scorpions out here are not as dangerous as they are in other places…but I still wanted them gone!!
Funeral practices are fascinating as they show us how other cultures view and manage both life and death, and family ties. Thanks for you appreciation of the post!
The Buddhist temple is awesome! Magnificent! That selection of dangerous wildlife you have the dubious delight of encountering…plain scary!! Rattle snakes…tarantulas! Oh wolf
Think I’ll stick to Kuro and maybe the Buddhist temple 
Kuro is adorable too!
I’ll tell Kuro you said this, but to tell you the truth, I think she already knows it!!! LOL! Cheers and happy weekend to you both!!!
What a lovely story about friendship. I hope you’ll get a chance to visit Japan. We made the trip when our daughter lived there (teaching English at an all girl high school) for 3 years. It was delightful. The temples were so beautiful and the culture was absolutely fascinating to this Midwestern gal!
Yes I hear this about Japan. Everyone who goes is quite impressed. It is nearing the tippy-top of my bucket list! Cheers to you & thanks~
What a lovely post. The paintings of your Japanese friend are so beautiful and have a feeling of peace about them. I’m sure you will go to Japan very soon and we will all come with you in your computer…
I hope you are reading this JUNKO!!! She is very talented and yes, I would love to go to Japan and take you with me, after all I love traveling with you on your adventures too! Cheers to you my friend~
Yes that would be fun I think we have a lot in common. I have only had 1 day in Japan and that was a stopover on the way to Korea so doesn’t really count
Scorpions in my bathroom…150 different types of snakes, about half poisonous…geckos on my walls, which eat the flying creatures who dare come in…is your “holler” in Costa Rica? I did a post for my wife’s blog on the nature to be photographed from our balcon and in our apartment…the six inch long grasshopper by our coffee pot did it for most. How fortunate to be friends with Juniko, and have the Japan connection. People who create edifices for beauty and ritual meaning are so far ahead in their thinking than those who create boxy, functional, price-conscience living and working spaces.
Later…
What a fabulous comment! I love blogging. One meets the most fascinating people. I agree with you about Japan, although I have yet to experience it myself. Costa Rica? Sounds awesome….With beauty comes some inconvenience nest pah? A small price to pay…..Your life is Costa Rica will be rich and wonderful……Thank you for your comment~