I Come To Here To Meet You
Wu Chien Wei
Aug. 2017
When I arrived Kentaro-san & Makiko -san`s
home, they gave me a question—why do you choose our place?
This question confused me couple of days,
because I didn`t have a specific answer for them, something like I want to know
organic farming or learn Japanese traditional cooks, I couldn`t answer them easily,
but I tried to find it.
I stayed with them only one week, it was a
short time, but I did know them day by day. Kentaro-san was born in Toyomi, a
small mountain village I stayed, but worked as a school teacher near to Tokyo
in 9 years, then he changed his life became an artist.
10 years ago he and his wife Makiko-san
decided to come back Toyomi, but his homeland was totally different…empty. But Kentaro-san
found his playing partner of childhood and changed their homeland`s destiny. They
renewed broken houses, dressed walls, created many art creatures in every
corner of the village.
It`s totally different when I came Toyomi,
now here has café, restaurant, inns and performance stage!!! I was lucky that I
just met their musical festival in my second date, traditional music, Japanese
pop, rap etc., I was very impressed, so much energy here!
Even Kentaro-san has already left from
teacher career, but he & his wife are still teaching. I said that, because
6 junior high school students from Tokyo has come to their house to experience
rural life during my staying period. I could see these youths have be changed, and
I thought I have been changed by them, too.
Kentaro-san used his life story to teach
me--“the life could be happy but doesn`t mean easy”, I totally agree especially
after I tried his daily works, it was definitely not simple; I think that Makiko-san
is a brave women, she could fallowed his husband`s changing and supported him. The
artist`s life is difficult and without much money, but her positive and strong
mind taught me--“the life could be busy and hard but doesn`t mean unhappy”, I
will always remember her advice when I meet the difficult time in the future.
I did wwoof with them, they not only gave
me room and meal, but also gave me countless life wisdom. So why did I choose
their place for wwoofing? I found the answer is--- I come to here for to meet
them.
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