"north by north vol.4 KAMIKAWA DISCOVERY," held on July 18 and 19, has come to a successful close. For our fourth edition we moved to the town of Kamikawa. Here is a report on two days of Ainu wood carving, local food, and following the connections that run from the mountains down to the river.
“north by north vol.4 KAMIKAWA DISCOVERY,” held on July 18 and 19, has come to a successful close.
For our fourth edition, we moved the stage to the town of Kamikawa, planning and running the event together with local players there.
Day 1: Facing wood, the Ainu way
On the first day, July 18, we welcomed Mr. Izawa to Kamikawa’s Coming Hall to teach us Ainu wood carving. Working a block of Japanese pagoda tree with carving chisels, we shaped and drew out a Kotan-kor-kamuy, the guardian owl of the village.
Participants spanned a wide range of ages. The elementary school children, guided by Mr. Izawa, carved their own charming owl Kotan-kor-kamuy. The sight of them facing the wood in complete concentration, and the smiles that broke out when each piece was finished, stayed with us.
Around the table in Kamikawa
Lunch that day was a venison menchi-katsu box prepared for us by KINUBARI COFFEE. Over the meal, participants introduced themselves and we talked about how north by north got started. It was a very good stretch of time.
That evening we held a dinner at Yamaichi Shokudo in Kamikawa. Braised venison shank, fried yamabe trout, vegetables grown nearby: a table packed with everything that makes food in Dohoku worth traveling for.
Day 2: Following the connections from mountain to river
On the second day we set out from Kamikawa Station for Mount Esaushi and the forest of Asahigaoka.
After lunch at Mochigoya Mam, the afternoon took us to the bed of the Ishikari River, where we picked up stones and traced the story each one carried.
Water running down from the peaks, the trees that grow along it, the current of the Ishikari that carries on from there, and the stones that end up in this particular place. Learning that all of it is connected became a way of seeing how nature works.
The forecast had called for rain, but it cleared. The woods after the rain let their drops fall gently, and we got a cool day in the middle of summer.
Next time
north by north vol.5 is planned for late August. We will share the details soon on the north by north website and on Instagram.