day 298 - beautiful bamboo

A massive bamboo stem thrusts into the sky beside the Bitchu Kokobun-ji Pagoda on the Kibi Plain. Hard to believe it's a grass, not a tree...

Bamboo - take - is such an integral part of the culture that it's impossible to spend a day here without seeing or touching the stuff.

It weaves its way through Japanese folk tales, ritual and religion - indeed the entire history of the Japanese people. It forms the structure of their houses, the raw material for their arts and crafts. It's eaten. It's appreciated for its strength, flexibility and intrinsic beauty.

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of images of bamboo in Japan. I hope you're as fascinated by the stuff as I am!

Shosa-no-sato

Arashiyama.

Feature wall,

Otemae Restaurant,

Hayashida.

Old Window,

derelict house,

Hayashida

day 123 - circle of wood

Not a tree, but woody grass, the bamboo (Jap: take) is found in many forms in Japan and throughout Asia. It is woven through the country's history and mythology as food-source, utensil and versatile building material.