Tsukuba san 筑波山 (in gratitude to Sugiyama san)

I shot these clips of Tsukuba-san-jinja (筑波山神社) in Ibaraki prefecture as the evening fell.
For a full HD quality of this clip please go to: http://www.vimeo.com/2086216
I went to Tsukuba san with a group of brilliant martial artists from different ryu-ha, to buy boken etc from Sugiyama san's shop. Mr Sugiyama is retiring and as he closes down his shop, a chapter of budo history closes with it. The equipment he made for budo training was probably the best in the world and he has no apprentice to take over after him.
In a way this vid. is in recognition of his extraordinary skills and his great service to those of us who bought his products. He is a true 'tatsujin' and I don't think Sugiyama san fully understands how much personal evolution, fun, and passion his hands have helped create in peoples training and life. It seems to me he is one of these rare, quiet but splendid, masters of a craft that, through his being so unassuming in his ways, never really is known to the Japanese public, but becomes a hero to a small group of people who understands his skills.
His shop saw many famous costumers, like Morihei Ueshiba and Don F Draeger to name a few. Most, if not all, will be sad to hear that he is retiring, but happy that he gets some well earned rest.

Big thanks to Mark, Podgy and Richard for letting me come along on the trip.
You guys rule.


The legend of Mt:Tsukuba:
Thousands of years ago, a deity descended from the heavens and asked two mountains for a place to spend the night. With its great summit and almost perfect cone, Mt. Fuji refused, believing with pride and arrogance, that it does not need the deity's blessings.
Mt. Tsukuba, on the other hand, humbly welcomed the honored guest, even offering food and water.
Today, Mt. Fuji is a cold, lonely, and barren mountain, while Mt. Tsukuba bursts with vegetation, and is filled with colors as the seasons change.
Ancient chronicles say that the sacred progenitors of the Japanese race are enshrined here, the male divinity, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, at Mt. Nyotai, and the female divinity, Izanami-no-Mikoto, at Mt. Nantai. Legends say that the two deities wed and gave birth to other deities, and in doing so, to Japan herself.


Music: 'Laputa' from the movie with the same name by the genius Miyazaki Hayao

Coordinates for google earth:36°13.31′N 140°06.24′E

Enjoy !

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tsukuba
• Japan
• Sugiyama
• boken
• Budo
• mountain
• shrine
• shinto
• 筑波山
• 日本
• meditation
• relaxation
• Don
• Draeger
• Ueshiba
• misogi
• nature
• waterfall
• kojiki
• nihon-shiki
• culture
• Izanagi-no-Mikoto
• Izanami-no-Mikoto
• Tsukuba-san-jinja
• 筑波山神社
• shugyo
• friends
• Miyazaki
• Hayao
• Laputa
• koryu
• budo
• aikido
• kenjutsu
• naginata
• yari
• nihon
• shiki
• Kami

[melonpan88]

筑波山神社に行ったことがある。素晴らしいビデオ。

[Peekingduck]

ありがとう！

 : )

[shugyou]

Superb training weapons! I remember I was there with a friend (maybe three years ago) and got a custom made octagonal rokushaku-bo :-). It took him an hour to make as we went up to the tsukuba-jinja sightseeing.

[Peekingduck]

Yup, I couldn't agree more with you.

The man was a genius crafts-man.

Thanks for the comment.

: )

[softypapa]

Beautiful and peaceful. Your images are magic and the background information you provide is helpful and very interesting! Thank you for making these wonderful videos! I hope that you will share more of your experiences with us! -Kurt :-)

[Peekingduck]

Thanks.

To be honest, you were the one who gave me the idea of filming my part of Japan.

I've been watching your videos for a few years now and I love them.

[Peekingduck]

Thanks : )

Glad you enjoyed it.

[cocogruby]

this is beautiful music and video.

[kaarutomuson]

I'm gutted I never took the chance to visit his shop. I had it all planned then I heard he was closing down. Thanks for this tribute to a legend.

[Peekingduck]

Thanks

: )