Hub Q&A, Part I
Thanks for comments on previous post, and all of your Hub questions will be answered in the coming days, in no particular order.
There`s a few I can answer without even talking to him --- he wears neither boxers nor briefs, but that sports kind that`s somwhere in between (you know? sort of briefs with legs?), in various solid hues of blue, black and grey. He`s never been a "white briefs kind of guy," nor has he ever been a "boxers kind of guy" -- he insists boxers are for old men, which I know is not true but he feels very strongly about this, so who am I to question it?
Hub has nothing against Koreans at all, except he doesn`t care for spicey food unless it`s Mexican. The only cultural group for which Hub has ever expressed any bad feelings is Catholicism and people who follow it (including me), and this only started recently because of a particular nun last year. I will do a longer post later this week about Hub`s attitude toward Japan`s Korean minority -- he went to a public high school in Kyoto with a lot of Korean kids, many of whom were not "out" as Koreans at the time, but came out later.
Hub`s father is involved in the dyeing process of kimono-making, not the weaving, but obviously has many friends and business contacts throughout the entire industry. He is retired from a small kimono sales company and now designs obi -- the kimono belts. The craft guild sends him all over Japan to demonstrate his traditional techniques. Over the years, I have found that my father-in-law is always willing to make introductions to anyone who wants to learn more about kimono, for any reason. However, he does not speak any English, and I imagine that`s the rule rather than the exception among his kind. I can put him in touch with anyone going to Kyoto who`s interested, but they have to be able to communicate with him in Japanese -- with a Kyoto dialect, of course. ("Honma ni wakarahen!")
More to come!
There`s a few I can answer without even talking to him --- he wears neither boxers nor briefs, but that sports kind that`s somwhere in between (you know? sort of briefs with legs?), in various solid hues of blue, black and grey. He`s never been a "white briefs kind of guy," nor has he ever been a "boxers kind of guy" -- he insists boxers are for old men, which I know is not true but he feels very strongly about this, so who am I to question it?
Hub has nothing against Koreans at all, except he doesn`t care for spicey food unless it`s Mexican. The only cultural group for which Hub has ever expressed any bad feelings is Catholicism and people who follow it (including me), and this only started recently because of a particular nun last year. I will do a longer post later this week about Hub`s attitude toward Japan`s Korean minority -- he went to a public high school in Kyoto with a lot of Korean kids, many of whom were not "out" as Koreans at the time, but came out later.
Hub`s father is involved in the dyeing process of kimono-making, not the weaving, but obviously has many friends and business contacts throughout the entire industry. He is retired from a small kimono sales company and now designs obi -- the kimono belts. The craft guild sends him all over Japan to demonstrate his traditional techniques. Over the years, I have found that my father-in-law is always willing to make introductions to anyone who wants to learn more about kimono, for any reason. However, he does not speak any English, and I imagine that`s the rule rather than the exception among his kind. I can put him in touch with anyone going to Kyoto who`s interested, but they have to be able to communicate with him in Japanese -- with a Kyoto dialect, of course. ("Honma ni wakarahen!")
More to come!
posted by L. at 7:58 AM
5 Comments:
You know, blogging has been a lesson for me in that EVERYONE is interesting. Can't wait to read more!
My mom is coming to visit me in Sasebo for two weeks. She's recently become a weaver and dyer, and really would like for us to visit Kyoto. Unfortunately, 1. I only speak enough Japanese to apologize profusely and 2. I don't think can afford the time and money it would take to visit Kyoto while she's here. What a shame...if we could get there though, I'd take you up on your offer of introductions!
I've always been interested in the art of making kimono. Especially now since I'm actually a weaver and know how it all works. If I ever get fluent enough, I would be ever so grateful to be able to get to talk to someone like your father-in-law. That would be beyond fantastic.
His work must be beautiful, and anyone with skill in such an old art definitely demands respect-- from me anyway. ^^
Don't feel lonely. While I read every day, I don't always comment.
I enjoy hearing about your mixed culture family.
Some others commented that you didn't comment on their blogs and I tried to be nice and leave them a comment to find that I couldn't because so much information was required and I don't go there. Doing the word verification is as far as I will go.
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