Interim Semester 2017

Interim Semester Japan Blog

This blog will serve as a documentation for your trip and will be part of your assessment for a grade.

Expectations: A: Participation and Leadership B: Proper behaviour: follow all the instructions ( such as get to the airport on time, follow the curfew, time, no switching rooms without letting sponsors know, etc.) C: Documenting and recording your daily work and submit to the appointed blog (make videos / take photos of daily progress,  achievement, etc...) D: Interaction with other students' work:

Pre Trip Activity at SAS: Ceramic Bowl and Glazing

Photo of your work:

Reflection: (What do you like about the activity or your piece?) Although I've taken the subject of art almost all of my life, this activity was one of the very few times that I have experimented with ceramics. It was different yet enjoyable at the same time because with ceramics, you had to really use your bare hands to create something, rather than using a tool or instrument. Because of this, I could really get the feel and texture of clay to sculpt something three dimensional. This activity also gave me a sense of what it might be like when we go to Japan, as well as bonding with the other people in this interim through an experience that made it less awkward or uncomfortable.

Day 1 Heading to Mashiko

Pictures of our room in Mashiko, the bus ride there, and the delicious nabe dinner.

Describe your thoughts on the Japanese way of living see as we travel from the city to the countryside (compare to Singapore or your home)? When we arrived in Tokyo, the city was just another typical-looking area with tall and modern buildings. However, as we rode the bus to Mashiko, I was finally exposed to a countryside environment that I was unfamiliar with. The roads were narrower, houses were smaller with only ground floor levels, and the area was quiet and peaceful. A major change was definitely the cold weather, with heaters in every room and lots of layers of clothing, but a difference that I noticed about the traditional Japanese way of life is that they are used to sleeping and sitting on the floor. Unlike what society is used to, the traditional Japanese slept on mattresses on the floor and ate their meals without chairs. Describe your thoughts about the traditional nabe dinner? Despite the fact that Singapore is a country with hundreds of Japanese restaurants, the nabe dinner was definitely a first for me. I thought that it was quite similar to the Japanese dish of udon noodles, but with a variety of more ingredients in the soup. For me, the dinner was very delicious especially because the hot soup made the cold weather more bearable.

Day 2  Mashiko (Demonstrations, Studio work and Museum Visit)

Pictures of my view from the studio, Euan's demonstrations, and when we went to the Hamada Museum.

Describe the ceramic studio and your first impressions: My first impression on the ceramic studio was that I found it very cozy. I liked how it wasn't just a usual modern room, but instead was made out of wood and clay. It was the perfect work space with wide windows that showed a simple view of trees and houses. The studio was a different type of learning space, not only because it was hands-on based learning, but also the way that the room was arranged. Instead of placing the pottery wheels like a classroom, they were lined up against the walls in kind of a circle, and so everyone was able to see and talk to each other from wherever they worked at.  What was the most interesting of the demonstrations? For me, the most interesting of the demonstrations was the way our teacher, Euan Craig, worked with the clay. Before we started to work on the potter wheels, Euan's demonstrations made ceramics look so simple and easy to control. However, as I got my chance to play around on the potter wheel, I got frustrated often and required much more strength than I thought I needed. Euan's way of working fitted perfectly into his calm, cool, and collected personality. As I observed him during more demonstrations, I noticed that even though he was talking to us while working, he had an immense amount of concentration and never lost his focus.  Hamada Museum Reflection: The Hamada Museum is dedicated to the ceramic artist Shoji Hamada, who was once Euan's teacher when he first came to Japan. I was amazed when I first learned that Euan had the opportunity to learn from someone that was well-known and praised for in Mashiko. As we toured around the museum, Euan talked about how the pottery that were being displayed also came from other countries besides Japan such as Korea, China, England, Germany, and many more. I remember Euan telling us that although the pots come from different places, it's not separate, different, or about cultural commission. The pots from contrasting cultures come together, while also representing diversity.  Other thoughts: From listening to Euan as he talks about ceramics, it made me understand why pottery is valued all over the world and how it's significance goes way beyond its function and beauty. Because of the museum visit, I realized that Japan isn't the only country with a unique and strong value for pottery.

Day 3 Mashiko (Demonstrations,  Studio work and Museum Visit)

Pictures of me working with clay, the bowls I made, and when we went to the Mashiko Museum.

Describe your work: As my first time working with clay and a wheel, I started off quite shaky as I didn't really know what I was doing. A lot of the ceramics instructors at the studio helped me to start a bowl, then left me to finish it off by myself. Despite the fact that I tried so hard to make cups or plates to add to my work, the final piece just always ended up being a bowl. For me, the process was a lot more enjoyable than the final product, especially because using the wheel with the soft clay was very therapeutic.  Describe your successes and frustrations: One of my successes was that it was clear I improved as I practiced more. When I first started, I wasn't quite sure on how to handle the clay with the right amount of pressure, movement, or strength. By the last bowl I made, I was able to create my bowls faster with a sense of more familiarity on the hand techniques. However, as I got better throughout time, I still wasn't able to create similar bowls. It was difficult for me to understand how I achieved creating a bowl well enough that I am able to do it again the second time. This made me realize that I didn't quite know what I was doing half the time when creating with clay as it was more about improvising and following my instincts.  Mashiko Museum of Ceramic art Reflection: Unlike the Hamado Museum that we went to the other day, the Mashiko Museum was a lot bigger with more displays and exhibits. However, both museums consisted of pots that came from all over the world, each with it's own unique history. As Euan talked to us about the backgrounds of different ceramics, I remember him telling us that with regular pottery, there is either a conceptual part or functional part that is more significant, but a great pot must consist of both that goes together. Overall, the museum visit turned out to be very educational, and the free chocolate cake at the end was definitely a bonus.  How was your dinner? For dinner, we ate pork and shrimp cutlets served with sauce and a bowl of rice, another well-known Japanese dish. It was very delicious and filling, especially after a long day of working in the studio and visiting the Mashiko Museum. For me, the best part about this evening was how the seats were arranged based on what you ordered in advance. This way, I had to sit with people in my interim that I wasn't close with. It was one of the best opportunities that I got to be able to get to know the other people that weren't in the same grade as me.  Other Thoughts: Overall, working with clay was a refreshing and new experience that was both calming and satisfying. I'm so glad I chose this trip because it was such a nice break from always sitting in front of a laptop screen or draining my energy with studying and homework.

Day 4  Last day Mashiko-Tokyo Bound

Eating pork cutlets, spending time with friends, and walking around the town of Mashiko.

Describe your overall Mashiko experience prior to leaving. Overall, I'm glad that we went to Mashiko before going to Tokyo, because it was the perfect place to spend time with other people that you weren't close to. Because Mashiko was very cozy and peaceful, it gave me the opportunity to take a break from the busy and quick-paced Singapore. I had such a great time away from school with my friends, especially when my only concern was how cold I would be after coming out of the shower at night.  Cultural Moment: A cultural moment that I experienced out of my comfort zone would most likely be the visit to the onsen. It surprised me how much confidence that the Japanese had to be able to be in the same bath as other strangers. At first, I was hesitant about going, but the cold weather persuaded me to finally give in. In the end, I am so glad that I gave it a try as it was absolutely worth it, and I would definitely do it again whenever I go back to visit Japan.  Funny Moment: A funny moment that was probably scary when it was happening was when Aldrich almost got his hand bitten off by the stray dog outside of the studio. Zi, Joanna, and I figured that it was probably safer to leave the dog chained to the wall alone, but Aldrich, on the other hand, thought that all dogs were nice and moved closer to pet its face. Instead, it tried to bite his hand off. The best part about it was how Joanna snapped the perfect picture of the exact moment.  Eye Opening Moment: The most eye opening moment for me was when I realized how passion was enough for someone to change their life. I admired how Euan, completely clueless about Japan at first, had the courage to move to a different country just so that he could pursue his dream. Although I never really thought about ceramics that often, the way Euan talked about its beauty and history made me look up to his ability to make something simple, into something meaningful.

Day 5 Tokyo Exploration

Pictures of my friends and the park at the Meiji Shrine, eating cotton candy in Harajuku, and the Tsukiji fish market.

Today, we venture across town to make a pilgrimage to the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji, who has been consistently recognized as instrumental in opening Japan to the outside world. Located in a forested area of over 120,000 evergreen trees donated from all over the world, the Shinto Meiji shrine provides a peaceful oasis in the center of Tokyo. After our visit, there may be time to stroll along Omotdesando (high end goods) or Takeshitsa Street which is home to trendy, and more affordable, boutiques. Leaving the area, we head to near Nishishinjuku for our session on traditional drumming, or Taiko. Our talented instructors will give us a brief background on taiko and how drumming has been integrated into ceremonies and festivals at temples and shrines throughout the country. They will give an expert demonstration and then, after providing us with our own bachi, or stick, and lead us through our drumming session.   Upon conclusion of the session, we train back to Ginza for dinner.

Day 6 Tokyo Park and Museum

Today we have a full day to explore the capital. We begin with a visit to the Edo Museum, dedicated to provide visitors with an understanding of the cultural evolution of Tokyo from 400 years ago. Yet, rather than a singular focus on the ruling warrior class of the Edo period, many of the exhibits are enticingly designed to convey a detailed picture of how ordinary people lived. Then, we make our way to  Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western part of Tokyo, to explore the Ghibli Museum.   Describe the Museum and your thoughts on the filmmaking process: The Ghibli Museum is dedicated to the famous animated filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki. Ever since Spirited Away, I have been watching Miyazaki's animated films since I was in third grade. This was, by far, the location that I looked most forward to visit before going on this interim. Now that I have watched Ghibli films multiple times, finally being able to see the filmmaking process opened my eyes to a whole new industry. It amazed me how much effort it took to make even the shortest film, requiring meticulous work as a movie is made frame by frame.

Day 7 Tokyo Exploration and Home Bound

A time-lapse of the view during the boat ride. The view after we got off the boat in Odaiba. Back in Singapore :(