TsukuBlog A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Another, Less Pleasant Fertilizer, Gives New Meaning to the Expression KUNPU (薫風, Fragrant Breezes of May)- in my neighborhood

 

By Avi Landau

 

Regular readers of this blog  know how much I enjoy living in Tsukuba. I would like to make it very clear, however, that life out in the Japanese countryside is NOT ALWAYS a bed of roses. In fact, if you are not good at TUNING certain things OUT, and even more importantly- KEEPING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT YOU, you would probably not be able to stay sane around here for very long.

You might remember that I have previously described the annoying bonfires which local farmers seem to keep continously going throughout late autumn and winter. They do this to burn off  their agricultural and other waste, and sometimes to keep themselves warm on cold days. For some it just seems to be a hobby! I have described how the thick, strong smelling smoke these bon-fires give off is frequently blown through open windows into homes and also often leaves laundry hung out to dry smelling....well..... smokey.

And though I usually just LAUGH at the absurdity of  it all whenever I get blasted in the face by a pillar of  smoke after I expectantly open  my window on a beautiful autumn day, I have known other foreign residents who have not taken the matter quite as lightly- some have actually packed up and left Tsukuba, claiming ironically that in Tokyo- that huge gray megalopolis, the air was fresher than it was out here in the country!

Unfortunately, to those whose autumns have been SMOKED OUT by agricultural bonfires, it is NOT POSSIBLE to offer the consolation of things being better in THAT OTHER SEASON in which we would hope to open the windows wide- SPRING.

The truth is they can get MUCH WORSE !

Let me tell you (from today`s  experience) how they can.

When spring finally breaks through winters firm and stubborn hold, and all around fresh greenery and colorful flowers  burst forth , on beautiful days with pleasant breezes, the Japanese might say poetically: KUNPU NO KISETSU NI NARIMASHITA  ( 薫風の季節になりました)- meaning: the season of fragrant winds has come !

This year (2010), spring had been unusually long in coming, and Ive had to use my kerosene heaters ( thats right, no central heating!) until as late as May 12th! There have been few opportunities to open the windows and give the house a very well needed airing out, and to tell the truth I have been starting to feel closed in and claustrophobic.

When I looked out my bedroom window today I was greeted with a sight for sore eyes- Mt Tsukuba in bold green surrounded by dazzling blue skies spotted with puffy white clouds.

I then got a call from a friend, a retired teacher who wanted to confirm our appointement for later in the day.

I said: Good morning! Its a beautiful day! He responded: Yes !  The season of FRAGRANT BREEZES has arrived!

After hanging up, I hurried gleefully downstairs intending to throw open all the windows. On the way down I realized that the neighbors dog was barking even more hysterically than it usually does ( every morning for two hours!), and also heard  the hum of a large vehicle which was apparently backing up ( since it was beeping rhythmically).

Just  as I drew the curtains open, I saw with horror- a whole load of PIG MANURE being dumped right next to my house. I watched wide-eyed as it plopped heavilly onto the ground forming a neat pile. My neighbor will be spreading this out, as he does each year, to fertilize his vegetable field.

As you can imagine, I put the OPENING THE WINDOWS PLAN on hold, and instead started searching fevervishly for anything with which I could SEAL up any cracks or openings around the windows and doors which might let the imminent stench in.

Still, as if seeping through the walls, my neighborhoods special FRAGRANT WINDS OF SPRING started to fill the room. My head began to swim.

As the dog kept up its crazed barking I  stared out the window in a depressed daze. To add insult to injury, I noticed that as a scarecrow my neighbor had suspended a dead crow from the top of a pole. Was this done purposely to mock me? Does he know that I spend alot of my free time rescuing  live,wild birds who are caught in nets and left suspended upside-down? Couldnt be. I must just be getting paranoid.

I let out a laugh ( what was I gonna do, cry?) This cannot be happening, I thought. But it was. Just another spring day in the Japanese countryside.

For the immediate future, until my neighborhoods own distinctive FRAGRANT WIND OF SPRING dies down  I`ll be staying away from home as much as possible.

.....and I just might start hunting for another place to live . Far from the countryside.Perhaps in Tokyo, or some other big city- where the air is fresh and clear!

For more on Tsukuba`s smokey winters ( and late autumns) read my articles:

http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/11/tsukubas-smokey-autumn-air-the-gomi-moshi-problem/

http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/12/more-traditional-functions-of-seasonal-bon-fires-roasting-potatoes-and-toasting-buns/

UPDATE !

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At Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden You Don`t Need a Special Exhibit to Enjoy Japan`s ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES

By Avi Landau

When conditions are right, living things reproduce, proliferate and spread. Two of the things that would hinder many life forms from extending the bounds of their territory are large bodies of water and high mountains. For that reason, Japan, a mountainous island nation off the coast of Asia ( which has within its borders numerous smaller islands- some of them far-flung and isolated) is home to many ENDEMIC SPECIES- that is species of animals or plants WHICH CAN BE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

According to  specialists at Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden, where a special exhibition on Japan`s endemic plants species (KOYU-SH-, 固有種) was held in November, one out of every three of Japan`s approximately 7,000 classified plant species is endemic. That means that within Japanese territiory there are more than 2,000 endemics ( according to a pamphlet given out at the exhibit the exact number is 2,545 species, including sub-species and variants).

I visited the botanical garden several time during that special exhibit and found it to be interesting though NOT spectacular. What I did find exciting was the map showing where the highest concentrations of endemic plants are located. As you can probably guess from what I have said above, the hot spots are either in outer islands, or on high mountains. The eight places with the highest numbers of such species are

1) Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Island Group- 26 hours by ship from Tokyo.

2) Yakushima Island off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture ( this island also has a high mountain- Mt Miyauranodake- the highest in southern Japan)

3) Hahajima Island in the Ogasawaras

4) Amami O-Shima Island in the Amami Island Group between Kyushu and Okinawa

5) Mt. Yu-baritake (夕張岳), a 1668 meter tall mountain in Hokkaido

6) The Japanese Southern Alps ( especially Mt. Kita-dake, 3193 meters in height)

7) Mt. Apoi Take in Hokkaido, only 810 meters in height but located on a peninsula on the south-eastern tip of the island

and

8) Mt. Yatsugatake (in Nagano Prefecture)-2899 meters high.

(Though endemic palnts can be found in all parts of Japan - in Ibaraki Prefecture especially along the coast, or on Mt. Tsukuba!)

 The truth is, however, that most ( are even all) of these unique Japanese species are humdrum in appearance, and thus when displayed indoors in pots ( as was the case for this event),  are just not something to write home about.

I found that feeling to be disappointing since each of these plants ARE treasures- which can be found nowhere else in the world.

Well, after the special exhibit was over, I was back at the botanical garden ( with the recent exhibit still in mind) and noticed that among the permanent outdoor displays there were a high percentage of endemics. These are marked by a little yellow sticker ( with a little pencil drawing of Japan on ) which read： 固有種　（ＫＯＹＵ－ＳＨＵ).

When I first realized this fact I started to note their names in my memo book, but as I walked along I found that there were so many of these endemics that I had to give up the task and JUST ENJOY THEM- which I found much easier to do outdoors in a more natural setting

( though in Tsukuba`s late autumn some of these plants- native to subtropical climes- seemed a bit miserable!)

Still in bloom were many of the chrysanthemums sub-species which have developed in the wild in Japan over the centuries ( after they were introduced from China)

Across the bridge, on the other side of the pond, I found Japan`s most special endemic- a tree called the Ko-yamaki. This tree is a GENUS, FAMILY, and SPECIES of its own, and exists only in Japan.

As you can imagine, MANY of these unique Japanese plants are endangered- and as you know from the definition of the word- if any of these species disappears from Japan, it means it will be completely lost to the world. Its good to know that scholars and the government are trying to raise awarenwss of these precious organisms.

When you visit the botanical garden ( off Higashi O-Dori)- and you should- OFTEN, keep an eye out for the little yellow endemic species stickers ( dont confuse them for another type used there with an image of Mt. Tsukuba- which indictes flora which can be found on that mountain). These plants might not be spectacular, but you will not see them anywhere else - and they do amaze you with the shear variety of form and function that life on this planet can take.

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