Gifu, our land of memories
Words, voices and images: Connecting to cultures around the world
"Our connection with Japan has been a long one and Gifu is always in our hearts. So a few weeks ago we spent happy days in Gifu making a film about the culture and nature of Gifu Prefecture for Governor Hajime Furuta’s visit to Sydney".
There is the natural world in Gifu, butterflies flutter by on the soft warm air, the mountains soar to the sky and forests, dressed in shades of green, march on every hillside.
We take a step back to 2019 and the time just before COVID.
"In Sydney, the Governor welcomes the guests and I give the opening talk about why we are so fond of Gifu, which sets the scene for the audience to view our film. Then there is a discussion with the Time Out team from Sydney about the things you can see and do in Gifu. Our friend Bryan then gives us details of some of the activities and places to visit". Peter Hylands
After the information event it was time for the Gifu reception, with food and culture from Gifu on display. The event was packed with people enjoying the entertainment and wonderful food. There was of course fine Sake to wash it all down.
It was also a very special day because it was Governor Furuta’s birthday. Among the speeches to mark the occasion, Andrea presented the Governor with a bouquet on behalf of the Gifu Prefectural Government. John presents his beetle print.
We take a step back to 2019 and the time just before COVID.
"In Sydney, the Governor welcomes the guests and I give the opening talk about why we are so fond of Gifu, which sets the scene for the audience to view our film. Then there is a discussion with the Time Out team from Sydney about the things you can see and do in Gifu. Our friend Bryan then gives us details of some of the activities and places to visit". Peter Hylands
After the information event it was time for the Gifu reception, with food and culture from Gifu on display. The event was packed with people enjoying the entertainment and wonderful food. There was of course fine Sake to wash it all down.
It was also a very special day because it was Governor Furuta’s birthday. Among the speeches to mark the occasion, Andrea presented the Governor with a bouquet on behalf of the Gifu Prefectural Government. John presents his beetle print.
Snowflakes fall as beetles do
John, Andrea and I travelled to Sydney together, we all have many things in common, including our love of Gifu and contemporary Japanese culture. We have of course all worked in Japan. On this trip to Sydney, John has come to present the Governor of Gifu a gift of his beetle print. It is the print that we show John creating in the short film Snowflakes fall as beetles do.
Kabuki
The reception also featured some rather brilliant Kabuki performers to engage the audience. Kabuki is one of three recognised significant forms of classical theatre, the other forms are Noh and Bunraku.
Kabuki is a UNESCO Intangible Heritage as well as being a lot of fun. Kabuki involves the actors making highly stylised movements and speaking in an older form of Japanese, no longer fully understood by the audience, this makes movement a way of telling the story.
Ji-Kabuki is a form of the theatre that allows the audience to participate, shouting out to encourage a performer.
Ji-Kabuki is very popular in Gifu and the prefecture still has nine Kabuki theatres dating to the Edo period into the Showa period. Remarkably there are 32 Ji-Kabuki preservation groups in Gifu today and a lot of energy goes into creating costumes, maintaining theatres and generally appreciating this very Japanese style of theatre.
Gifu is two things, it is a city and a prefecture
Flying mountains, gushing waters
Lush green mountains soar sky high
Bountiful clear waters quench the earth beneath
There is the natural world in Gifu, butterflies flutter by on the soft warm air, the mountains soar to the sky and forests, dressed in shades of green, march on every hillside.
In Gifu we walk in clean air, along gushing rivers, above waterfalls and across narrow bridges to ancient towns with their very particular cultures and produce.
We cycle through towns, through woodland and mountain paths, an unforgettable experience.
The knowledge and skills of the people who live in these ancient places, the hands of many generations alive in the skills of the current generations of artisans, the ceramics, bamboo crafts, local foods, all for us to discover on our travels. In city and countryside, Gifu is indeed the land of endless discoveries.
We think of Gifu as a land of memories, the unforgettable experiences, reflecting an older way of life, where tradition and culture are still strong. Gifu is a place where Japan is still very much how we might imagine it to be, we can reach out and touch the history passed down from the people who lived here long ago.
There are many reasons why we love Gifu so much, the warmth of the people of Gifu who take so much care to be welcoming and to create something truly memorable. Whether that is a meal, creating an art object or a stay at a beautiful Ryokan and to bathe in a steaming Onsen, sometimes in a wildness, sometimes in a beautiful traditional building.
You just know that things are going to be done well and with care and courtesy.
In each place in Gifu the food is astoundingly good.
In Gifu Prefecture visitors can attend workshops and work with skilled artisans. It is this close connection with the people of Gifu that will help you to understand the true nature of Japan.
The traditional industries in Gifu Prefecture include papermaking. Gifu is the heart of a brilliant artist potter tradition of beauty and excellence, with which Andrea has been long associated. There is woodwork and the astounding interiors of houses and Ryokans, beautiful wooden furniture and objects, all made with the skilled hands of generations of families immersed in their craft. There is the art of the sword, metal smiths beating out the blades of perfection. There are many such things to be explored.
At a recent UN tourism conference in Japan we discussed the importance of tourism, particularly as away of bringing people from different cultures together. The surveys at that time showed that the things tourists most wanted to do was to enjoy Japanese food, explore cities, experience the natural world and to go shopping. You can do all of those things in Gifu and the standards and levels of experience fall squarely into the excellent category.
Gifu is not just a beautiful word, it is a very, very beautiful place.
Visit to Sydney Contemporary
On the following day team Gifu visit Sydney Contemporary 2019 in the impressive Carriageworks building, an industrial landscape turned arts precinct. This year there are 90 plus galleries from a dozen or more countries representing more than 400 artists.
Sydney Contemporary is a place we meet lots of people, some we know well and some are new.
This place, combined with Sydney’s hotels, restaurants, landscapes and other cultural places make for a great place to be. A place to be happy and a place to learn about new ways of being. The weather is great and there are lots of smiling faces.
This international art fair is extremely busy and the place to meet old friends from around the world.
Snowflakes fall as beetles do
John, Andrea and I travelled to Sydney together, we all have many things in common, including our love of Gifu and contemporary Japanese culture. We have of course all worked in Japan. On this trip to Sydney, John has come to present the Governor of Gifu a gift of his beetle print. It is the print that we show John creating in the short film Snowflakes fall as beetles do.
Kabuki
The reception also featured some rather brilliant Kabuki performers to engage the audience. Kabuki is one of three recognised significant forms of classical theatre, the other forms are Noh and Bunraku.
Kabuki is a UNESCO Intangible Heritage as well as being a lot of fun. Kabuki involves the actors making highly stylised movements and speaking in an older form of Japanese, no longer fully understood by the audience, this makes movement a way of telling the story.
Ji-Kabuki is a form of the theatre that allows the audience to participate, shouting out to encourage a performer.
Ji-Kabuki is very popular in Gifu and the prefecture still has nine Kabuki theatres dating to the Edo period into the Showa period. Remarkably there are 32 Ji-Kabuki preservation groups in Gifu today and a lot of energy goes into creating costumes, maintaining theatres and generally appreciating this very Japanese style of theatre.
Gifu is two things, it is a city and a prefecture
Flying mountains, gushing waters
Lush green mountains soar sky high
Bountiful clear waters quench the earth beneath
There is the natural world in Gifu, butterflies flutter by on the soft warm air, the mountains soar to the sky and forests, dressed in shades of green, march on every hillside.
In Gifu we walk in clean air, along gushing rivers, above waterfalls and across narrow bridges to ancient towns with their very particular cultures and produce.
We cycle through towns, through woodland and mountain paths, an unforgettable experience.
The knowledge and skills of the people who live in these ancient places, the hands of many generations alive in the skills of the current generations of artisans, the ceramics, bamboo crafts, local foods, all for us to discover on our travels. In city and countryside, Gifu is indeed the land of endless discoveries.
We think of Gifu as a land of memories, the unforgettable experiences, reflecting an older way of life, where tradition and culture are still strong. Gifu is a place where Japan is still very much how we might imagine it to be, we can reach out and touch the history passed down from the people who lived here long ago.
There are many reasons why we love Gifu so much, the warmth of the people of Gifu who take so much care to be welcoming and to create something truly memorable. Whether that is a meal, creating an art object or a stay at a beautiful Ryokan and to bathe in a steaming Onsen, sometimes in a wildness, sometimes in a beautiful traditional building.
You just know that things are going to be done well and with care and courtesy.
In each place in Gifu the food is astoundingly good.
In Gifu Prefecture visitors can attend workshops and work with skilled artisans. It is this close connection with the people of Gifu that will help you to understand the true nature of Japan.
The traditional industries in Gifu Prefecture include papermaking. Gifu is the heart of a brilliant artist potter tradition of beauty and excellence, with which Andrea has been long associated. There is woodwork and the astounding interiors of houses and Ryokans, beautiful wooden furniture and objects, all made with the skilled hands of generations of families immersed in their craft. There is the art of the sword, metal smiths beating out the blades of perfection. There are many such things to be explored.
At a recent UN tourism conference in Japan we discussed the importance of tourism, particularly as away of bringing people from different cultures together. The surveys at that time showed that the things tourists most wanted to do was to enjoy Japanese food, explore cities, experience the natural world and to go shopping. You can do all of those things in Gifu and the standards and levels of experience fall squarely into the excellent category.
Gifu is not just a beautiful word, it is a very, very beautiful place.
Visit to Sydney Contemporary
On the following day team Gifu visit Sydney Contemporary 2019 in the impressive Carriageworks building, an industrial landscape turned arts precinct. This year there are 90 plus galleries from a dozen or more countries representing more than 400 artists.
Sydney Contemporary is a place we meet lots of people, some we know well and some are new.
This place, combined with Sydney’s hotels, restaurants, landscapes and other cultural places make for a great place to be. A place to be happy and a place to learn about new ways of being. The weather is great and there are lots of smiling faces.
This international art fair is extremely busy and the place to meet old friends from around the world.
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