Week 4 – Week 5 | 26/02/24 – 10/03/24
Emily Soh Ching-Ling | 0359478
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Intercultural Design | Section 01 | GCD61304
Project 2 — Field Study
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INSTRUCTIONS
2.0 PROJECT 2 — FIELD STUDY
Instructions:
- Collect research materials (i.e. visual, oral, textual, tactile artefacts) to support Project 1.
- All research materials must be recorded, documented, and should include information such as:
- Type of artefact / material.
- Purpose.
- Symbolism.
- Cultural / historical background.
2.1 RUNDOWN
We decided to base our field of research on the three major cities in the Kansai region: Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. This is for two reasons:
- 1. The Heart of Japan: Osaka is known for its cosmopolitan cityscape and nightlife, representing modern Japan, whereas Kyoto and Nara are historical and cultural hotspots, representing traditional Japan. All three cities provide different viewpoints on the culture and fashion of Kansai, Japan.
- 2. Practicality: Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara are all within practical travelling distance as they are located relatively near each other. The furthest city (Nara) is around an hour's worth of commute and walking from our hostel (Shinsaibashi, Osaka). We will spend around 1–2 days exploring each city.
*Sidenote: 2.2–2.4 are summarised versions of events + my personal observations. The detailed version can be found in the final submission PPT.
2.2 OSAKA
Places visited: Osaka Castle, The Osaka Museum of Housing & Living, TeamLab Botanical Garden, and Dotonbori.
2.2.1 OSAKA CASTLE
- Unfortunately photography wasn't allowed on most floors of Osaka Castle, so our research material here is a bit limited.
- A lot of artwork depicting Osaka Castle under siege.
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| Figure 2.2.1-1: Artwork Depicting the Fall of Osaka Castle, Week 4 (28/02/24) |
2.2.2 THE OSAKA MUSEUM OF HOUSING & LIVING
- An interactive simulated village of Edo period Osaka city, including an old-fashioned cosmetics and fabric shop.
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| Figure 2.2.2-1: Map of The Simulated Edo Period Osaka Village, Week 4 (28/02/24) |
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| Figure 2.2.2-2: Brochure From The Simulated Cosmetics Shop, Week 4 (28/02/24) Materials and patterns of traditional accessories. |
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| Figure 2.2.2-3: Kushi-Kanzashi, Combs & Other Cosmetics, Week 4 (28/02/24) |
2.2.3 DOTONBORI
- Amazing nightlife, perfect example of modern-day Osaka.
- Rained when we went there.😑
- Found some modern and traditional kanzashi in the souvenir shops.
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| Figure 2.2.3-1: Souvenir Shop Kanzashi, Week 4 (28/02/24) |
2.2.4 HONORARY MENTIONS
- There was this small Japanese accessories and crafts museum / shop that we wanted to go to, however, there was no one in when we went there.
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| Figure 2.2.4-1: Closed Shop, Week 4 (26/02/24) Us wondering where to go next, featuring Ying Ying (left) and Velicia (right). |
2.3 KYOTO
Places visited: The Museum of Kyoto, Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.
2.3.1 THE MUSEUM OF KYOTO
- Photography wasn't allowed either.😒
- We got an in-depth explanation of Kyoto's history from the very friendly museum guides.
- Kyoto is known for its education system and Japanese theatre.
- Not much about kanzashi, however, there were examples of popular kimono patterns from the 19th–20th century.
- Kanzashi Pattern #1: "Uchiki robe with design of pair bird roundels on undulating stripe (cloud, uprising vapour) pattern (Meiji period)."
- Kanzashi Pattern #2: "Uchiki robe with design of peony roundels on tortoiseshell with flower diamonds (late Edo-Meiji period)."
- Kanzashi typically come in matching sets with kimono, so there's a good chance that kanzashi from this period had similar patterns.
2.3.2 ARASHIYAMA
ARASHIYAMA SHOPPING STRIP:
- Lots of bamboo-related craft items in Arashiyama, go figure.
- Kanzashi here are on the modern side.
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| Figure 2.3.2-1: Souvenir Shop Kanzashi, Week 4 (27/02/24) |
ARASHIYAMA BAMBOO FOREST:
- Dark and humid, very mysterious and foreboding.
- There's a graveyard inside the forest.😶
- On a lighter note, there's a Shinto shrine there where people come to pray and wish for fortune and safety for their families (Figure 2.3.2-3: Left).
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| Figure 2.3.2-3: Shinto Shrine Inside the Bamboo Forest, Week 4 (27/02/24) |
2.3.3 FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA
- The weather was pretty gloomy when we got here, so the pictures taken are unnecessarily creepy.
- The shrines here are dedicated to Inari Okami, the deity of foxes, fertility, rice, wealth, and success.
- The torii gates are said to bring wealth and protection to those who walk through them. Do they bring good grades as well?😅
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| Figure 2.3.3-1: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Week 4 (27/02/24) |
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| Figure 2.3.3-2: Torii Gates, Week 4 (27/02/24) |
2.4 NARA
Places visited: Nara Park, Kofuku-ji Temple, and Naramachi.
2.4.1 NARA PARK
- Deer. Everywhere.
- Truly the gems of Nara, though I'd appreciate it if they stopped trying to eat my coat.
- Despite their coat-eating tendencies, the sika deer are very polite. They bow when interacted with.
- We collected samples of deer fur in case, for some reason, our project calls for it (no, we didn't shave the deer; the fur was on the ground).
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| Figure 2.4.1-1: Sika Deer in Nara Park, Week 4 (29/02/24) Known for their flower-like spots, they are even nicknamed "plum blossom deer". Since it is currently winter, the spots on the deer are considerably lighter. |
2.4.2 KOFUKU-JI TEMPLE
- An important centre for Buddhism.
- Kofuku-ji consists of multiple halls and pagodas, although only a few remain standing after civil wars and fires destroyed the rest.
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| Figure 2.4.2-1: One of the Kofuku-ji Temple Buildings, Nan'endo, Week 4 (29/02/24) |
2.4.3 NARAMACHI
- An old district with Edo-period architecture.
- Located near the Kofuku-ji Temple.
- Lots of decorations made from kimono fabric. Interesting.
- Hana-kanzashi seem to be more popular in these parts.
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| Figure 2.4.3-1: Decorations Made From Kimono Fabric, Week 4 (29/02/24) Left: "Paper" crane Middle: Hanging ornaments resembling the shape of a curled-up person Right: Persimmons and chestnuts |
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| Figure 2.4.3-2: Hana-Kanzashi, Week 4 (29/02/24) |
2.5 INFORMATION COMPILATION
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| Figure 2.5-1: PPT — Draft Version, Week 7 (18/03/24) |
We compiled all of the data gathered (i.e. text, images) into a draft PPT. This is where we sorted the textual information and paired it with relevant images.
Done by: All group members.
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| Figure 2.5-2: PPT — Final Version, Week 7 (18/03/24) |
Afterwards, a polished version was done by Ying Ying (tysm) and I. Big improvement from the jumbled mess of fonts and all-over-the-placeness of the draft version. Additional explanations and captions were also added.
Done by: Ying Ying (design / captions), Emily (editing).
2.6 FINAL SUBMISSION
Figure 2.6-1: Project 2 — PPT, Week 7 (18/03/24)
3.0 FEEDBACK
3.1 WEEK 4
Specific Feedback (Ms Anis):
- Narrow down the topic to just hair accessories.
- Create a collection of themed kanzashi.
3.2 WEEK 5
Specific Feedback (Mr Asrizal):
- Don't replicate elements (i.e. things observed in Japan) directly.
- Find out why traditional Japanese accessories are becoming a dying tradition and how to bring attention to this.
- Does not have to be kanzashi.
4.0 REFLECTION
The best and most stressful part of this project. On one hand, travelling to Japan was a blast; on the other, being in a foreign country with a complex public transport system and having an undependable sense of direction is terrifying. Shout out to Lizzie, Vel and Aisya for being our compass, and to Ying Ying for helping me organise the itinerary and slides.
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