I have been taking advantage of the long hours locked in rental vans or plane cockpits to re-read Fosco Maraini's Ore giapponesi (translated into English with the title Meeting with Japan. A brilliant book, that delves deep into Japanese history, ways and arts, and captures with extraordinary empathy the sense of communion with nature that permeates Japanese culture. Obviously such reading makes me more aware of the extraordinary privilege we have, of travelling through Canada as summer yields to fall, and trees put on their brightest livery before their winter sleep! Each tree is beatiful, and the mountains and forests are like a carnival. The great Japanese poets - Basho himself, certainly - would be the best suited to this grand show.
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Alberto: I keep seeing a copy of Fosco Maraini's book at a used-book store here in Chicago. (Actually, the bookstore is near the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square, where FF should play some time.) Even though the book is by Maraini, a great expert, it seems somewhat out of date. How goes the reading? Is it out of date as a study of Japan? When you get back to Italy, look for Come la Luna dietro le Nuvole by Carla Vasio (Einaudi). I'm working with Carla (who lives in Roma) on a translation. And with regard to the earlier post about Lady Jessica in a tabarro, all I can say is that for years I've wanted a tabarro, so I'm envious.)
Don.
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