Monday, February 1, 2010

Masaharu Fukuyama

For me February 6th may be Sudoku Fun Day: For the rest of my world it is the birthday of the heartthrob, Fukuyama Masaharu. Pop star at 20, professional photographer at 30, now turning 41 he plays Sakamoto Ryoma in an NHK series about the samurai and founder of the Imperial Navy. When Commodore Perry arrived in Yokohama 150 years ago, Ryoma was impressed when he heard the American credo: "All men are created equal." From now through November please refrain from calling between 8 PM and 8:45 PM on Sunday night. I may not understand what he's saying, but who cares?

A kindhearted Fukuyama fan introduced me to the hero at the Fuji Film Square Gallery. Thanks to the efforts of an early photo journalist, there are mezzotints of the samurai and his family circa 1860. Ryoma stares into space rather than into the soul-stealing lens, while our modern hero gazes right into our eyes. How can you compare Edo era to the current Heisei? Slowly but surely E-D-O has become more than a crossword puzzle filler for me.

After the gallery we stopped for a cup of matcha (green tea) and sat on a tatami mat. It's been years since I sat on my heels for more than 2 minutes, so I shift my feet to the side when faced with sitting on the ground. Matcha is the color and consistency of pea soup and comes with a pretty wafer that tastes like styrofoam. Tea ceremony (chanoyu), a Buddhist practice, takes decades to master. It's all about wabi (simple tastes) with the focus on awareness. In the 16th century the tea master Sen no Rikyu popularized the saying ichi-go ichi-e (treasure this moment as it will never return). Although samurai started the tea culture, women dominate the field at the moment. Tea bowls cost hundreds of dollars, not to mention the rest of the gear. Sipping from an everyday bowl with my friend worked for me.

It suddenly occurred to me: Does Fuku-chan ever work sudoku in between takes for Ryomaden?

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