Old Leather Boot

I saw this boot at a coffee shop in Yonago City, Tottori prefecture this March. It was a big one and standing atop a table. I didn't believe that anyone could have a foot so large. I just assumed that it was made to display. But why? I wondered what the coffee shop and the boot had in common. I couldn't find anything but...the color brown. Anyway, the boot was very impressive.

- MT

Kumadori

A kumadori is a decorative work a kabuki actor puts on his face upon playing. It enhances emotional expressions by the actor. Ukihyoe artists of Edo period liked drawing kabuki actors on wood prints. The Boston Museum of Arts, with its largest collection of ukiyoe prints, has a branch in Nagoya City. When we went to the city in the mid-March, I made this efuto after seeing an ukiyoe exhibition at the museum.

- MT

Plum Blossoms

Plum blossoms signify the arrival of Spring in Japan. Osaka Castle Park has one of largest collections in Japan of different plum trees, which begin to bloom in late February to early March. I went to Osaka with my wife this March but hesitated to go there because of the crowd. It was rather late in the afternoon and the air was cold. So, I drew this efuto incorporating the design of a picture that was hung in our hotel room overlooking the park.

- MT

Iyokan Orange

Iyokan orange is one of many oranges produced in Ehime prefecture. Iyo is an old name for that prefecture and kan means orange. This particular iyokan, however, was brought to us when we stayed at a hotel in Miyazaki prefecture. The figure behind the orange is Mayor Higashikokubara, the most popular mayor in Japan today. He is a comedian-turned politician who has been successful in promoting economic growth in the prefecture amid declining national economy by associating himself with many products of the prefecture.

- MT

Boston Bag

　　This is my wife's Boston bag, which I bought at our wedding anniversary several years ago. She carries it whenever we go on business trip, so it began to look waned a bit. But actually it is still strong. I drew it on efuto in the mid February when we went to Kyoto.

- MT

Japanese Sweets

My wife loves wagashi, or Japanese sweets. She likes to buy some wagashi when we visit various places in Japan on business. These sweets were bought at a small traditional Japanese wagashi shop in Kashiwara city in Nara prefecture. I liked the color combination they presented.

- MT

Nekoryoshka

A Matryoshka doll has 4 to 5 smaller dolls inside. Althgough it is sometimes considered to be a Russian cultural craft, it originated in Japan. I found this curious Matryoshka at a souvenir shop in a Kobe hotel. It was named "Nekoryoshka," presumably a short-hand for "cat-shaped Matryoshka." Neko means a cat in Japanese. It is fun to find unusual things while travelling.

- MT

A Can of Juice

I saw this can of mango juice at a souvenir shop in an Okinawa hotel. It struck me with the combination of bright colors that are not usually seen on the Japanese mainland. It was mid December of last year, and this efuto was sent to warm the recipient a bit with the tropical atmoshpere.

- MT

A Wooden Doll

A small wooden doll was being sold at a souvenir shop in the hotel. It was early December and the air was cold. I walked back and forth in front of the doll, wondering if it was a good idea to buy this smiling lad. I said to myself that it was worth buying because I could make a bigger doll similar to it myself.

- MT

Riverside Building

I sent this efuto from Kochi City in Shikoku in December, 2007. The yellow leaves of a gingko tree made me draw this building, which seemed quite ordinary if it weren't standing between the tree and the river. Sometimes the environment of an object is more important than the object itself.

- MT

Autumn Leaves

Usually leaves of trees do not change colors until autumn arrives. In Hokkaido, the nothernmost island of Japan, they do change colors quite unexpectedly in August. I found some of those leaves in a park in Obihiro City last August and sent this efuto to surprise the recipient.

- MT

A Tin Lantern

I saw this tin lantern at a coffee shop in Yokohama last August. It did not have fire inside, but I imagined that it would make the dark most beautiful with the twinkling stars. (with a fountain pen and watercolor)

- MT

Flowers

Flowers attract insects with their brilliant colors and fragrances. Man may share common genes with insects on this regard. Anyway, I put the stamp at the bottom to keep the balance.

- MT

Sweet Fruits

This is my first efuto that flew over the Pacific ocean, from New York to Tokyo. I drew the fruits at Woldorf Astoria Hotel on it and mailed on August 6, 2007. It reached the destination 4 days later. A remarkable speed. The efuto was later used to decorate my book.

- MT

Plastic Tiles

This efuto incorporates a stamp into the row of plastic tiles, which was a part of the wall decoration of a hotel room. The color combination was attractive.

- MT

TV Controller

I saw this handy remote control in a hotel room and began to draw it. It suddenly occurred to me, however, that the proportion of the remote control was not right and that I should add a head to make it look like a robot. So I did!

- MT

Shoes and Bags (Efuto)

This is my daughter Akiko's first efuto which was sent to me as a response to my own.

- MT

A Wooden Cat (Efuto)

Efuto was created in the late 1970s between London and Paris, when the artist David McKee sent a letter in an envelope on which he drew a picture as an outpouring of his artistic talent. It has recently gained popularity in Japan, especially after Japan Post organized a big exhibition in Tokyo last June. This is one of my early attempts to explore this new area of art/entertainment.

- MT

The Puppet Play

A friend of mine in the United States requested that I make an English version of the puppet play I had shown on my Japanese blog. Here it is. It is entitled "The Invasion of the Robodog." I came up with this story during this New Year's vacation, after spending happy hours with my kids. So, it's not a serious play. But let me add that I was thinking of recent American foreign policy while making it. Please enjoy!

- MT

New Year's Message

Happy New Year to all Seicho-No-Ie members.

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to God for being able to greet the wonderful New Year 2008 in good health along with all of you.

As you are all aware, Seicho-No-Ie began a "Zero Carbon Movement" last year. This is an initiative to bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by first reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, then offsetting the remainder through afforestation and the introduction of renewable energy. The purpose for this is the practice of compassion and unconditional love aiming at the "removal of suffering and the giving of joy." In other words, we are trying to remove the suffering of and give joy to the many people suffering from the effects of global warming and also to the many species that are on the brink of extinction.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, published its synthesis report last autumn, and issued a stern warning emphasizing the need to act now to control greenhouse gases by implementing all the measures previously proposed in order to keep further damage in check. This synthesis reflects the result of extensive research done by thousands of scientists worldwide, including those from Japan. We must abide by this warning, and use originality and creativity in order to develop a new method of religious activity that does not accelerate global warming.

However, a "Zero Carbon" Movement must not be one that reduces or curtails religious activities. Quite the contrary, what we need now is an increase and growth in religious consciousness. What lies at the root of today's environmental issues is the thinking that focuses on personal desires and forgets about gratitude for "Nature's blessings" or the "things we have been given," emphasizing rather what is insufficient or lacking, which in turn arouses people's desires and increases consumption and expenditure. The expansion of people's personal desires is related to the waste of and struggle for resources.

That is why there has never been such an urgent need as now for religious activities that value, not "personal desires," but rather the "God-nature" that lies within.

Last year, I published a book entitled "What is the Sundial Way of Life?" One of the things I wanted to emphasize in this book was the fact that our surroundings are filled with truth, goodness and beauty. The media, rumors and gossip look solely at "negative phenomena" that reflect delusions, but if we look around us with our minds focused on the "God-nature" within, we can see a tremendous amount of "positive phenomena" that reflect the True Image. Actually putting this into practice is the sundial way of life.

By recapturing our mind that is grateful for all that we have already been given, which includes the blessings we have received from Nature, and deepening our awareness of the teaching that "man is a child of God," we will be able to live an abundant, happy life remaining unrelated to the waste of resources. Looking at the positive side of things in life doesn't mean to live passively and simply "shutting our eyes to the dark side" of things, but refers to a proactive and creative way of manifesting the True Image in the phenomenal world.

Going forward, the Seicho-No-Ie movement will return to this starting point, discover and express the bright and positive things in all areas of our life, and by expressing and sharing them with our families and those around us, confirm and draw out the God-nature of each person. Thus, we will turn our emphasis on frontline activities that further increase the truth, goodness and beauty in our actual lives. To be able to do this, we will need the creativity and originality of all of us, our members, and the understanding of our families.

In order "to grow with Nature," let us bring forth one household after another that shines together as a family.