Zao

Zao is short for the Zao Mountain Range, which is part of the larger Ou Mountain Range. The mountains seen from the Miyagi Prefecture side of the ranges are, left to right (south to north): Fubou-san (1705 meters), Minami, Byobu-dake (1810 meters), Byobu-dake (1825 meters), Ushiroeboshi-dake (1686 meters), Katta-dake (1758 meters), Kumano-dake (1841 meters) and Myogobo (1491 meters). On the other side of the ranges lies Yamagata Prefecture.

When esoteric Buddhism was combined with ancient mountain worship and Shugendo (mountain asceticism) was born, and ascetic practices were undertaken deep in the mountains, Zao was a place for such things to happen. The name Zao comes from Zao Gongen, a Buddhist statue that was enshrined on the mountain.

There are published poems about Zao. In the 2-week residency period, the artists have found in the Zao-machi Public Library:

• Zao no Uta (Tanka Shinbunsha 1988) by Sakuma Akira
• Zao no Yama by Otsuki Hirashichi in his collection Sarasoju (Tohoku Araragi Koriyama 1978)
• Two untitled tanka poems mentioning Zao by Matsuyuki Akira in Zao Tankasha Second Collection (Zao Tankasha, 2019)

 

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夏陽差す

見上げる先に

蔵王山

• 和心

 

The summer rays fall

Seeing above and ahead

Zao Mountains

• Washin (trans. Mayu)

 

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Strange Summer

 

Humans have the option to walk far.

I chose to stop at a place that is 4,800 km from my house. Without looking at the map, without knowing exactly where this is.

Here the mountains Zao Ranger looks at me boldly, say; “stay here, as long as you want.”

It turns out that this place is also home to me.

Bringing of childhood memories, rice field, hills and mountains surround the valley.

We also don’t have time to complain because the hot or rain it feels good.

The sun came up earlier than usual I know. He told me to enjoy the morning longer. Time is running slow. Longing was scattered among the Ajisai flowers which were still wet after last night’s rain.

The sun came up earlier than usual I know. But people in Zao take a late shower because the onsen only opens at 10.

Togatta is full of sounds of nature, occasionally I meet humans. Maybe no more than five people a day. The others have left, maybe they can’t stand it, it’s too quiet here.

I tried to make poems while looking at the green scenery. But this village moves slowly, words come but it’s hard for me to write quickly, as slowly as I wait for the Michelin Soba shop which is open only on weekends.

I gazed up at the Zao Mountains before going to bed, laying down in a bath where it was dark enough that I could see the stars in an unpolluted sky.

Humans have the option to walk far.

I chose to stop at a place that is 4,800 km from my house. Without knowing what is here and who will meet me. Everything is outlandish. But warm.

It turns out that I and myself inside, love alienation.

Because here the wind bring drizzle, say; “stay here, as long as you want.” She imitate the mountains to me. It’s as if she knows I miss my family, but is maze because here is the end; peace.

Humans have the option to walk far.

Do you choose to stop at a place far from your home?

• Intan Anggita Pratiwie

 

不思議な夏

 

人間には遠くまで歩くという選択肢がある。

私は自宅から4800キロ離れた場所に立ち寄ることにした。地図も見ず、ここがどこかもよく知らずに。

ここで蔵王連山が大胆にも私を見て言った。「ここにいろ、好きなだけいろ 」と。

ここは私にとって故郷でもある。

幼い頃の思い出の田んぼ、丘、山が谷を取り囲んでいる。

暑かろうが雨が降ろうが、気持ちいいから文句を言う暇もない。

太陽はいつもより早く昇った。朝をもっと長く楽しめって。時間はゆっくり流れている。昨夜の雨でまだ濡れているあじさいの花の中に、憧れの花が散っていた。

日が昇るのがいつもより早かったのは知っている。でも蔵王の人たちは遅い時間にシャワーを浴びる。

遠刈田温泉は自然の音に満ちている。1日に5人くらいかな。他の人たちは帰ってしまった。ここは静かすぎるから、耐えられないのかもしれない。

私は緑の景色を見ながら詩を作ろうとした。しかし、この村の動きはゆっくりだ。言葉は出てくるが、素早く書くのは難しい。週末しか営業していないミシュラン蕎麦屋を待つのと同じくらいゆっくりだ。

寝る前に蔵王の山々を見上げ、汚染されていない空の星が見えるほど暗い風呂に横になった。

人間には遠くまで歩くという選択肢がある。

私は自宅から4800キロ離れた場所に立ち寄ることにした。ここに何があるのか、誰が出迎えてくれるのかも知らずに。すべてが突飛だ。でも温かい。

私は、そして私自身も、疎外感を愛していることがわかった。

なぜなら、ここでは風が霧雨を運んでくるからだ。彼女は私に山の真似をする。まるで、私が家族を恋しがっていることを知っているかのように。

人間には遠くまで歩く選択肢がある。

あなたは家から遠く離れた場所で立ち止まることを選びますか？

• インタン・アンギッタ・プラティウィ　（訳・マユ）

 

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Kuma

Hot spring water flows

with a strong mineral smell

down Zao Mountain

and right past our open door

through which no bear has yet come

• Martin Edmond

 

熊

温泉は流れる

強烈なミネラル臭と共に

蔵王山を下り

開けっ放しの玄関前を流れるが

熊はまだ来ない

• マーティン・エドモンド　（訳・マユ）