2025/4/20

“Kaya-jimai” — The Day We Store Away the Roof’s Blessings in Spring

As the snow melts and the signs of spring begin to appear, the Kitamura village carries out the traditional work called Kaya-jimai. This is the spring ritual of putting away the thatch—harvested before winter and naturally dried throughout the cold months—into storage.

2025/3/23

Thatch Roofs and Snow: A Landscape Woven by Two Forces of Nature

The scenery created by snow and thatched roofs evokes a calm feeling, as if time itself has slowed to a peaceful flow.

When a thatched roof is dusted with snow, its curves are even more pronounced, and despite the harsh cold, it radiates a sense of warmth. Gazing upon this view stirs within us a deep responsibility—to preserve this landscape for future generations.