Hello subscribers, followers and stumblers.
I decided to write this in response to nearly reaching 500 subscribers. I have written welcome posts in the past but this one will fill in the blanks for some of you and for others, a welcome.
Welcome.
A regular poster of memes that I hope bring a smile or chuckle, I figure life is rough enough so why not lighten the mood a bit. Balancing it out, I tend to muse about life and personal experiences, sometimes about life in Japan as jumping off points, and on occasion I’ll write an op-ed-ish piece. As of late I’ve thrown in some poetry for good measure.
What I haven’t talked about or shown much is what this Kominka Life Japan way of life created with my wife in a mountainous farming village in the countryside is all about.
Our 100-year old kominka (Japanese style architecture that uses no nails) home was purchased four years ago after an exhaustive search. At first glance, we didn’t see the potential. Having not been lived in for more than ten years it was in rough shape—both the interior and exterior. It took us four subsequent visits before deciding to sign on the dotted line and begin the journey of bringing this sad, lifeless home back to life with hard work, passion and love.
After signing on the dotted line and while still living in Tokyo and dating we would meet on weekends taking the train two hours to reform away. With no running water, toilet, electricity, car or stove it was like camping.
With no bed we duct taped together two faux-leather mattresses left by the previous owner and threw a bedsheet over it. We walked two kilometers to the nearest train station to use the bathroom whenever nature really called. With no stove we cooked using a one gas canister burner. After a sweltering hot summer day, dirty from head to toe from reforming we used a cold water portable shower.
A labor of love while we were falling in love, I can say with all honestly it was one of the most difficult yet fulfilling times in both our lives. The result after more than two years as you will see in the photos below is a home built on the foundation of love, sweat and tears.
Owning and reforming a kominka is not easy. It is a lifetime of projects. While this is my wife’s third kominka project it was by far the biggest to date and we needed a trustworthy contractor, (hard to come by and willing to work on old homes). Thankfully we found one who was willing to do the work that my wife envisioned for our place.
Kominka life Japan, is countryside living, farm-to-table meals, an up cycling philosophy, creative endeavors and an open door to the community. A simple, slow life where we follow the flow of nature or the bark of a dog early in the morning to signal it is time for breakfast and to get up.
Birds begin their chirping at 4:30 in the morning. My favorite is the Iguisu or warbler with its unique sing songy singing. Living on our second floor which is more windows than walls, the sounds coming from outdoors makes it feel like you are outdoors.
It’s been quite the journey one day at a time creating such a paradise. We look forward to sharing our place with others and hope to see you here someday.
A big arigatou for being a subscriber or follower to Kominka Life Japan.
Feel free to fire off any questions you may have about anything related to kominka living, buying or life in Japan in general. Closing in on twenty years here, I know a thing or two about a thing or two.
Oh wow it's so beautiful! May I ask how is reforming different from renovating? I've never heard that term before. Either way, sounds like a super fulfilling project!
It was well worth it. Congratulations to you and your wife! Now I need to know a thing or two about what you came to know about a thing or two.