shofuso gardens

The tea house at the Shofuso Cultural Center was a remarkable puzzle of heavy and well-chosen wooden pieces fit together without nails or glue. 

Upon entering, you are asked to take off your shoes. The bamboo floors are ribbed and soft with wear. The tea house was made up of large open spaces and the occasional shrine.

Outside was a pond with the largest Koi fish I had ever seen. Black, orange, albino, and calico fish all swarmed to greet hands offering food. As I sat down and watched them, a little boy came up beside me to feed them; he squealed and showed me his impression of a fish gulping up food, we laughed together.

In Japanese culture, Koi fish are believed to bring good luck and purpose. But sitting here, drenched in sunshine, surrounded by bright chatter–

in a breezy park, 

good luck and purpose brought me Koi fish.

May 25th, 2019