Kashigata are traditionally used to make pressed sweets in Japan. Because these days, most are machine-made in larger batches, wooden ones like this are most frequently found in antique shops and flea markets. This one was purchased in a Kyoto temple flea market a few years ago.
My get-pushed partner, Nia @sianipops , challenged me to depict Japan in a way that viewers would instantly recognize the image as representing Japan. I LOVE this challenge for many reasons -- trying to find images that are not cliche, but still representative to non-Japanese viewers! She challenged me to do this after reading about the Photograph Japan Trip that Michael @vankrey and I are organizing and posted in the discussion section: http://365project.org/discuss/general/19837/photo-trip-to-japan-join-us
I gathered the kashigata at my house to photograph them for my get-pushed challenge this week, and my husband started cleaning/waxing them at the kitchen table (on top of a Japanese newspaper!). I like the image of the process so much that I find it more interesting than photographing the kashigata themselves. You can see more images of them at: http://www.pinterest.com/joupii/kashigata-wagashi-molds/
Hi. I've really enjoyed looking at your diverse images. Thank you for all the comments on mine. My challenge for you is to make an image showing a clash of two cultures. I am off to the Cotswolds for the week. It's Very Traditional English villages, so that may help you to choose a challenge for me!
Very cool Junko -- the way you've framed it, it has the feel of peeking into a restoration shop in Japan where the restorer is hard at work. THe image works on so many levels!
Oh this is so good for the my challenge!! A japanese newspaper! I expected that with your travels to have Japanese artifacts but never a daily item like a newspaper. Excellent image.
