The guide sign and the signboard are now finished. Both were handmade.
For the guide sign, I used the same design as the Kumano Kodo trail signs so that it would not disturb the natural landscape. I carefully peeled the bark from a cedar log given to me by a local carpenter, painted it, and set it into the ground. The lettering was carved by hand. It had been since middle school that I last held a carving knife, so the work brought back memories of my arts and crafts classes.
Each carving was made with care.
This kind of careful, steady work takes more time than I expected, but somehow I don’t mind it.
As I carved quietly, I found myself thinking about the past and the future.
“Finished!” I thought—only to realize a little later that I had made a spelling mistake.
I was a little disappointed at first, but I quickly gathered myself and started again. The second time, I knew what I was doing, and I think the result turned out even better. One of the nice things about handcrafting is that your skills improve every time you make something.
Next, I worked on the sign for the guesthouse.
For this one, I chose a thick piece of hinoki cypress with a beautiful natural texture.
Both pieces of wood come from the Kumano region.
For the signboard, I visited a local lumber mill and carefully selected the wood myself.
We live surrounded by forests of cedar and hinoki cypress. That’s why I wanted the sign to be made from wood that comes from the forests around us.
The design is simple and modest, reflecting who we are.
Over the years, the wood will slowly deepen in color and develop a beautiful character.
I’m looking forward to seeing how it changes with time.
If I can, I hope to age gracefully and gain character over time, just like this sign.
