Barn_adventure_2

Marcel and I were invited to "excavate" a barn, and in fact a whole mountainside property, in Saratoga, California. It’s just 10 minutes from our house, but it felt like a world away. It’s the estate of a Japanese family who immigrated to San Francisco in the 1920s. They started a farm in Sunnyvale in the 1950s and lead a rich and colorful life, as I witnessed through the artifacts that were holding vigil on their property. These are just a sampling of the still-lifes and vignettes that I came across on my "journey":

Steamer_trunk_in_barn

Steamer trunk in the barn…
From_yokohama

The trunk was full of kimono belts, hand painted fans, a souvenir from Japan Air Lines, and a bag with about a dozen pair of well traveled baby shoes…
Kimono_belts_baby_shoes

Souvenir_fan_from_japan_air_lines

Dishes blooming in the barn…
Dishes_in_the_barn

Just_a_little_sunlight

Outside the barn…the barrels contained dried, salted plums, the baskets are suitcases…

Outside_the_barn

Vintage_suitcase_from_yokohama

Blue_drawer

Still-life landscape…
Vintage_landscape

Pots, before with clay dirt, & after a wash…

Pa010002

Pa010011

In honor of the spirit and memory of Mr. and Mrs. Yonemoto.

ありがとう

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6 responses to “Japanese Dream World”

  1. maja Avatar

    what lovely artifacts…thanks for sharing. i can just imagine that lovely musty smell that accompanies those types of time-capsules.

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  2. Ashley Avatar

    Wow. I’m so jealous! Too bad the goods in the trunk had gone moldy. Did you keep the woven suitcases or any of those cool looking drawers? I wonder if this family was interned during the Japanese American Internment during the Roosevelt era …

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  3. Dionna Avatar
    Dionna

    Amazing!!!! How fun was that???!!!????
    Now what will happen? I’m so curious!

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  4. Sylvie Avatar

    Merci Maja 🙂
    Ashley – I did keep all of those things. Yes. And I was able to salvage the musty things from the trunk. I was wondering the same thing about the camps. I will have to ask.
    Dionna – Shall I make up a saga?
    I did go back the following day and noticed for the first time how many dead rats there were on the property. It’s amazing how selective your vision can be. Yikes.

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  5. katie runnels Avatar
    katie runnels

    Wow! What an incredible discovery! Wish I could have stole away in your pocket on that day! Wishing I could transport myself to your shop-best wishes for bountiful October sales!! xoxo

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  6. le petit cabinet de curiosites Avatar

    I would have loved to be there , to find a souvenir …

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