Think the Earth

The famous hot springs, Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture has also served as the stage for "Ukigumo (floating clouds)," a representative work of the late director, Mikio Naruse. As you can see in this film, there was a time when people walked about the streets with a facecloth, stained red by the hot ferruginous water, hanging off their shoulders - this was a sign that they thoroughly enjoyed their time at the onsen (hot springs).

The "Okame-kai", a group created by proprietress (okami) of ryokans (traditional Japanese hotels) in Ikaho Onsen, launched a new project this year in hopes of creating a modern symbol that helps recall the history of Ikaho. This project called "OH! Kami (Paper) Project" will recycle chopsticks used in ryokans and hotels to create paper souvenir bags.

Approximately 1.2 million lodgers visit the Ikaho Onsen each year, and 2.4 million chopsticks are thrown away after use. This project collects used chopsticks and reuses them to make paper bags with the help of local welfare facilities, etc.

On the 26th of December, the design of the paper bag was chosen from among 132 designs submitted from all over Japan. The selected design (see above image) was highly acclaimed as it provoked images of guests at the onsen pattering down the stone steps in their wooden clogs or cooling down after a hot bath with a facecloth slung across the shoulder, and "it well represents Ikaho and will be well-liked by everyone."

The bag will be unveiled early next March at the annual "Ishidan Hina Matsuri (Stone Steps Doll Festival)."