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Wazao Museum
 Wazao Museum of Japanese Angling Rods
 Workshop
 Coffee Shop and Crafts Gallery
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Doubt not therefore, Sir, but that angling is an art, and one worth your learning. . . The question is rather, whether you be capable of learning it? Angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to be born so . . .. —Sir Isaac WaltonIf anyone was born to the poetry of the bamboo fishing rod, it must be Suzuki Keiichi. An employee of a Japanese bank, Suzuki established the Wazao Bijutsukan, "Museum of Japanese Angling Rods," in 1992 as testimony to his own devotion to the patient art of this traditional craft. After nine years of apprenticeship under an established rod master, Suzuki (also known by his craftsman name of Shûsui or "Autumn-Water") now passes on the refined art of the Japanese rod to students at his own workshop, while still commuting several days each week to his job in the city. Nestled in a narrow valley hidden away deep in Fujino's Magino district, the Wazao Bijutsukan is dedicated to an art form that is unfamiliar to most modern Japanese, not to mention foreigners, but no matter how unfamiliar with the "angling arte," visitors cannot help being impressed with the high degree of care and skill evident in the intricately crafted hand-spliced, hand-lacquered bamboo rods on display. The museum also has a workshop where Suzuki builds rods which he sells to connoisseurs, for appropriately connoisseur prices. Rods can be built for a variety of salt-water and fresh-water fishing techniques, but if you're contemplating ordering one, don't expect it tomorrow: each rod requires several months to complete. For those interested in building their own rods, Suzuki holds classes both at his workshop and in Kunitachi, teaching novices to more advanced enthusiasts. As might be expected, no little dedication and expense is involved. Assuming one attends one class each week, Suzuki says a single rod can be built in about three months; each class session is ¥2,000, and material expenses are said to run about ¥12,000. In sum, the overall cost is about ¥36,000 (roughly US $300.00) for the privilege of building a single bamboo rod. But the results can be marvelous, judging from examples Suzuki has on sale in his workshop. A small, relaxed coffee shop and crafts gallery is found under the museum, and makes a nice spot for a relaxing cup of tea after your drive; the gallery displays pottery and other crafts of well-known local artisans. Wazao Museum is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Access: turn off Highway 20 at Hizure Iriguchi, cross the Hizure Ôhashi bridge and continue south on Highway 76; about three minutes past the Fujino Workshop for the Arts you will come to a large "Y" intersection; take the branch to the left about four minutes more until you come to the Yamanami Hot Springs on the left. A dozen meters beyond the hot springs is a small winding road to the left going to the Sagamiko Country Club; drive about five minutes, and just a few hundred meters past the country club, you'll see the entry sign for Wazao Bijutsukan (Japanese only) on the left. Total driving time, about fifteen minutes from Fujino Station. For more information, call (Japanese only): 0426-89-2268 (Fujino), or 042-573-4970 (Kunitachi Workshop)
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Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Townshipby Norman Havens nhavens@gol.com
Updated: April 20, 2002
URL: http://www2.gol.com/users/nhavens/
