The Beauty and Journey of Masako Shirasu, the Woman Known as Idaten Omasa
The Woman Known as Idaten Omasa: The Beauty and Travels of Shirasu Masako
"I was a sulky child. Even at the age of three, I hardly spoke and preferred to be alone." This passage from Shirasu Masako's autobiography reveals the contrast between her inner calm and her later violent energy.
Shirasu Masako was a woman of quietude and strength. Though born into a noble family, she never contented herself with existing values, but lived her life according to her own aesthetic sense and intuition. Her way of life teaches us, living in the modern age, the importance of "having the ability to discern the real thing" and "walking on our own two feet."
From the daughter of a noble family to the Noh stage
Born in 1910 in Kojimachi, Tokyo, Shirasu Masako grew up as the second daughter of a count. She was familiar with Noh from an early age, and at the age of 14 achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first woman to perform on the Noh stage. At the time, it was unusual for a woman to perform in the traditional art of Noh. She quietly but surely broke that taboo.
In the world of Noh, while she studied the "forms," she was also sensitive to the "spirit" and "space" that resided within them. She understood the significance of not moving on stage, rather than moving. Even at this time, her aesthetic sense was rooted in the "ability to see the invisible."
Studying in America and meeting Jiro Shirasu
She then studied at the Hartridge School in the United States. Even though she was exposed to Western culture, she never lost her Japanese roots. Soon after returning to Japan, she married Jiro Shirasu. The story of how they fell in love at first sight seems to symbolize the intuition and passion in her life.
Shirasu Jiro was known as "the only Japanese who was not submissive." His spirit and aesthetic sense resonated deeply with Masako. Their life together was not just that of a married couple, but one of "a resonance of ideas."
Walking in Search of Beauty: An Essayist's Journey
After the war, she began her career as an essayist. Through works such as "Hidden Village," "Saigyo," "Noh Masks," and "My Classics," she wrote about Japanese beauty, classics, antiques, crafts, and her travel memories. Her writings are not just travelogues; they are filled with a poetic sensibility that captures the "spirit" and "memories" that reside in the land.
She was drawn to "nameless places" rather than famous historical sites: stone Buddha statues that no one notices, moss-covered paths, forgotten hermitages - she believed that true beauty resides in such places.
"The real thing is quiet and strong" - these words are the very essence of her own life. Without speaking out loud, but with a sure step, she has continued to search for beauty.
The aesthetics of Buaiso living
She left Tokyo and moved to the old house "Busaiso" in Machida City, where she discovered beauty in her daily life. She opened a dyeing and weaving craft shop "Kogei" in Ginza, and continued to commute for four hours round trip, showing her drive that is worthy of being called "Idaten Omasa."
Her aesthetic sense quietly lives on at Buaiso. Her "eye for discerning taste" is evident in every stone in the garden and every grain of the wood on the pillars. There is "beauty in everyday life" rather than decoration. For her, beauty was "to use," "to touch," and "to live."
Learning from Masako Shirasu: A modern aesthetic sense
Masako Shirasu's way of life offers many insights for us today. In an age where information is overflowing and choices are plentiful, the importance of "seeing with your own eyes and walking with your own feet," as she did, is becoming more and more apparent.
She has always sought the "real thing" without being swayed by trends or bound by titles. This attitude is sure to resonate with WABISUKE readers. The tableware, fabrics, and words we choose in our daily lives all have the potential to contain a "sense of beauty."
Masako Shirasu did not travel to reminisce about the past. She traveled to live in the present. She came into contact with the memories of the land, listened carefully to the words of the classics, and fell in love with the handiwork of crafts - all of these were efforts to find the "beauty that exists here and now."
Her writings seem to speak to us softly of the changing seasons, the memories of the land, and the stillness deep within the human heart. Shirasu Masako's journeys connect us to our own "journeys in search of beauty."