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After walking for a while from Kaminotaishi Station and passing the Taishi Town Hall, the number of traditional houses begins to increase, creating a very atmospheric scene. Although this is said to be Japan’s oldest official road (Takenouchi-kaido), you won’t see any buildings from the Asuka period, of course; most date from the Edo period onwards. After passing through the village, I arrived at the “Michi-no-Eki Chikatsu Asuka-no-Sato Taishi” roadside station. I bought some yuzu, kumquats, and Delaware grape wine. Everything was delicious. Depending on the roadside station, you can often find ingredients that look like “B-grade” produce (slightly bruised or irregular) but taste amazing, much like at unmanned farm stands. I find myself buying something every time I stop by. The Delaware wine, of course, was certainly not B-grade—it was so smooth it felt almost dangerous to drink.
As someone who shoots VR180 as a hobby, I feel my interests increasingly diverging from those of the general public. It’s a process of “siloing” or becoming trapped in a niche. In times like these, I am reminded of the phrase from Akira Asada’s masterpiece Structure and Power: “Being cynical while participating, and participating while being cynical” (shiraketsutsu nori, noritsutsu shirakeru). If I immerse myself solely in VR180 technology, there is a risk of becoming isolated—frustrated by the gap between its overwhelming, revolutionary expressive power and the “foolishness” of a society where it hasn’t caught on at all. That is when I need to be “cynical”—taking a step back to engage in other things, particularly outdoor activities that are the polar opposite of IT.
After having a drink and eating my lunch at the Takeuchi Pass, I walked toward the Nara Prefecture side, where I found another traditional village that was a joy to explore. The Wanyuzuka rest area is a beautifully renovated old private house; I was able to take a breather inside the building, right by a traditional irori hearth.
Music: Christmas Organ
By Music Atelier Amacha
https://amachamusic.chagasi.com/