Cho and Tell

Kashi Takeshi: Hello all, happy to see you and welcome at Heiwa. Heiwa is hosted on the Virtual Worlds Grid that was founded 2 years ago.  The grid is non-commercial and sponsored by the founder and residents. Heiwa stands for Peace and is the name I gave this region where I am making a little Japanese village. I do like the old Japanese ways instead of the modern cities, The ambiance and atmosphere breathes Zen.  That's what I am trying to create here on Heiwa. Heiwa is still being build and hopefully will be ready this winter ;)  Many people helped my out to gather the items you see around  you.  If you happen to like an item please send me a notecard and I will deliver it to you later.

Kashi Takeshi 

Last week, co-host Ellen Tiratzo joined us on Safari from Japan and that meant she had to get up at about 4 am to be with us. We were concerned that we'd done it again! But luckily, it turned out that kashi was on European time. 

Kashi Takeshi: I was born and raised in the Netherlands. The old Japan got my interest .. Here is some history I found about the old Japanese living in the old days. In 1750, Japan had only 3% of the world's total population.  However, they had 8% of the world's urban population. At this time about 27 million Japanese peasants lived in rural villages and 3 million lived in cities. Amazingly, three of the world's five largest cities were in Japan. However, the average Japanese peasant lived in a small rural village of about 400 people. There were 63,000 rural villages in Japan at this time and each was comprised of approximately 100 small families

Star Ravenhurst: WOW

Kashi Takeshi:There were three types of villages: agricultural, mountain, and fishing. Each agricultural village family was assigned a small piece of ground to farm that was called a “cho.” 

Thirza Ember: Cho is a good name instead of 'Sim'

James Atlloud: Nice thought Thirza

Dabici Straulino: the Cho must go on

Alan Scot: barrabooom

Kashi gave us some insights into life in Japan. He told us that he was borrowing some of his text from Wikipedia, in this setting, with the music playing and the graceful NPCs on all sides, the words came to life.

Kashi Takeshi: The villages that were on prime level land raised rice. Villages that grew crops on less desirable steep terraced fields grew grapes, sesame, cotton, tea, flax, soybeans, and so on. Families were required to pay the government a tax of one koku of rice each year = 330 pounds, the amount of rice that a person would eat in one year. No matter what, the families had to pay the annual rice tax. During the Tokugawa period the peasants were almost taxed into starvation. Villages were designed to use as little of the farmland as possible, and everyone lived in small shanties clumped together. Water dominated the villages lifestyle because rice is grown in water. 

Kashi Takeshi: Most of the villages were controlled by a council of elders. Almost every task was done collectively including the repairing and dredging of irrigation canals, planting and harvesting, irrigating, hunting, fishing, firewood  gathering, grain processing, and foraging in the forests for wild edible berries and plants. When someone needed a house, the entire community participated in its construction. The entire community would also turn out if the house was in need of repairs. Women had traditional tasks. They cooked, raised children, and made textiles out of cotton, silk, and linen. They also worked in the fields in the jobs that required bending and stooping. The men did the jobs that required heavy lifting and hauling.

Star Ravenhurst: That is really interesting history. Is this village modeled after a real world village?

Kashi Takeshi: I did lookup up some village maps but overall I just started working and ended up with what you see around us.

Kashi Takeshi: Most disputes were settled internally, and punishment was handed out communally. However, if the peasants had an uprising, and you were a member of the village and did not participate, you would have been socially ostracized by the village. Restitution was required for property crimes, and banishment was the most severe punishment that an individual could receive. It was severe because once you were thrown out of a village you had nowhere to go. Japanese villages collected a special tax for their shrines, temples, community roads and bridges. Villagers were also required to maintain a fund so that visiting Chinese officials could be entertained upon arrival. Expenses were closely monitored.

Thirza Ember: Have you visited Japan yet Kashi? Would you like to go there?

Kashi Takeshi: I did go to many places, but haven't traveled to Japan. I hope to in the future...won't be visiting cities :)

Thirza Ember: this place has the feel of someone who knows the country

Kashi Takeshi: Gradually, over centuries, the peasants' quality of life improved because of better irrigation methods, new cash crops, improved fertilizer, better tools, and advanced hybrid rice seeds. Generation after generation of peasants were born, lived, and died within the confines of their village and its surrounding fields. The only chance a villager had to break out of their cycle of poverty was to acquire more land. Sometimes villagers lost their land if they did not pay their taxes or if there was a crop failure. Families that lost their land in ancient Japan usually died out from lack of opportunity.

Star Ravenhurst: It is all so beautiful!

Kashi Takeshi: I added some old NPC's I got from a kind lady in JOgrid.

Aphra Hendrix: nice grid

Nobunaga Oda

Kashi Takeshi: there is also an NPC Thirza noticed :) Oda Nobunaga. He is practicing martial arts in the building next to us Oda was a Japanese daimyō and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other daimyō to unify Japan in the 1560s. Nobunaga emerged as the most powerful daimyō, overthrowing the nominally ruling shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and dissolving the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1573. He conquered most of Honshu island by 1580, and defeated the Ikkō-ikki rebels in the 1580s. Nobunaga's rule was noted for innovative military tactics, fostering of free trade, reforms of Japan's civil government, and the start of the Momoyama historical art period, but also for the brutal suppression of those who refused to cooperate or yield to his demands. Nobunaga was killed in the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, when his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide ambushed him in Kyoto and forced him to commit seppuku. Nobunaga was succeeded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who along with Tokugawa Ieyasu completed his war of unification shortly afterwards. Nobunaga is regarded as one of the three great unifiers of Japan, along with his retainers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hideyoshi later united Japan in 1591, and invaded Korea a year later. 

Thirza Ember: That's like the time of Henry VIII in England, I think - one man getting lots of wives, one man trying to unite a nation

Star.Ravenhurst: Thank you for putting it in a Historical timeline Thirza

Kashi Takeshi: If that was a positive thing .. that's arguable ... lol

Thirza Ember: lol ditto about Henry VIII

Kashi Takeshi: Indeed.. he seems to have a lot of headache :)

Thirza Ember: but Japan is great for continuity, I read somewhere there are several hotels in Japan that have been in business and run fbu the same family for almost 1000 years - seems impossible

Kashi Takeshi: That's indeed very rare .. The modern Japan is not like the old days.. maybe the lost a little Zen in their new modern World they made. Still  a very interesting culture.

Star Ravenhurst: I think we all have lost beautiful things from the past

Kashi Takeshi: I agree Star

Tenderly Held

Thirza Ember: how did you get such a great collection of Japanese buildings Kashi?

Kashi Takeshi: I think I collected it in 6 months or so.. I love to explore and did find lot of other places where owners where kind to share, mainly the buildings.. I want to add some more nature, paths and details to the house..

Dabici.Straulino: I have seen a lot of japanese items in Soul-grid - Bastell region

Kashi Takeshi: Yes, they got beautiful stuff, Still got some in my inventory I got from Soul

Dabici.Straulino: are the Ketos playing?

Kashi Takeshi: My favo.. love to listen to it.. relaxing

Tenderly Held: feel free to explore, is a masterful build here...points to Kashi

The sim is really very walkable, but Safari being Safari, we had to stay together and do a bit of Tai Chi

Star.Ravenhurst: We look like we know what we are doing!

Kelso Uxlay: years of practice

Dabici Straulino: Kashi, have you found some good music streaming of classical japan music ? the ambience is perfect

Star Ravenhurst: Beautiful place

Kelso Uxlay: A piece of art

Dabici Straulino: The plaster texture here is so beautiful

Star.Ravenhurst: Texturing is so important in a build. Challenging. I think you met the challenge Kashi... Love these stones we are on right now

 Kashi Takeshi:  These played old Japanese music http://sc6.shoutcaststreaming.us:8016

 http://cp3.digistream.info:8170

 http://sc6.shoutcaststreaming.us:8018

Dabici.Straulino: I will try it, (the stream), thx

Jupiter Rowland: Thanks!

Star Ravenhurst: We all look really cute doing the Tai Chi

Tenderly Held: I am purely nature girl, finding peace next to an ancient tree, but here I get same feeling even amongst buildings, I get same feeling of relaxation and comfort, is good place here to get in touch with one's center

Star Ravenhurst: This place is also a great photo opportunity!

Tenderly Held: oh that it is, photo bugs' wonderland

Dabici Straulino: Someone who would like to teach Japanese could do so in such environment

Thirza Ember: how many regions on the grid in total Kashi?

Kashi Takeshi: Not sure .. think 104 now...64 are islands and ocean to sail.. the rest are region where residents live. I will have a new teleport board ready this week that shows all regions.. think it's worth it to wander there.. some are awesome. I think Avia Bonne got 5 regions here, offering lot of freebees and of course DinkieTown is very popular.. Asha Shanti created Shanti and Africa, makes lovely places too, she is into all kinds of African music, loves to DJ. I am updating the website .. 

Star Ravenhurst: We have so many creative people in our community of Open Sim.

Thirza Ember: how do you get new residents Kashi? Are they friends, or rentals, or both?

Kashi Takeshi: Residents that already live here can request if a friend can join. I don't like open registration.. most people are decent and do not misuse systems, but not all are like that.

Star.Ravenhurst: These days you need someone to vouch for you...sadly

Kashi Takeshi: I did notice it's a good way to keep out drama. And that can be a challenge I do see around... If someone is open and good minded it's a green pass ;)

Dabici Straulino: Is the region  open to hg visitors or is it a special opening for Safari?

Kashi Takeshi: Almost all regions on this grid are open.

Thirza Ember: if you cam to the noticeboard, you will see a number of the top regions here to visit

Star Ravenhurst: I will definitely come back and explore on my own

Thirza Ember: I'm sorry to say it's time for us to go. It's beautiful here, but now we move on to Sendalonde on Digiworldz.

Kelso Uxlay: Thanks for the very instructive talk

Kashi Takeshi: Thanks a lot .. hope you all enjoyed and will see you when v2.1 is ready :)

James Atlloud: Thank you Kashi and Tenderly

Dabici Straulino: great place and beautiful work<

Jupiter Rowland: And see you Tenderly!

Wizardoz Chrome: Many thanks , all beautiful!!

Tenderly Held: thank you all for coming :)) so much fun ^^

Kashi Takeshi: Be safe !

HG Address

Heiwa on Virtual Worlds Zone  virtual-worlds.zone:8002:Heiwaal-worlds.zone:8002