Ichigo Ichie & The Bamboo Forest

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

-Bruce Lee

It is amazing how life seems to have small mysteries every day. Coincidences, happenstances, odd encounters. One never knows what the day may bring in full, and I believe that to be one of the most beautiful parts of living. A little under two years ago, I embarked on a backpacking journey. Not knowing what the adventure would bring, I went with open arms, an open mind, and a blank SD card. Little did I know that I would meet some of the most kindhearted and welcoming people in all different walks of life.

The Tea House

During the first leg of my trip abroad, I ventured through the different areas of Tokyo. I explored temples, wandered through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, and sampled foods I never dreamed of trying—chicken sashimi being one of them. On the third afternoon in the city, I was sitting outside at a traditional tea house, tucked away behind a museum. It was there that I befriended two travelers sitting beside me. I happened to be reading a book that one of them recognized, and it sparked instant conversation and connection. 

From there, we met for dinner and proceeded to travel together to Hakone and Kyoto, thus shifting my travel plans and opening my mind to the true spontaneity and flexibility within travel. It was by mere chance that we were all at the same tea house, sitting next to one another, with a common thread as simple as a hardcover book. 

Ichigo ichie is a philosophical Japanese proverb that translates to “one encounter, one lifetime” or “one time, one meeting”, encapsulating the idea that each moment in our lives is unique and cannot be recreated. Before meeting one another, my newfound friend, Reilly, had seen this concept somewhere within the walls of the museum. It became our new motto, as it mirrored our experience perfectly. One moment in time, never again to be repeated in the exact same way. A unique fortuity, and a genuine friendship created. 

A Moment in Time

Our once in a lifetime encounter led us to a stroll through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest three days later. It was here that I captured the photograph below. A glimpse into the surreal and quietly shifting world where stalks grow and the trees softly sway in the wind. If you took a second to pause and listen, you would hear the movement. Creaks and groans coming from the rapidly growing trees that covered acres of land. 

The beauty of bamboo also lies underground, hidden and out of sight. The trees are attached to one another through root systems that enable them to share nutrients, water, and energy. The interconnectedness of their lifesource is not seen, but is felt. Similar to how as people we can share energy, share our emotions, our trauma, or experiences, and bind to one another on an invisible level. I believe this to be one of the most instrumental aspects of life. Our ability to find similarities that are not apparent on the surface, but allow us to feel less alone when they are found. We can find commonalities and discuss our own lives in a way that allows us to relate to strangers. We can learn that although we are all individuals with unique lives, we still have ropes under the surface that tether us together. 

Vulnerability Breathes Life into Connections

The image I was able to capture of the bamboo forest was my attempt to emulate this feeling. The lines may not be perfectly vertical, but it resembles the way our paths in life may curve, split, turn, or have bumps, yet lead us to our destination all the same. As Bruce Lee said, the bamboo tree survives by bending with the wind as opposed to going against it and fighting back. Just as in life we have the choice to ‘go with the flow’, take life’s battles on with humility and acceptance, or we can fight defiantly, hold our ground, and not be open to the changes, the obstacles, the learning lessons that come along.

We are all on our own journey, following a road to our own goals, yet never fully alone. It may not always feel this way. We have moments in time where life can feel solemn and isolating. We may look to our left and to our right and not recognize a friendly face in the crowd that surrounds us. Yet, if you take the time to peel back layers and go beneath the surface, you may be surprised to learn how much you share in common with the unfamiliar faces that once made you feel so alone. 

It can be as simple as one small comment or question. Reaching out with a bit of vulnerability to form a bond with someone new. It may not always be successful, you may not leave the bestest of friends, but if nothing else you may realize that the world is less daunting than it once seemed. As we all know, life is unfair. It is hard and it challenges us when we least expect it. Knowing, even subconsciously, that there are others in life we can relate to, rely on, or find commonalities with, can sometimes be the difference between surviving and giving up hope.

Structural Composition

The composition of the photograph was partially luck and partially technique. Utilizing my tactics for framing and playing with the depth of field, I was able to create dimensions within the shot that led the viewers eye to multiple points. 

The leading lines that were mentioned previously pulled the focus in different directions. The viewer may have started at the bottom of the frame and ended with their eyes looking to the top, or may have been drawn to the bright sky and led back downward. The lightness of the tree canopy creates contrast with the darker forest floor, which one could connect to the lightness we begin to feel as we continue along the path of least resistance in life. There are plenty of themes, meanings, or viewpoints that this image may bring forth, and all depend on the perception that each viewer has. What has their life looked like leading up to the point at which their eyes rested upon this image? What experiences have they undergone? Is one considered a pessimist? An optimist? A realist? Every individual in life has their own mind and soul, and that is a beautiful thing to behold. 

The bamboo tree that is at the forefront of the image is the leading character, the star of the show. The eyes immediately recognize that the singular tree is closer than the trees in the distance. One also may notice that the singular tree is standing as one, but is not truly alone. There is an army of trees creating a dense forest just beyond. Perhaps not in focus, but just as strong, powerful, and important as the leader in front. A reminder that although we may stand in solidarity, we have a world of connections and support surrounding us. 

The Impact of the Moment

‘Bamboo Forest’ quickly became one of my favorite images in my portfolio. The colors, the lightness, the depth, and the feeling that the scene evokes all played a role in its powerful hold over me. The experience leading up to capturing the trees has and always will be a pivotal time in my life. Not only because I had embarked on a solo journey halfway across the world, but because I truly allowed myself to be open to the whimsy in life. I learned and felt the true beauty of connecting with strangers and the raw essence of the human experience. 

After that moment in time, I recognized the significance that a singular comment or question may have on the life of someone else. It reinforced my belief of making others feel seen and noticed. A gentle smile at a stranger passing by, a quick hello to someone you make eye contact with, acknowledgement of the existence of the people around you. It may seem small, but the impact of those actions can be deeper than any one of us may realize. 

-Alicia Rose

Kyoto, 2024. A moment in time, never again to be repeated in full. Titled ‘Bamboo Forest’ by Alicia Rose.