Water, Wood, And Wild Things

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One night, Brooklyn-based artist and food writer Hannah Kirshner received a transformative invitation to apprentice with a "saké evangelist" in the misty Japanese village of Yamanaka. In a rapidly modernizing Japan, this region remains a bastion of traditional practices, attracting chefs and artisans eager to learn about the customs that shape Japanese culture. Kirshner donned a vest and tie, stepping behind the saké bar, where she encountered a vibrant community of craftspeople, farmers, and foragers, including master woodturners, hunters, a paper artist, and a charcoal maker from a nearly deserted village. Each artisan displayed remarkable dedication, their unique skills weaving into the local culture. Inspired, Kirshner immersed herself in their ways of working and living. She takes readers on a journey through evergreen forests, terraced rice fields, and smoke-filled workshops, showcasing the enduring traditions of Yamanaka. Organized into four sections—water, wood, wild things, and cultivation—this work invites readers to appreciate the creation of a fine bowl, a cup of tea, or a rice harvest, while introducing the masters devoted to these crafts. Part travelogue, part meditation on work's significance, and enriched with her drawings and recipes, Kirshner's book is a tribute to a place and its people, exploring the essence of sustaining traditions and finding purpose in craft.