Kanjis are Chinese characters that are used in the Japanese writing system. This happened gradually in history, first through trade between China and Japan (letters, jewellery, mirrors, coins...). Ojika used to be an important transit port for China, so we can guess that the first Kanjis actually sailed in Ojika... How cool is that? Imagine the four little kanjis crossing the Chinese Sea to join the island and give it a fresh new name..!
I have now been on Ojika Island for two weeks, and, being passionated about languages and writing systems, I think it is worth having a look at what the Kanjis of Ojika mean.
小 値 賀 町 = Ojika-Cho
These 4 signs seem incomprehensible for you?
Wait, let me help you.
小 Small
Indeed, Ojika is small!
25,46 m2 and 2,588 inhabitants, to be more precise.
The small size of Ojika is what makes the island so special. What a pleasure to bike through the island and to discover places like the traditional Japanese houses, the hidden temples between plum trees or the paradise beach at the end of a small way... I love getting to know these places better and better and noticing new little details every time.
値 Price
Isn't it paradoxal that the word "price" is part of Ojika's name? Can't we define moments in Ojika as "priceless", so precious that they escape any system of counting or measuring?
There is a unique and poetic atmosphere in Ojika. I never experienced such silence, at least what we can call the "natural silence": the sound of waves, the wind in the trees, the birds singing... For me, silence is not only the total absence of noise, it can also be the presence of beautiful noises.
賀 Congratulations
Congratulations, what a beautiful word! It means feeling the joy of someone else and joining this joy, without any resentment or jealousy. It is hard to do so, but it is worth doing the effort and start joining the joy of others.
I can't help but admiring people from Ojika, you can feel the proudness and the deep love they feel for their island. I am extremely lucky to be part of Taiyo's project: he grew up in Ojika and came back years later to open the Goen, a place full of life and joy!
町 Village
I think that the word village describes correctly Ojika, or to be more correct it is a village surrounded by water.
2 traffic lights in the whole island!
Though, there is everything you need in Ojika: amazing sushi restaurants, supermarkets, a museum, a bar karaoke, hiking and biking trails, and especially 2,588 beautiful souls that deserve time to be discovered.. What else?
I truly believe it is worth spending time in Ojika to experience another Japan, far away from the sometimes too busy and touristy Japan we know.
NB: The meaning of the Kanjis I gave is based on the book of James Heisig, "Remembering Kanji" that I highly recommend if you are interested in knowing more about these mysterious signs!
Caroline Hypius
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