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Emily Smith

@down2forage

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🇬🇧🇯🇵🇰🇷 documentary filmmaker / forager
• slow living • following the 72 Microseasons in rural Japan
💌 [email protected]
🍄 founder @hy_mushroom

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When we first visited our new house I was so excited to see there was a big Camellia bush right next to it. It’s also on the river which is lit up by fireflies in the evening right now. It’s truly magical. Fireflies only choose clean water and there’s only a few short weeks a year when you can see their glow. In the daytime, dragonflies as big as my hand hover around. The first I saw in April were electric blue, but for the past two weeks there are some new guys on the block. Siebold’s dragonflies or oniyanma (オニヤンマ) are yellow and black and 10cm long! If you look closely, you will see one fly past me when I’m in the river.Walking around this area more, I’ve discovered that Camellia japonica grows wild in the forests, as it does across much of Asia. It’s also been widely introduced across the world for its ornamental value.You probably consumed Camellia today without realising it. Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. It’s lesser known that other species of the Camellia family are edible too. I’ve never seen anyone making Camellia jam, but I tried making it last year and it was delicious. I also tried dipped the whole flower heads in tempura.Camellia japonica’s polyphenols and antioxidants protect cells and promote overall health. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, supports skin health, and contributes to cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation. Additionally, the vitamins and minerals in Camellia japonica boost the immune system and aid digestion.新しい家を初めて訪れた時、隣に大きな椿の木があるのを見てとても興奮しました。また、家は川のそばにあり、夕方にはホタルが川を照らしています。本当に魔法のようです。ホタルはきれいな水を選び、その光を見ることができるのは年に数週間しかありません。昼間には手のひらほどの大きさのトンボが飛んでいます。4月に初めて見たトンボはエレクトリックブルーでしたが、ここ2週間で新しい種類が登場しました。シーボルトトンボ（オニヤンマ）は黄色と黒で、長さは10cmもあります！よく見ると、川にいる私の近くを飛んでいくのを見ることができます。この地域を歩いていると、アジアの多くの地域と同様に、椿の木（カメリア・ジャポニカ）が森で自生していることがわかりました。また、その装飾価値のために世界中に広く導入されています。あなたはきっと気づかずに今日も椿を消費しているでしょう。お茶の木（カメリア・シネンシス）は椿の木の仲間から作られていますが、他のカメリアの種類も食用に適していることがあまり知られていません。私は誰も椿のジャムを作っているのを見たことがありませんが、去年試しに作ってみたらとても美味しかったです。また、花の房全体を天ぷらにしてみたこともあります。椿の種子のポリフェノーと抗酸化物質は細胞を保護し、全体的な健康を促進します。また、抗炎症作用があり、皮膚の健康をサポートし、血液循環を改善して炎症を抑えることで心血管の健康にも貢献します。さらに、カメリア・ジャポニカに含まれるビタミンとミネラルは免疫を強化し、消化を助けます。 by @down2forage

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2 years ago

🌸 cherry blossom hot cross buns 🌸spiced with magnolia, grape hyacinth and green sansho berries桜の花ホットクロスパンズスパイスを使ったモクレンとムスカリと緑の山椒ホット・クロス・バンズA wild, flowery spring celebration and the perfect way to say goodbye to the cherry blossoms – no dried fruit, just gentle blossoms, foraged walnuts, and a subtle kiss of green sansho. IngredientsDough* 180 g strong white bread flour (or a mix with all-purpose – I used 50/50 as I ran out)* 1 tsp sugar* ¼ tsp fine salt* ½ tsp instant dry yeast* ⅛ tsp ground green sansho berries (optional, for brightness – you can also use foraged wood avens root or Queen Anne’s lace seeds)* 1 medium egg* 1 tbsp sakura syrup (made by cooking double-petalled sakura in sugar syrup)* 1 tbsp magnolia and grape hyacinth syrup (from simmering petals and flowers in syrup)* 30 ml warm water* 1 tbsp olive oilMix-ins* 60 g broken toasted walnuts* 2 tbsp finely chopped magnolia petalsCross* 30 g plain flour* 30 g waterGlaze* 2 tbsp warmed sakura syrupInstructionsStart by combining the flours, sugar, salt, yeast, and sansho in a medium bowl. In a jug, whisk together the egg, syrups, and warm water, then stir in the olive oil. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and add the walnuts and chopped magnolia petals. Stir into a rough dough, adjusting water if needed.Knead until smooth and elastic – about 10 minutes, or until it passes the windowpane test. Let the dough rise somewhere warm for around 2 hours, until doubled.Shape into small round buns and place on a lined tray. Cover gently and let them rise again for 30 minutes, until puffed and soft.About 15 minutes before they’re ready, preheat the oven to 180°C. Mix the flour and water for the cross into a spoonable paste, transfer to a piping bag or sandwich bag, and pipe a cross on each bun.Bake for 15–20 minutes, until golden and lightly puffed. While still warm, brush the tops with warmed sakura syrup.Decorate with fresh or soaked cherry blossoms if you have them. Serve with good butter and thickened sakura syrup.As always, this is a rough recipe, so use your instincts.Never eat anything you haven’t properly identified, and always forage responsibly. by @down2forage

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a year ago

It’s been a busy year in NaraWhen we arrived, the two houses we took on (one empty for seven years, the other for over 80) needed a huge amount of cleaning (they still do!) Felix then built a structure in the field using wood from our forest, creating shelter from the harsh summer sun and the perfect setting for our first shared meals.One of my closest relationships is with our 91-year-old neighbour, Umemoto san, whose generosity, wisdom, and boundless energy bring so much joy. She helped me plant my first vegetable garden, teaches me traditional dishes, and even invited me to join her walking group.Despite the ageing population, Higashiyoshino has a vibrant and creative community. We’ve made wonderful friends, and I’ve fulfilled my dreams of joining a choir, a football team, and hosting workshops and exhibitions. Since spring 2024, we’ve welcomed 15+ visitors and look forward to more in 2025.Felix has worked tirelessly on the smaller house carefully preserving its original structure where possible. Just before Christmas, we moved in, finally escaping the freezing, hole-filled other house and outdoor portaloo! Amongst it all, we have found time to slow down in the best ways - roaming the forests with the dogs, cooling off in the river, and watching the micro seasons. Living immersed in nature, with all its beauty and challenges, has been deeply fulfilling. There’s still so much to do, but I’m grateful for the journey so far and this little home we are building together in the mountains.忙しい1年だった。私たちが到着したとき、私たちが手に入れた2軒の家（1軒は7年間、もう1軒は80年以上空き家だった）は、膨大な量の掃除が必要だった（今も必要）。フェリックスはその後、私たちの森で倒れていた木材を使って畑に日差しを遮る東屋を建て、私たちが初めて友人と食事を共にするのに最高の場所になった。私の最も親密な”恩師”は、91歳の隣人、梅本さん。彼女の寛大さ、知恵、そして無限のエネルギーは、多くの喜びをもたらしてくれる。彼女は私が初めて家庭菜園をするのを手伝ってくれたり、、郷土料理を教えてくれたり、ウォーキング・グループに誘ってくれたり。高齢化が進んでいるにもかかわらず、東吉野には活気に満ちたクリエイティブなコミュニティがある。私たちは素晴らしい友人を作り、夢であった合唱団やサッカーチームに参加したり、ワークショップや展覧会を主催した。2024年春以来、15人以上の訪問者（見学者）を迎え、2025年にはもっと増えることを楽しみ。フェリックスは、可能な限りオリジナルの構造を慎重に保存するため、小さな家の改装に精力的に取り組んできた。クリスマス直前に私たちは大きな家から引っ越し、凍てつくような穴だらけのもうひとつの家と屋外のポータブルトイレからようやく逃れることができた。犬と森を歩き回ったり、川で涼んだり、変わりゆく季節を眺めたり、自然の中に身を置く暮らしは、その美しさと難しさを含めて、深い充実感がある。まだやるべきことはたくさんあるが、これまでの体験と、山の中で私たちが一緒に作っているこの小さな家に感謝している。 by @down2forage

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2 years ago

When I was filming along the river, I watched a juvenile Black Kite feeding on an ayu sweetfish. It still had tufts of soft down clinging to its feathers, a reminder that although it was already hunting successfully, it had only recently left the nest. “A kite gives birth to a hawk” is used to describe an exceptional child born to ordinary parents. It dates back to when hawks were admired as noble birds of falconry, whilst the common Black Kite was an everyday sight.“A kite chick never becomes a hawk”, suggests that children usually follow in their parents’ footsteps. The existence of both sayings is telling: one celebrates the extraordinary child who exceeds expectations, whilst the other reminds us that such exceptions are rare.“Even a kite looks like a hawk when it carries itself well” suggests that confidence and good bearing can make someone appear more impressive than they really are.“Even when starving, a hawk does not peck at grain” describes someone who refuses to compromise their principles, even in difficult circumstances. The proverb reflects the hawk’s reputation as a noble hunter, remaining true to its nature regardless of hardship, and came to symbolise dignity, integrity and unwavering character.“A capable hawk hides its talons” suggests that those with genuine ability have no need to. show off. Just as a hawk keeps its sharp talons concealed until they are needed, talented people reveal their strengths through actions rather than their words.Young swallows have also started leaving the nest. Even though they now perch confidently on wires and branches, they still depend on their parents for food as they gradually learn to fend for themselves.It’s been so hot that I’ve been trying to spend as much time as I can in the river, even when I’m busy - a dip at lunchtime is so refreshing and cools me down right away. The chorus of insects has grown noticeably louder over the past few days. Soon, I’ll spread this year’s umeboshi out on bamboo trays to sun-dry for three days.What small changes have you observed near you?Music - @Oliver_gudgeon - What you gave us#72Microseasons #slowliving #slowlife #in by @down2forage

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3 days ago

lotus blossoms are blooming, just like you 🪷Now the heat of summer has truly arrived, the lotus begins to flower. Rooted deep in mud, it rises patiently through murky water before unfolding immaculate petals of white and pink on the surface. It has long symbolised purity, renewal and resilience of spirit. From ancient Egyptian carvings to Buddhist scriptures, the lotus has been revered as a sacred flower of transformation.Lotus leaves are famous for something known as the Lotus Effect. Tiny wax crystals coat their surface, making them extremely water repellent. Instead of soaking in, raindrops form almost perfect spheres that roll across the leaf, collecting dust and other particles as they go. It’s one of nature’s most elegant examples of a self-cleaning design.Almost every part of the lotus can be eaten, from its seeds and flowers to its young leaves and stems. The best known is the lotus root, or renkon, although it isn’t actually a root at all - actually a rhizome. The holes running through it are air channels that carry oxygen from the leaves above into the oxygen-poor mud below. It’s one of the many ingenious adaptations that allows the lotus to flourish in wetland habitats.A fossil of a lotus leaf dating back around 70 million years was discovered in Japan, whilst others found elsewhere in the world are thought to be over 100 million years old. Every summer, they emerge once again, as though nothing has changed.Each blossom opens gently with the morning sun before closing again as the sun goes down. Standing beside a lotus pond at dawn, you can’t help but feel the quiet urgency of those moments. Their beauty is breathtaking precisely because it is so fleeting - a gentle reminder that nothing in nature, or in life, lasts forever.Whenever I see them, I find myself slowing down, completely captivated by their quiet beauty. What small changes have you observed recently?✨🪷 Music by @ohma.being #72Microseasons #slowliving #slowlife #inaka #japanesecountryside by @down2forage

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9 days ago

If you pass a rice field in the early morning, it’s not unusual to spot a heron or an egret having breakfast. But when I peered closer, I discovered a whole new array of mysteries – bright pink eggs that looked out of this world, and bright orange giant snails with sprawling antennae.It turns out they’re golden apple snails, which lay their eggs just above the waterline to avoid being eaten by fish. Golden apple snails aren’t native to Japan – they were introduced from South America in the 1980s, but quickly became a pest, as they don’t have any natural predators. They devour rice seedlings and aquatic plants, and farmers now battle to manage their numbers each year. It’s a classic example of a non-native species taking over.⠀I also saw absolutely tiny crayfish, which I’m looking forward to watching grow up (along with one-day-old frogs and tadpoles with folded legs – nearly ready to join them.I’ve also come to know and recognise robber flies, which most people are unfamiliar with but they’re an important part of the ecosystem and some of the most formidable hunters in the insect world. Despite their name, they don’t steal from other insects, but instead catch their pray in mid air at astonishing speed. They then inject digestive enzymes that liquify the preys insides and drink the nutrients!Watching them mate was quite beautiful. The pair remained joined together for several minutes, moving from a fern to a tea bush and being blown together by the wind. ⠀All of these little moments were happening in plain sight, but I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t stopped and really looked. Sometimes, there is an entire world unfolding just below the surface. I love slowing down and practising the art of noticing. To me, that’s exactly what the essence of the 72 Microseasons is all about.⠀What changes have you noticed near you recently? What has caught your curiosity recently? ✨#72Microseasons #slowliving #inaka #japanesecountryside #satoyama by @down2forage

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14 days ago

Before mating, the male Japanese fire-bellied newt performs an intricate courtship dance, waving and fanning his tail in front of the female, just as I sometimes observed when watching them for a long time. Often, they just lie perfectly still, or bury themselves deep under leaves.Like so many of the things I learn, I first notice something in nature. Then, I come home, and research it and often discover the reason why. In this case, the male is wafting his pheromones towards the female. If she is receptive, she follows him until he deposits a spermatophore, which she picks up to fertilise her eggs.She lays up to around 40 eggs during each breeding session, attaching them to submerged leaves and other underwater vegetation.The Japanese fire-bellied newt is found across Japan, easily recognised by its bright orange-red belly, which warns predators that it is toxic. It spends much of the year hiding in ponds, streams and damp forest floors, emerging in early summer to breed in shallow forest pools. They can regenerate lost limbs and tails, a remarkable ability that has been studied for medical research. In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as Near Threatened likely due to habitat loss, deforestation, collection for the pet trade and the introduction of carp into their breeding ponds. In fact, when I checked the IUCN list, I was surprised to see that so many of the world’s salamander species are declining.Crowdipper is a small woodland plant in the arum family that grows in damp, shady places across East Asia. In both Japanese and Chinese medicine, its tuber has long been used (after detoxification) to treat coughs and digestive problems. Interestingly, when researching I saw that also grows invasively in Europe and parts of North America. I have only seen crowdipper a few times in the forests here, but when it is planted where it doesn’t belong, it spreads rapidly.The fireflies are still out every night. We turn off the lights during our evening bath just to watch them.What small changes have you spotted in nature recently? 🍀#microseasons #japanlife #inaka #slowdown #slowliving by @down2forage

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19 days ago

my level of whimsy…fairy kombucha ✨foraged Chinese bayberry kombucha in a freshly picked bellflower, by the river in my garden in the Japanese countryside.Right now, the spotted bellflowers are adorning the mountains. Their Japanese name, Hotarubukuro means ‘firefly pouch’. They bloom at the same time fireflies light up the early summer evenings and the flowers were used by children to cradle the glow like tiny natural lanterns!Chinese Bayberry is native in Japan and has big reddish purple juicy sweet and sour berries that taste like a mixture between strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate. They’re truly delicious just straight off the tree! I’ve been making kombucha for over a decade and I always use whatever foraged fruit or herbs that is in season to flavour it. This is one of my favourites yet! Be sure to only try this with edible flowers that are foraged responsibly. Never consume anything you haven’t properly identified.私の遊び心といえば…妖精のコンブチャです✨日本の田舎にある庭の川辺で摘んだホタルブクロに、野生のヤマモモで仕込んだコンブチャを注いでみました。今、斑点のあるホタルブクロが山々を彩っています。「ホタルブクロ」という名前は、その名の通り「蛍の袋」という意味。初夏の夕暮れに蛍が飛び始める頃に花を咲かせ、昔は子どもたちがこの花の中に蛍を入れて、小さな天然のランタンのように楽しんでいたと言われています。ヤマモモは日本にも自生する木で、赤紫色の大きくてみずみずしい甘酸っぱい実をつけます。味は、いちご、ラズベリー、ザクロを合わせたような風味で、木からそのまま食べても本当に美味しいんです！私は10年以上コンブチャを作り続けていますが、いつもその季節に採れる野生の果実やハーブで風味をつけています。これは今まで作った中でも特にお気に入りのひとつです食べられる花でも、採取する際は自然への配慮を忘れずに。そして、確実に同定できたもの以外は、絶対に食べないようにしてくださいね。Music - @Oliver_Gudgeon#Foraging #whimsical #SlowLiving #whimsy #fairycore by @down2forage

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20 days ago

I’ve created rituals that help the summer months feel slower, gentler and more filled with joy. Felix and I were invited to share some of them in the latest issue of @tennenseikatsu magazine 💚* My homemade mugwort oil recipe - a natural insect repellent and moisturiser that’s food-safe, so it can even add a beautiful green pop to a dish.* My wild wood sorrel syrup recipe for refreshing and delicious summer drinks.* How I make edible flower ice cubes using wildflowers - my favourite way to bring a little whimsy to the table! * Why I believe riverside picnics are the perfect antidote to summer lethargy. * Bringing the changing seasons indoors through seasonal flowers, food and thoughtful design.* My three summer essentials - a cotton yukata dressing gown, my handwoven pine needle basket for collecting flowers and berries, and a big sun hat.この数年で、暑い夏をゆっくりと穏やかに、そして楽しく過ごすための、小さな習慣が少しずつできました。今月号の『天然生活』では、そんな私たちの夏の暮らしをご紹介いただいています。・手づくりのヨモギオイルのレシピ - 虫よけや保湿に使えるだけでなく、食用の材料だけで作っているので、お料理にも使えます。・イモカタバミのドリンクのレシピ - 爽やかでおいしい夏の一杯にぴったりです。・野の花でつくる食べられるフラワーアイスキューブの作り方 - 食卓に少し遊び心を添える、私のお気に入りです。・夏のだるさには、川辺でのピクニックがいちばんだと思う理由。・季節の花や旬の食材、そして暮らしのデザインを通して、移りゆく季節を家の中に取り入れること。・私の夏の必需品 - 木綿の浴衣、アカマツの葉で編んだ手づくりのかご（花や木の実を摘むのに欠かせません）、そして大きな麦わら帽子。Music @oliver_gudgeonMagazine photography @nishioka_kiyoshi #slowlife #slowliving #japanesecountryside #ruraljapan #slowdown by @down2forage

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22 days ago

In a world that moves fast, the microseasons invite us to slow down and pay attention. When each season lasts only a handful of days, you start to notice what’s easy to overlook - the scent of the air changing, a bird’s song, the colour of leaves quietly shifting. Change is constant, even when it’s subtle.The 72 microseasons originate from the old Japanese calendar, which divided the year into subtle shifts, each lasting just five days. This system was in place long before Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873.The beauty is that anyone, anywhere, can begin. You don’t have to live in Japan to start noticing the tiny changes around you. The microseasons simply offer inspiration - a way to slow down, connect with your surroundings, and find your own rhythm in nature’s quiet transformations.There is something calming about taking time in daily life to find beauty in small, fleeting things. Observing these ancient markers brings a sense of grounding and a quiet invitation to be present, to listen, and to belong.What small changes have you noticed near you recently? 🌱Music - @oliver_gudgeon - Mountains #72Microseasons #slowliving #slowlife #inaka #japanesecountryside速いスピードで動く世界の中で、七十二候は立ち止まり、注意深く見つめることを私たちに促してくれます。ひとつの季節がほんの数日しか続かないからこそ、普段は見過ごしてしまうものに気づき始めます。変わる空気の匂い、鳥のさえずり、静かに移ろう葉の色。変化は常にそこにあり、とてもささやかであっても続いています。七十二候は、古い日本の暦から生まれたものです。一年を五日ごとの繊細な移ろいに分けるこの仕組みは、1873年に日本がグレゴリオ暦を採用するずっと以前から存在していました。素晴らしいのは、誰でもどこにいても始められることです。日本に住んでいなくても、身の回りの小さな変化に気づくことができます。七十二候はただひとつのきっかけに過ぎません。立ち止まり、周囲とつなが� by @down2forage

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24 days ago

Rainy season is underway in the Japanese countryside. The rivers are swollen and thrashing, the mountains wrapped in mist, and the air scented with wet earth and cedar.It rained all day yesterday, and the forecast predicts the same until at least a week on Sunday. And two typhoons are headed towards us!In the downpour, I set off to a place my grandpa friend told me about. Half an hour up a sheer winding road, with dense forest and no barriers. The hydrangeas were beautiful, just coming to the end of their season. I climbed for an hour as the wind picked up. It was an adventure but I knew it was time to turn back and hurry home.This microseason marks the fading of self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), a common ‘weed’. I used to forage it often in the UK – traditionally used to reduce fevers and heal wounds. Hydrangeas are an iconic symbol of rainy season. Their ‘petals’ are actually modified leaves, and the colour depends on the soil’s pH. Acidic soil brings out deep blues, while alkaline soil creates pinks and purples. Sometimes a single bush displays a full gradient of colour, revealing subtle variations in the soil just beneath it. White hydrangeas lack the pigments that respond to soil chemistry.Hydrangeas hold deep cultural meaning, associated with humility, reflection and the quiet complexity of emotion – perhaps because their colour is never fixed. I’ve been having encounters with the giant mountain slug, Meghimatium fruhstorferi, after finding it on the mushrooms I was growing. I re-located it and put a pile of mushrooms on the bank and the slug feasted on those instead. It grows up to 16cm long. On Wikipedia, I came across this description - ‘its large size makes it even more grotesque, so it is disliked when people see it. ‘That hardly seems like the kind of PR this slug deserves. Their skin is covered in intricate patterns, almost like a fingerprint, and it sparkles beautifully.Slugs aren’t pests - they’re an important part of the ecosystem. They break down dead plants and fungi, returning nutrients to the soil and are nutritious food for animals. What changes have you noticed near you?#inaka #slow #japanlife #slowlife #ruraljapan by @down2forage

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a month ago

Hidden within the petals of this small flower are pinks and crimsons prized for millennia.There was something deeply moving about watching colour emerge petals we picked together. And as my newly dyed clothes sway in the wind, I felt connected to something much older, a tradition passed from hand to hand for centuries. I couldn’t believe the different shades - even the dress I’m wearing was dyed with the flowers!The safflowers were growing beside the Ishibutai Kofun in Asuka, Nara, the first capital of Japan. This is one of Japan’s largest ancient tombs. Unlike most kofun, its earthen mound has disappeared, leaving the enormous stone burial chamber exposed and offering a rare glimpse into the engineering of ancient Japan.Safflower is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops, used in ancient Egypt over 4,000 years ago. Its petals dyed cloth, decorated tombs and were used in garlands for the dead. Safflower was discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb.Originating in the Middle East, safflower travelled across Asia along the Silk Road before eventually reaching Japan more than a thousand years ago. By the Nara period, it was already prized and mentioned in the Manyōshū, Japan’s oldest anthology of poetry, and used in artworks created for the imperial court.Safflower was one of the few plants capable of producing the luminous reds and pinks so prized throughout history. The process was painstaking and vast quantities of petals were required, making the colour extraordinarily valuable.In Japan, safflower became deeply woven into cultural life. Red was associated with beauty, celebration, protection and good fortune. The dye coloured treasured textiles, appeared in paintings and woodblock prints, and was worn during important milestones such as weddings.The petals were also transformed into a cosmetic known as beni. During the Heian period, aristocratic women used it as lipstick and rouge. Centuries later, it remained one of Japan’s most luxurious cosmetics. The pigment was so precious that even the faintest touch of red on the lips was enough to signal refinement and status.Music - @Oliver_gudgeon#inaka #satoyama #ruraljapan #safflower #d by @down2forage

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a month ago