Key Chain - Aman Kamui

I nearly had a heartbreak yesterday night. My mind went blank and my heart froze when the particular one thing gone missing - my key chain. The tea session with my dearest friend needed to be ended earlier in order to search for it. Luckily, it was still there, lying peacefully on the driver's seat. At that moment, I was relieved, very relieved that it was still with me.



And, my mind instantly told me : Memories not lost.

**** ****
I found it two years ago at a shop along the main street of Akan-kohan town, East Hokkaido. It was indeed a beautiful evening when I was wandering along the Akan-kohan street to look for any souvenirs that could symbolize Akan-kohan, and of course to take some photographs.



Akan-kohan is not only famous of its beautiful hot spring, but for its wooden art crafting too. Mostly the wood are crafted into Japanese's auspicious animals, such as fox, mole, bat and owl.





My attention was grabbed by a wooden crafted old man, a smiling fat old man holding a stick on his right hand which sit in front of a shop while capturing photos of the Akan-kohan street. I was so mesmerized with it thinking that why would a shop sells wooden crafted old man and make a living by crafting it. Pretty interesting right?



While I was busy taking angle to shoot the wooden old man, the shop owner came out with a smile and offered me to have a look inside the shop. Oh boy, the shop owner really did look like the wooden crafted man in front of the shop.

There were thousands of the wooden craft man with any sizes you can think of. The shop owner told me that this old man is called アマンカムイ （食べ物の守り神）,in English - Aman Kamui (The god of food) who lives in the woods. A god that can makes you happy, healthy and rich and also a sense of relief, and of course, a god that brings you food (that's the point I like the most). No doubt, I was determined to own one Aman Kamui after learning about it.

All I could get myself was just this small little miniature Aman Kamui key chain because of my constraint budget. The key chain was about Japanese Yen 1400 (RM 40+ aka USD 12-14). The most funniest thing was, after purchasing it the shop owner even asked me to take a photo with Aman Kamui as an evidence that I visited Akan-kohan.(or is it just after purchase service?) Any how, it was - Best.Experience.Ever.

*Taken by the shop owner with my eye closed.

*** ***

One part of this memories is important to me. First time travelling that far, first time bought a key chain which cost more than RM 40, first time to converse in broken Japanese after studying part time for 2 years and the best was the Japanese people in Akan-kohan, they really made me feel warmth at heart. (Maybe, I just haven't see the ugly side of Akan-kohan.. )

After yesterday incident of nearly losing it, I decided to change another one that I wouldn't mind losing. I hate the feeling of losing something important which keeps your memory. I think I just keep it on my working table in order to stay close to me and of course not losing it outside.


Honestly, I love it very much. No other key chains shall replace it...at least for now.