Yuki Goto, a Japanese sketch artist, is no more influenced by the international media’s portrayals of Pakistan.
Before embarking her her journey to Lahore, the artist from Tokyo felt that Pakistan would be one of the dangerous places in the world.
But after a week-long stay in Lahore, the cultural center of the South Asian country, Yuki has been deeply impressed by liveliness of the city and hospitality and friendliness of the people.
“The people of Pakistan are very sweet and candid,” the artist says with a smile and delight from her personal discovery.
“I was told by my friends and relatives in Japan not to include Pakistan in my world tour itinerary. But I took this challenge. Now, I feel strongly how so much of what we learn from afar is wrong. The perceptions are so wrong,” Yuki Goto says.
Pakistan, once a famous destination with international tourists, saw its share of visitors plunge in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorists attacks as war on its Afghan border, homegrown groups and retaliatory violence by terror groups on its cities badly hurt the country’s standing on the list of attractive places.
Ninja
Credit: Yuki Goto Facebook
In recent years with improved security outlook, domestic tourism has boomed and foreign tourists are also returning to the country’ especially to its mountainous north and major cities.
But the Japanese artist is no ordinary observer. She has set about exploring Lahore in an extraordinary way.
A clay-made ninja to preserve her memories in Pakistan especially in the city of Lahore is always with her.
She has taken pictures of her clay ninja against backgrounds of national monuments and historical places as well as food outlets and bustling streets of Lahore.
“a life time experience,” she says of her time and tour to places.
According to Japanese traditions, a ninja or ‘shinobi’ was usually a covert agent or a mercenary tasked with mystery missions like spying, even subversive activities like perpetrating violence, killings, and indulge in guerrilla warfare during the 15th to 17th century Japan.
Centuries apart from the feudal times, Japan now is a major economic power with a global reach through its electronics and automobiles, and ninjas are a widely known figures and characters, often heroic, in story books, films and TV shows.
But the ninja travelling in the Mughal city of Lahore is much more than that. It is not just the creative work of an artist but a companion imparting aesthetics to the scenes captured on cameras and illustrations.
Yuki Goto with her ninjas
Credit: Yuki Goto
“My ninja, now, knows Pakistan very well. I will publish my Pakistan visit accounts in the form of a book,” says Yuki Goto
She has visited Lahore’s historical places and monuments like the Minar-e-Pakistan, the imposing Badshahi mosque, colorful Wazir Khan Mosque and the mystique-filled walled city – an experience that shows her the present and also transports them through history spanning thousands of years.
All this experience of architecture, history and aesthetic opportunity excites Yuki to the point of telling a curious tale – like suddenly finding a hidden treasure or discovering a new world. As an artist, she has found a lot of sights to sketch and illustrate.
“I will tell them ( her friends) that there is nothing to fear and the travel itself is the greatest adventure,” says the Japanese sketch artist.
For Yuki, discovery of Pakistani culture – with many of its lively expressions in Lahore – is the great prize of her travel.
As for her ninja, it is becoming a globe-trotter, exploring the beauty not as a silent spectator but very much a character and companion of Yuki’s travels through lands.
