Wakayama
Tradition
Travel
2022.04.14
Koyasan Ekoin is a shukubo temple with a history of 1200 years. Even now, as the head temple of the Shingon sect, the monks are learning Buddhist teachings in a quiet, remote land, in order to abandon their anxieties and gain enlightenment. The special room “Gachirin” with art has been reserved for accommodation since March.
“Shukubo” is an accommodation facility that provides healing to people who come to worship. Among them, “Eko-in” is a shukubo with a history of 1200 years on Mt. Koya, and you can not only relax by undressing, but also experience the teachings of Buddha through training experiences such as meditation and sutra copying.
This time, in order to prepare a special room, wall art will be produced by the design engineering studio “TANGENT” based in the UK and Japan, and the gold leaf construction was done at “Hakuichi”.
Hideki Yoshimoto, the representative of TANGENT who worked on this work, is an up-and-coming design engineer who studied design at the Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom after studying aerospace engineering at the University of Tokyo. He has won numerous global awards, including the 1st Lexus Design Award, and is also involved in art projects with some of the world’s leading luxury brands.
This art work created by Mr. Yoshimoto was named “Gachirin”. Koyasan Shingon Esoteric Buddhism has a meditation method called “Gachirinkan”.
Gaze at the perfect circle that looks like a moon ring, and reflect that moon ring in your heart.
Furthermore, it is a meditation method that spreads the image of the moon ring to the entire body of oneself and the entire room, and finally to the entire universe.
This work is inspired by the view of the moon. The vortex of gold leaf that springs up from the perfect circle spreads all over the wall, and it represents a landscape that seems to warp and spread to another dimension of the universe. A light source is installed in the perfect circle, and light is emitted toward the surroundings. It is named after Eko-in Temple, and it is an expression that honors Dainichi Nyorai, the instructor of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, and makes the gold leaf stand out by the light.
Gold leaf plays a major role in this work. Gold leaf has long been an important material in Buddhist art. In this work, while ensuring the continuity of history using traditional materials, it is an expression that appeals to our sensibilities living in the present age with new techniques.
“Aichi Designated Tangible Cultural Property Ito Residence x Flower and Digital Art Festival” that retains the remnants of a castle town during the Edo period
Set plan of “NAKED Night walk” We will connect to the regional revitalization of Onsen areas and sightseeing spots
Received the 2nd Furusato Video Award for the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival PR video “101st Sakura in Hirosaki Park (2020)”
Prayer and colorful flowers Autumn leaves of the Pure Land “Hase-dera”
[HOSHINOYA Okinawa] “Ryukyu Bingata Stay” where you can experience the deep charm of Bingata through learning from craftsmen
Permanent exhibition of art group “Team Lab”
Nara
Countrywide
Kagawa
Kyoto
Countrywide
The Most Beautiful Museum in the World: Simose Art Museum Wins UNESCO’s Prestigious Versailles Prize!
Hiroshima
ZIPANGU Contemporary artists who have run through the Heisei era” Takashi Murakami x Sueo Mizuma dialogue: ‘Beyond the Theory of Artistic Entrepreneurship’ / Interview with Mr. Mizuma: ‘Rediscovering the Value of Japanese Culture by the Japanese People
Hiroshima
National Treasure ‘The Tale of Genji Picture Scroll’ The oldest surviving picture scroll of the tale is on special display at the Tokugawa Art Museum.
Aichi
【Shinwa Auction】A special auction was held at Marunouchi Building Hall. A set of gold tea ceremony utensils with an anecdote about Hideyoshi sold for 345 million yen. A number of notable works, including Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkins,” were also on display.
Tokyo
[Yamato Bunkakan] Special Exhibition “Recluse Landscape” Until April 2nd (Sun)
Nara
Limited edition original gin ‘NISHI-GIN’, jointly produced by a group of restaurants in Nishijin, on sale from 25 November.
2024.12.20
Nippon Kodo launches limited-edition incense and incense burner sets with a ‘Snake’ design, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2025.
2024.12.18
Winter special parfait at the Unjo Saryo café in the Tale of Genji Museum, Uji, Kyoto.
2024.12.16
OnigiriBurger ‘Eel Kabayaki – Double Eggs’, newly launched as part of Kansai International Airport OnigiriBurger 1st anniversary menu.
2024.12.13
[New Furano Prince Hotel]This year’s plan to enjoy a snow fairy ‘zebra finch’ birdwatching experience and a lunch set with a zebra finch cake plate.
2024.12.11
Third FUKUCHA brand shop ‘Uji Store’ opens.
2024.12.09
Hiroshima
Art
Simose Art Museum, located in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, has been awarded the prestigious Versailles Prize as the “Most Beautiful Museum in the World.”
The award ceremony took place on December 2 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, marking a historic moment for the museum and Japanese architecture.
The Versailles Prize Website:https://www.prix-versailles.com/2024
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Food
December sees the arrival of a number of Christmas breads. The Snowman with his cute smiling face is a sweet loaf with two different flavours: pudding cream and chocolate cream. It is a heartwarming treat with flavours that both children and adults can enjoy.
Also back this year is the popular Japanese Stollen, which was a big hit last year. This is a special cake that can only be tasted at Kimuraya, using Japanese-inspired ingredients such as persimmons, figs and koshi-an (sweet bean paste). Please take this opportunity to try Kimuraya’s limited edition Christmas bread.
Hiroshima
Art
The Hiroshima Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition “ZIPANGU: Contemporary Artists Who Defined the Heisei Era” (November 2, 2024 – December 22, 2024). This showcase brings together works by some of the most prominent figures in Japan’s contemporary art scene, including Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Makoto Aida, Yoshitomo Nara, Chiharu Shiota, Izumi Kato, Akira Yamaguchi, and Miwa Komatsu. The exhibition has already garnered significant attention, exceeding 10,000 visitors.
HYAKKEI covered the dialogue between contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and Sueo Mizuma, the curator of this exhibition, held at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima. We also conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. Mizuma.
The discussions centered on the aspirations behind the ZIPANGU exhibition and offered forward-looking insights, not only into Japan’s art world but also into the rediscovery of value within Japanese culture by its people.
Osaka
Food
Event
From 25 Oct (Fri) to 8 Dec (Sun), 2024, a pop-up shop for miffy café tokyo will be held in Umeda, Osaka.
Hiroshima
Travel
Culture
Two types of paper seals made exclusively for autumn, ‘Chrysanthemum and Tanzaku’ and ‘Autumn Leaves and Candles’, have been available since Monday 9 September at Daisho-in Temple on the World Heritage island of Miyajima. Quantities are limited and will run out as soon as they are gone.
Kyoto
Restaurant
Event
On selected days in September 2024, the wedding venue Kyoto Art Grace Wedding Hills will offer a ‘Hanari Otsukimi Afternoon Tea’, where guests can enjoy sweets and savouries inspired by the moon viewing on the fifteenth night of the month.
