Industry Craft > Photography
DENTSU INC., Tokyo / HIMEJI CASTLE / 2024
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Overview
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Background:
The Kobe Shimbun, a local Japanese newspaper, ran a year-long campaign to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Himeji Castle, said to be the most beautiful castle in Japan, as a World Heritage Site. It started with newspaper advertisements appealing for peace, and then decorated the city with tabloids and posters.
Please provide any cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work e.g. local legislation, cultural norms, a national holiday or religious festival that may have a particular meaning.
Himeji Castle was the first castle in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023.
Himeji Castle is a miraculous castle that has remained unbroken and unspoiled for 400 years because it has not been at war for 400 years. It has been loved as a symbol of the region for 400 years.
Translation. Provide a full English translation of any text.
【NEWSPAPER】
(In every direction)
Himeji Castle’s shiroshikkui sonuri kome zukuri
Shiroshikkui sonuri kome zukuri
is the technique used to cover the walls of
World Heritage site Himeji Castle with
dazzling white lime plaster to protect it from fire.
The plaster even extends to the spaces between
the roof tiles to defend it against arquebus barrages.
Yes, the arquebus was a concern
late in Japan’s Warring States Period.
Since it was built 400 years ago,
Himeji Castle appears unchanged. Hard to believe?
It’s because battles were never fought here.
Not when the castle came under siege.
Not even during World War II.
If they had been, it would look very different today.
They say the wise learn from history.
So the next time you’re angry,
think of this architectural beauty.
From faraway Japan,
Himeji Castle sends a message of peace
to you and the world.
Because only a human can choose not to fight.
【BOOK&POSTER】
Himeji Castle Bathed in Moonlight
Like the moon in countless fairy tales,
the beauty of reflected light inspires stories.
What magical tales does this
400-year-old castle floating in white
tell us today?
Himeji Castle’s Tiled Roof Lime Plaster Joints
Himeji Castle, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It’s easy to assume that even the roof is white,
but this is not actually the case.
The roof tiles only appear white
because of the lime plaster joints.
That’s because the lime plaster is applied using
a technique that gives the tiles a semi-cylindrical shape.
This in turn gives the tile joints and gaps their distinct appearance.
As a whole, the castle appears white
depending on the viewing angle
because of white joints that rise up,
which also have the practical benefit
of withstanding wind and rain.
It’s like trick art adopted
by the lord of the castle.
The roof craftsmen likely imagined
the surprise on people’s faces
when they looked up at the castle
and saw a snow-white structure.
The castle is not only functional
but also elegantly beautiful.
The roof joints are a quiet testament
to the importance of fostering a sense of
playfulness and beauty in our everyday work.
Himeji Castle’s Arrow Embrasures
When you walk around Himeji Castle,
you’ll notice geometric holes
that appear round, triangular, or rectangular.
The castle is covered in them.
They’re called embrasures, or gunholes,
and are used to shoot guns or arrows.
Depending on their shape,
some are for guns and others for arrows.
This innovation enabled the quick allocation
of military staff according to their role.
Specifically, they were called the
Round Hole Unit, Triangular Hole Unit,
and Rectangular Hole Unit,
which was easy to understand.
The vertically long rectangular opening are for arrows
because you stand when shooting an arrow.
This feature is both simple and logical.
When you find one of these openings at Himeji Castle,
look through it and imagine defending the castle.
The openings were designed not only
to be easy for soldiers to use
but to be aesthetically pleasing as well.
A good workplace creates world heritage.
Peeking through one of these holes
may show you how.
Himeji Castle’s Eave-End Round Roof Tiles
and Rain Spout Roof Tiles
With the exception of a few sections,
Himeji Castle has no gutters.
It is said that they were intentionally not added
because when a ninja tried to climb the castle wall
using a rope weighted at both ends,
the rope could get caught on a gutter.
The truth is unclear, but ultimately,
the rain spout eave-end tiles were used instead.
The reverse triangular shape allows rain to drip,
and the Swallowtail Butterfly pattern
is the crest of the Ikeda clan, the castle’s lord family.
These tiles are placed alternating with round tiles,
decorating the entire castle.
It is said that one tile on the
castle keep’s roof shows an
upside-down Swallowtail Butterfly.
It is believed that it originated as a guardian against evil spirits,
or as a symbol that the castle was not complete to counteract
the superstition that a completed building will collapse.
The truth about any single tile remains a mystery,
but an infinite number of stories exist beyond each of them.
With a rich 400-year history, Himeji Castle is a place
where every single stone may have a story of its own.
Tell the jury about the photography. Do not name the photographer.
A photograph of the castle was taken using no lighting but that of a full moon, just as it would have appeared 400 years ago. The exposure time was adjusted many times to express the beauty of a woodblock print.
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