Pix4Japan: December 2024

2024-12-10

Shitaya Shrine Craftsmanship

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Subtle Craftsmanship of Shitaya Shrine
下谷神社の唐破風と飾金具・小口金物

The Shitaya Shrine in Higashi-Ueno, Tokyo’s Taito Ward, caught my eye with its use of a curved gable called karahafu. This elegant architectural feature has been used on the roofs of Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and even Japanese castles since the late Heian period (794–1185), originally signifying prestige and importance.

Shitaya Shrine follows a more traditional design, using unpainted wood that is lightly decorated with bright metal fittings. These fittings, placed at the ends of rafters extending to the eaves and at the base of pillars, not only add visual interest but also help protect the structure from weathering.

I was particularly drawn to the long, narrow ornamental fittings nailed horizontally along the frame members. The golden accents contrast beautifully with the dark, aged wood, creating a harmonious balance between decoration and simplicity. Unlike more elaborate shrine embellishments, the metalwork here is used sparingly—enhancing the shrine’s elegance without feeling excessive.

Such fittings are often made of iron, copper, or gilt bronze. While they serve a decorative purpose, they also reinforce and protect structural elements, ensuring the longevity of the shrine’s intricate craftsmanship.

1. Timestamp: 14:32・2024/12/10

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/10
Classic Chrome film simulation

2. Timestamp: 14:44・2024/12/10

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/3.6
Astia/Soft film simulation

3. Timestamp: 14:45・2024/12/10

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/3.6
Provia/Standard film simulation

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Shitaya Shrine

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Large Torii Gate Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社の大鳥居：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

The large vermilion torii gate is one of two such gates marking the entrance to Shitaya-jinja—a local Shinto shrine with origins tracing back to the year 730, making it one of the oldest inari shrines in Tokyo. This rich historical legacy stands in stark contrast to the surrounding urban environment.

Today, two buildings, each over six stories high, occupy the street corners near the torii gate. The gate has likely stood here since the shrine's reconstruction in 1934, following its destruction in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

The building on the western side of the torii is astonishingly close to the tip of the top lintel (the horizontal beam). My immediate thought was: how has the building avoided damaging the gate during Tokyo's frequent earthquakes?

The vermilion gate may appear slightly out of place amid the modern urbanscape, yet this juxtaposition feels quintessentially Tokyo—a city where centuries-old traditions coexist seamlessly with cutting-edge infrastructure.

Location: Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:23・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/9
Provia/Standard film simulation

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Shinto Shrine Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

Shitaya-jinja—a local Shinto shrine with origins tracing back to the year 730, is one of the oldest inari shrines in Tokyo. This rich historical legacy stands in stark contrast to the surrounding urban environment.

Location: Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:32・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/30 sec. at ƒ/10
classic Chrome film simulation

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Higashi-Ueno 5-Chome

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A Walk Through Time and Motion in Higashi-Ueno, Tokyo・台東区東上野5丁目の街歩き

A short walk around 5-Chome of Higashi-Ueno in Tokyo’s Taito Ward revealed three moments that captured my eye—each telling a story of the area's history, contrasts, and vibrancy.

Amid the gleaming, modern skyline of office buildings, residential condominiums, and hotels, a humble mixed-use building quietly persists. This relic of the Showa era, with a shop on the first floor and residential space above, feels like a lonely survivor of a bygone era. Surrounded by parking lots and overshadowed by towering developments, it seems destined to make way for yet another sleek office block or high-rise apartment building. Yet, for now, it stands, hinting to me a nostalgia of a different Tokyo—one of small mom-and-pop shops and tightly knit communities.

Across the street from where I had just finished a meeting with a client, another piece of history caught my eye. An old wooden residence, likely the home of the monk or caretaker of Ryūkoku-ji Temple, exudes a quiet elegance. This traditional structure, with its graceful tiled roof and weathered wooden exterior, is thought to have been rebuilt alongside the temple after the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Standing next to a gleaming steel-and-glass high-rise, this residence preserves centuries of culture and tradition in contrast to the rapid modernization that defines much of Tokyo today.

A few blocks away, the quiet hum of the city was suddenly interrupted by the shrill sound of alarms and a booming announcement over a loudspeaker. Firefighters sprang into action, swiftly donning their gear as fire trucks roared to life. The energy was intense as I hurriedly took photos, trying to capture the scene. Among the many frames, only one was sufficiently sharp: a firefighter securing his oxygen tank, a moment of focus and readiness amidst the chaos. Though my slower shutter speed made sharper shots difficult, this one image managed to freeze the motion just enough to convey the urgency and determination of the moment.

Higashi-Ueno’s 5-Chome, a small triangular-shaped subdivision that includes about 21 blocks of cramped buildings, isn’t much different from the thousands of other small subdivisions scattered throughout Tokyo’s 23 wards, where the past and present coexist in fascinating ways. From the quiet resilience of old buildings to the rapid pulse of a modern city at work, I was able to catch a glimpse of Tokyo’s layered character during my short break before returning to my office in Yokohama. My walk around this corner of Taito Ward reminded me of how much life unfolds in even the smallest details of a city’s urbanscape.

Location: Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:12・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 640 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8
Acros film simulation

Location: Ryūkoku-ji Temple, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:14・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1250 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/9
Classic Chrome film simulation

Location: Ueno Fire Station, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:20・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 3200 for 1/60 sec. at ƒ/9
Astia Soft film simulation

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Grave Markers

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Location: Ryūkoku-ji Temple, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Timestamp: 14:07・2024/12/10

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter

ISO 320 for 1/600 sec. at ƒ/8

Acros film simulation

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Location: Ryūkoku-ji Temple, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Timestamp: 14:09・2024/12/10

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter

ISO 320 for 1/1250 sec. at ƒ/8

Classic Negative film simulation

Itatōba: From India to China to Japan
板塔婆の旅路：インドから中国、そして日本へ

While enjoying a short break from a business meeting near Ueno Station in Tokyo, I took a short break to wander through the local area before heading back to Yokohama. My meandering walk brought me to Ryūkoku-ji Temple, a small, nondescript oasis in Taito Ward, Tokyo.

Compared to my family’s cemetery in rural Shizuoka Prefecture, which is surrounded by bamboo groves and rice paddies, this cemetery in central Tokyo struck me as surprisingly similar. Despite being nestled within the urbanscape of high-rise towers made of glass, steel, and concrete, it felt just as calm, quiet, and peaceful as the one back home in Shizuoka minus the croaking frogs.

As is quite common at most Buddhist cemeteries in Japan, wooden grave markers stood upright behind family gravestones or leaned against them. These markers, known as itatōba (板塔婆), hiratōba (平塔婆), or sotōba (卒塔婆), all essentially mean the same thing: flat, wooden grave markers.

Unlike similarly looking markers found at Shinto cemeteries, these markers feature five notches on either side, symbolizing the five elements of Japanese Buddhist thought: sky, wind, fire, water, and earth, from top to bottom. A vertical inscription in Sanskrit further hints at their Buddhist origins.

The history of these markers originated in India from where they made their way to Japan via China. Over the centuries, the symbols and their designs evolved, yet the reference to the five elements has remained a constant connection to the spiritual traditions they represent.

During this late afternoon, the clear, bright sky provided beautiful contrasts, with the dark shadows and bright areas facing the sun creating a dramatic effect. I felt this scene would be good for a monochrome shot, capturing not only the details of the itatōba but also the quiet atmosphere of the cemetery.

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Pendant Tiles

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Engatou: Decorative and Protective Roles of Pendant Tiles in Japanese Temples and Shrines
「台東区にて、炭黒の『龍』と鮮やかな銀杏の葉」

Upon wrapping up a business meeting in Tokyo, I crossed the street from my client’s office and stepped into the courtyard of Ryūkoku-ji Temple (龍谷寺) in Taito Ward, Tokyo.

Originally established in 1616, the temple was relocated to its current site in 1655. However, the original structure was severely damaged during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The temple we see today was reconstructed after the earthquake—just one of many symbols of Tokyo’s history and resilience.

Adjacent to the temple grounds, I noticed a small pile of round eave-end roof pendant tiles, known as engatou (円瓦当). Each tile features a circular pendant inscribed with the kanji character “Ryū” (龍), the first character of the temple’s name.

Pendant tiles like these are a common feature on the eaves of roofs in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples throughout Japan. Not only do they serve a decorative purpose by forming a symmetrical finish along the eaves, but they also provide functional protection by preventing rainwater from seeping between and under the roofing tiles and the roof sheathing.

What immediately caught my eye was the striking contrast between the charcoal-black engatou and the vibrant yellow ginkgo leaves scattered around them. Adding to the scene’s charm was the use of “seal script” for the kanji character imprinted on the tiles.

This style of writing, called tensho-tai (篆書体) in Japanese, is akin to a specialized font for kanji. It is widely used in Japan on banknotes, passports, and official seals (known as ginko-in, or bank hanko stamps). Tensho-tai’s elegance and historical significance make it a fitting choice for temple ornamentation.

As I admired the scene, I couldn’t help but wonder about the story behind these tiles. Were they spares, waiting to replace damaged ones? Were they broken, or perhaps removed during a renovation? Where are such tiles manufactured, and how expensive are they to produce? Why was tensho-tai chosen for the inscription, instead of one of the other scripts commonly used in Japan?

These unanswered questions have left me eager for a future visit. Perhaps next time, I’ll have the chance to speak with a monk or the temple’s groundskeeper to learn more about the history and craftsmanship behind these captivating tiles. It’s remarkable that, despite living in Japan for over 40 years and seeing these tiles on roofs everywhere I go, this is the first time I’ve looked at them up close and begun to wonder about their story. Reflecting on this, I can’t help but feel a small twinge of regret for not being more curious about them decades ago.

Location: Ryūkoku-ji Temple, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:03・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 3200 for 1/9 sec. at ƒ/8
Classic Chrome film simulation

Location: Ryūkoku-ji Temple, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Timestamp: 14:08・2024/12/10
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 1000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8
Classic Chrome film simulation

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2024-12-10

Shitaya Shrine Craftsmanship

Subtle Craftsmanship of Shitaya Shrine下谷神社の唐破風と飾金具・小口金物

Shitaya Shrine

Large Torii Gate Nestled Within the Urbanscape下谷神社の大鳥居：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

Shinto Shrine Nestled Within the Urbanscape下谷神社：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

Higashi-Ueno 5-Chome

Grave Markers

Itatōba: From India to China to Japan板塔婆の旅路：インドから中国、そして日本へ

Pendant Tiles

Engatou: Decorative and Protective Roles of Pendant Tiles in Japanese Temples and Shrines「台東区にて、炭黒の『龍』と鮮やかな銀杏の葉」

Subtle Craftsmanship of Shitaya Shrine
下谷神社の唐破風と飾金具・小口金物

Large Torii Gate Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社の大鳥居：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

Shinto Shrine Nestled Within the Urbanscape
下谷神社：町内の景観に溶け込む歴史の象徴

Itatōba: From India to China to Japan
板塔婆の旅路：インドから中国、そして日本へ

Engatou: Decorative and Protective Roles of Pendant Tiles in Japanese Temples and Shrines
「台東区にて、炭黒の『龍』と鮮やかな銀杏の葉」