A German Pilgrim’s Request for a Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Kakejiku Scroll Mounting

 

 

Introduction

At our mounting shop in Kobe, we receive not only domestic but also many international clients. This time, we would like to share a valuable experience where we rediscovered the charm of Japanese culture through an encounter with Kai-san, a visitor from Germany who had completed the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

ドイツ　四国八十八ヶ所　掛軸　表装

Kai-san

 

Meeting with Kai-san

Kai-san visited our shop after completing a nōkyōjiku, a blank pilgrimage scroll, where he collected the stamps from all 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. He came to have that scroll mounted into a kakejiku (hanging scroll) at our shop.

He has a deep knowledge of Japanese culture, and to our surprise, he also practices ninjutsu and speaks fluent Japanese. He is such an enthusiastic Japanophile that he visits Japan once a year, and his proficiency in Japanese allows him to communicate almost perfectly.

 

Choosing the Fabrics for the Kakejiku

Kai-san’s decisiveness and aesthetic sense left a strong impression on us. He quickly selected the “Renge” pattern (No. 05) from our Buddhist mounting collection. We were deeply impressed by his quick decision-making.

 

Rediscovering the Appeal of the Shikoku Pilgrimage

As our conversation progressed, the topic naturally shifted to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain. Listening to Kai-san’s experiences, we began to understand why European visitors are fascinated by the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

The appeal of the Shikoku Pilgrimage seems to lie in the combination of several elements:

  • +The unspoiled natural landscapes of Shikoku
  • +The peaceful, quiet environment
  • +The trekking aspect of the pilgrimage
  • +The sacred atmosphere of the entire island
  • +The high level of awareness and warm hospitality of the locals toward the pilgrims

All these factors combine to create the unparalleled experience of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

 

Completion of the Kakejiku

Kai-san’s kakejiku of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage has been completed.

四国八十八ヶ所　蓮華　表装

 

The chosen gold brocade fabrics harmonize beautifully with the pilgrimage stamps and the image of Kōbō Daishi Kūkai, creating a dignified yet calming beauty.

 

We sincerely hope that this kakejiku will preserve Kai-san’s memories of Shikoku for a long time.

 

Conclusion

At our shop, we continue to accept requests for the mounting of nōkyōjiku, the scrolls used to collect stamps during the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. It is an honor for us to help shape the precious memories of both domestic and international clients through the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku mounting.

We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of people like Kai-san, who rediscover the value of Japanese culture. We will continue to treasure the perspective of “rediscovering Japanese culture” and respond with care to our overseas customers as well.

 

If you would like to know more about how a Shikoku 88 pilgrimages kakejiku is produced, please kindly watch this video.

 

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CEO Message

Our Feelings For Kakejiku

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

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Company Profile
syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

Name Art Nomura

President Tatsuji Nomura

Founded1973

Established1992

Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan


Capital10 million yen

URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com

Our Business

 Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.


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Access Map

Access Map

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)