Embodying the Spirit of the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage: A Story of Creating a Kakejiku with Thai Customers

The Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage is not only popular among Japanese but also attracts many visitors from overseas. Many individuals collect temple stamps on their pilgrimage scrolls (nōkyōjiku) and visit our company to have them mounted as kakejiku hanging scrolls.


Mounting Request for Shikoku Pilgrimage Kakejiku Scroll – ART NOMURA
We received a request for Shikoku 88 pilgrimage kakejiku Japanese hanging scroll from a Swiss client, who brought in and requested us.
 

Request of Mounting Shikoku Pilgrimage Nōkyō-Jiku from a German Customer – ART NOMURA
We would like to introduce a story about a German customer who made a Shikoku pilgrimage and asked us to mount her hanging scroll.
 

A Canadian Pilgrim’s Journey to the Shikoku 88 Temples, Commemorated with a Kakejiku Scroll – ART NOMURA
A Canadian customer entrusted us with commemorating their Shikoku 88 Temple pilgrimage through a kakejiku scroll.
 

A German Pilgrim’s Request for a Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Kakejiku Scroll Mounting – ART NOMURA
A German customer entrusted us with commemorating their Shikoku 88 Temple pilgrimage through a kakejiku scroll.
 

 

Thai Customers’ Journey: Turning Memories into a Kakejiku

This time, we would like to share the story of Thai customers who requested a kakejiku mounting for their Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage scroll.

One day, we received an email from the customers expressing their desire to create a kakejiku featuring the temple stamps they collected during their pilgrimage in Japan.

Some days later, the couple visited our shop. The husband, fluent in English, and his wife, who always wore a gentle smile, left a deep impression on us.

Their visit marked the beginning of a new chapter in their story.

 

Crafting a Special Kakejiku Together

Although the husband primarily communicated in English, the wife was actively involved in choosing the fabric and discussing the specifications of the kakejiku.

After careful consideration, they decided on Buddhist Pattern No. 08, “Akakasuga.”

The choice complemented the red tones of the Buddha’s robes and pedestal on their pilgrimage scroll.

 

It was a pleasure to help preserve the memories of their journey in this meaningful form.

 

The Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage and the Path to Completion

The couple had traveled by car over 10 days to complete the pilgrimage while staying in Japan for an extended period.

However, during our discussions, it became clear that their nōkyōjiku was missing stamps from two important locations: Ryōzenji and Kōyasan.

Ryōzenji, known as the “starting temple,” is often revisited by pilgrims after completing their journey to report their success and reflect on their initial resolve.

Kōyasan, especially Okunoin, is considered the sacred resting place of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) and is a popular destination for a final expression of gratitude.

We explained the significance of these two locations to the customers. They decided to revisit Ryōzenji to obtain the missing stamp themselves. As for Kōyasan, they requested us to obtain the stamp on their behalf, which is a paid optional service.

The couple was delighted with our dedication to ensuring their kakejiku would be as complete and meaningful as possible.

 

Thoughtfulness and Unforgettable Moments

After finalizing the fabric selection, while we were attending to other tasks, the wife gently rolled up the sample fabrics and returned them to their original state.

This thoughtful gesture deeply moved all of our staff.

Both the husband and wife displayed warm and kind personalities, creating an experience that was heartwarming for everyone involved.

 

The Relay of Stamps

Once the fabric consultation was complete, we temporarily returned the pilgrimage scroll to the customers so they could visit Ryōzenji and collect the missing stamp. The following image shows their nōkyōjiku after completing this step. Only the empty space on the right, reserved for the Kōyasan stamp, remained.

 

The customers returned their completed scroll to us, and we took responsibility for obtaining the Kōyasan stamp on their behalf.

 

With all preparations complete, we moved forward with mounting the nōkyōjiku as a kakejiku using the fabric selected during our earlier consultation.

 

The Finished Kakejiku and Its Story

After many memorable moments, the customers’ Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage scroll was finally transformed into a kakejiku. The portion with the gratitude stamps from Ryōzenji and Kōyasan held special emotional value.

 

The completed kakejiku was shipped to the customers’ daughter living in Kyūshū. The couple planned to reunite with the scroll for the first time when visiting their daughter in the near future.

Later, we received a photograph of the beautifully displayed kakejiku in their home. Seeing it brought us immense joy and satisfaction.

 

Deepening Bonds with Our Customers

At our company, we value creating lasting memories with our customers through the art of kakejiku.

The encounter with this couple became an unforgettable and wonderful memory for us as well.

Our artisans continue to refine their skills daily to bring our customers’ visions to life.

We are dedicated to sharing the beauty of Japanese culture and craftsmanship with people from all over the world.

 

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)