Hiroshi Watanabe

Choromatsu, Suo Sarumawashi

2008

Sarumawashi, literally "monkey dancing" evolved over a 1000-year history in Japan. Ancient Japanese chronicles refer to it as a form of religious ritual designed to protect the horse...

My photographs reflect both genuine interest in my subject as well as a respect for the element of serendipity. I strive for both calculation and discovery in my work, studying my su...

Those Kabuki players you see in my photographs are not with the mainstream Kabuki companies in Tokyo. They are with localized small groups located in various parts of Japan. They are...

Those Kabuki players you see in my photographs are not with the mainstream Kabuki companies in Tokyo. They are with localized small groups located in various parts of Japan. They are...

Syoin KAJII (*1976, Japan) Untitled, from the TSUKI Series (No. 009), 2011 Lambda Print with Diasec Face 70 x 70 cm (27 1/2 x 27 1/2 in.) Edition of 6; Ed. no. 1/6 Print only About ...

Untitled (0650-40), Original black and white photograph, 2012 Artist Commentary: This is the third print in an edition of five and the approximate image size is 12"W x 8"H. Keywords...

Syoin KAJII (*1976, Japan) Untitled, from the TSUKI Series (No. 007), 2011 Lambda Print with Diasec Face 70 x 70 cm (27 1/2 x 27 1/2 in.) Edition of 6; Ed. no. 1/6 Print only About ...

"Shinto is Japan’s oldest religion, with origins dating back to the tail end of the Stone Age. While many Japanese people do not consider themselves religious, a large percentage of the population still follows Shinto ideas today. You don’t have to venture far in the country to find one of its 80,000 shrines. They stand tall in quiet forests, over the water along the island’s coasts, and above rice fields. Shinto was not born from a specific founder or religious scripture—it lives within the people. It is not a defining characteristic—rather, it is a part of life. Personal virtues are emphasized over strict rituals or rules. Benevolence, harmony, courage, and gratitude all support the key theme of Shinto: the concept of purity, or harae. The religion holds that humans are inherently good and should cleanse themselves of moral and spiritual impurities. Followers strive to achieve makoto no kokoro—a heart of truth. You will see a version of this ritual at the entrance of shrines. Visitors gather at a water basin and use a wooden ladle to pour water over each of their hands. It's fitting that some of Japan’s animal residents appear to find their own quiet form of renewal in the mountains. For centuries, monkeys have appeared in Japanese folklore with a variety of meanings. They have been used as metaphors for tricksters and the negative traits of humans, but they have also served as sacred messengers to the gods. On this rainy morning in northern Japan, I observed macaques who seemed to embody both roles. There were the raucous individuals—screeching, pulling hair, and chasing others beside the hot springs—falling...