ARTWORK

8 million traces
2023

Inkjet Print on Japanese Paper, hanging scroll
H1960mm W460mm

“8 million traces” is microscopic photo series about religious perspectives of Japanese people in 21st century. This project aims to reconsider the relationship between place, space, and spirituality in the 21st century Tokyo, while citing the framework of historical spiritual understanding in Japanese archipelago.

From ancient times to the present day, various belief systems have existed throughout the Japanese archipelago. The fundamental concept of those belief systems is that all elements of nature and some aged artifacts can potentially house divine spirits. These countless spirits existing in Japanese archipelago in this way are collectively referred to as the “Yaoyorozu (8 million gods)”. The title of the series is derived from this concept and symbolizing the multitude of spiritual traces present in the land. The concept of the “eight million gods” is also important as the basis for contemporary Japanese popular culture. For example, it can be observed in the works of Hayao Miyazaki’s films such as “Princess Mononoke,” and “Spirited Away,” as well as in comic works like “Demon Slayer, ” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.”