The unveiling ceremony of the ceramic relief designed by Katsuhiro Otomo, “Kinka Doji Riding the Waves Accompanied by Fujin and Raijin” (キンカドウジフウジンライジンヲシタガエテハトウヲコユルノズ） installed in the Sendai Airport took place today. A special website in Japanese, English and French was launched where the work is described:
Katsuhiro Otomo, the world-renowned manga artist whose works include the seminal AKIRA, was born in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. This relief, which was designed by Otomo, depicts Kinka Doji astride a mechanized goldfish, flanked by Fujin and Raijin—the gods of wind and lightning—rising above the billows and beckoning the auspicious clouds. The artwork represents our children—on whom the future rests—armed with twin pillars of knowledge and understanding, opposing the mighty powers of nature and moving bravely forwards in the face of intense difficulties. It is hoped that Kinka Doji will come to be cherished as a guardian deity of the region.
Official website: http://www.sendai-kinkadoji.com
Press release from JPTCA in Japanese: https://jptca.org/news/20150313-5003/
Press release from JPTCA in English: https://jptca.org/en/news/2015/1752/
Official JPTCA website Japanese: https://jptca.org/publicart508/
Official JPTCA website English: https://jptca.org/en/publicart508/
RELIEF DETAILS
Dimensions: 8.7m x 2.8m (approx.)
Design and Supervision: Katsuhiro Otomo (大友克洋)
Dimensions: 8.7m x 2.8m (approx.)
Design and Supervision: Katsuhiro Otomo (大友克洋)
NEWS COVERAGE
I made this hoping that lots of different people would be able to enjoy it. Of course, there are many thoughts and feelings connected to the various disasters and earthquakes… but more than that, I wanted this to be something that, many years from now, when children come here and look at it, they’ll ask, ‘What exactly is this?’ And then people can tell them, ‘Something like this happened,’ and continue passing those stories down. That’s the kind of feeling I had when making it. So it’s not really something focused on tragedy or misery. Rather, I made it so people could enjoy it. And now, seeing it myself like this, I honestly think, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’”
There wasn’t really a specific model for it. Someone just said earlier, ‘Since the teacher wears glasses, isn’t it supposed to be you?’ But no, it’s not. I drew it more as a kind of ordinary, generic child.
