Walking from Kyoto Prefecture to the mountains of Omine to the south, one follows 600 year-old roads, 道路 (the kaido), and hikes along forest paths. The wind in the bamboo groves and the solitude of the cedars on the mountain-sides calm the spirit. Amongst the healing energy of the trees and rocks, the internal chatter subsides and what remains is simply the present moment and each step along the way.
The route which I followed over multiple days traced its way through varied environments, along main roads, ancient roads and even smaller trails, through villages and farmland, housing subdivisions and eventually forests as I reached the mountains. My walking linked shrines, temples and monasteries, often following sections of pilgrimage routes and echoed a time when walking these old roads was the primary form of travel throughout the breadth of Japan. The series is presented topographically in geographical sequence with maps, dates and locations accompanying each book volume.
The series is being printed on Awagami Unryu paper and handbound by the artist with wooden spines as an edition with 5 volumes.
Individual prints on Awagami Unryu paper are available by special order.
Volume I – Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Ikoma, Horyuji
Volume II – Minamiyama to Nara
Volume III – Yamanobe no Michi : Nara – Tenri – Sakurai
Volume IV – Sakurai – Asuka – Yoshino
Volume V – Yoshinoyama – Dorogawa – Ominesan
