棚田の四季 Seasons of Tanada Japanese Terraced Rice Paddies

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SEASONS OF TANADA

Japan has been called mizuho no kuni – the land of abundant rice. The rice that comes from the fresh, dangling ears of rice crops has supported Japanese cuisine since time immemorial, creating a Japanese food culture alongside the other harvests of the four seasons from the fields, mountains, and sea.

The terraced rice paddies, "tanada," that give birth to this rice were created with the combined wisdom and ingenuity of our ancestors in order to take advantage of the Japanese landscape. Through the growing of rice, a culture has been developed since ancient times, in which people gather together, work together, and share in their happiness together.The terraced rice paddies are the primeval landscape of the Japanese soul.

In his work Seasons of Tanada, Mr. Morihiro Hosokawa has painted these landscapes that express the　soul of Japan. 60 sheets of 1m by 2m washi Japanese paper have been used to create these views of terraced rice paddies in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This magnificent screen painting spans the four walls of the 8.5m-tall Atrium, allowing for an unbroken view of the four seasons of the terraced rice paddies.

SEASONS OF TANADA Japanese Terraced Rice Paddies

Spring, with its cherry trees flowering proudly, as if to sing praise of life. Summer comes and dyes the rice paddies electric green. The autumn breeze that shakes the laden rice stalks. And finally, winter, with its silent blanket of white snow.Seasons of Tanada is an ink painting that shows the terraced rice paddies amidst the beauty of Japan’s four seasons. A variety of black inks are used to express the different qualities that the terraced rice paddies take on as the seasons change, and the use of color is restrained, with faint seasonal hues added to only some parts of the work.



Complete View of Seasons of Tanada

細川 護熙 Morihiro Hosokawa

Morihiro Hosokawa was born in Tokyo in 1938. After working as a journalist at The Asahi Shinbun,
he gained political experience as a member in both the House of Councilors and House of Representatives, Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Head of Japan New Party,
and Prime Minister of Japan. Since his retirement from politics, he spends much of his time
at his home, named “Futo-an,” in Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Here he produces art pieces
in a variety of mediums, including pottery, calligraphy, ink paintings, oil paintings,
and urushi lacquerware. His current focus is on fusuma paintings (decorative paintings on fusuma—wooden frame sliding doors covered with paper).

Director of the Eisei-Bunko Foundation
Director of the Morino Project Foundation
Representative Director of the Japanese Assembly for Nuclear Free Renewable Energy

Exhibitions
2001 Solo exhibitions at Gallery Kochukyo in Nihonbashi, Tokyo and Kobijyutsu Yanagi Takashi in Kyoto (this exhibition has been held here annually ever since).
He has also held exhibitions in various cities around the world, including Paris and New York.

Notices

2017.6.23
June 1, 2017 - Thursday, June 4, 2017
Report on Exhibition of Morihiro Hosokawa's "Seasons of Tanada" by Plenus Cultural Succession Project詳細
2017.5.9
June 1, 2017 - Thursday, June 4, 2017
Plenus Cultural Succession Project Morihiro Hosokawa "Seasons of Tanada" Exhibition
Notice List

Rice: The Origin of Japan

SEASONS OF TANADA Japanese Terraced Rice Paddies

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