Enoshima Engi
2022 Hope
2022 The Agency for Cultural Affairs presents CULTURE GATE to JAPAN '+A+', Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, Tokyo (JP), selected exhibition and online exhibition
For centuries in Japan, the sea has been both a source of abundance and a force of destruction. In response, people passed down myths and legends that transformed fear and gratitude toward nature into shared stories, preserving ways of living in harmony with its unpredictable power.
This work is inspired by the legend of The Five-Headed Dragon and Benzaiten, a story associated with Enoshima. In the tale, a dragon once feared for causing floods is transformed through its encounter with Benzaiten and ultimately becomes a guardian of the local community. Symbolizing destruction, renewal, and hope, the narrative is reinterpreted here through the perspective of the artist, who has been closely connected to Enoshima since childhood.
The work presents a fantastical underwater world through 3D computer graphics while incorporating imagery from Enoshima Engi, an Important Cultural Property preserved by Enoshima Shrine. By bringing together historical Japanese visual culture and contemporary digital media, the piece reimagines a centuries-old legend and explores how stories of reverence for nature and resilience can continue to resonate in the present day.
Year: 2022
Medium: Houdini, Digital Video
Format: Video, Sound, 03:07
Credits
Music: Shuta Yasukochi
Mastering: Haruhisa Tanaka
Special thanks: Kunihiko Aihara (Enoshima Shrine Chief Priest)
"Enoshima Engi" owned by Enoshima Shrine