As part of Yamamoto Metal Works, the only producer of handcrafted Japanese mirrors, sacred mirrors, and magic mirrors in Japan, he is involved in the production of mirrors for Shinto shrines used as sacred hosts or offerings, the restoration of mirrors in museum collections, and more. Joined the family business after graduating from university. Yamamoto Metal Works alone has passed down the secret to their production to its fifth generation in the modern day.Īkihisa Yamamoto: Born in 1975. This is called the "magic mirror phenomenon."ĭuring the Edo period (1603 – 1868), Christians practiced their prohibited faith in secret with Christian magic mirrors-outwardly normal-looking mirrors that would reflect images of Christ or the Virgin Mary. When the mirror's surface wears thin, the design on the back of the mirror can sometimes appear faintly in its reflected light. Depending on the size of the mirror and complexity of the design, a mold can take several months to create. The craftsman hesitates, puts his tool down, and then selects another to continue creating the design. The designs featuring sacred beasts or scenes of natural beauty imprinted in the sand are then filled with molten metal, making every press of the fingers critical. The design on the back of the mirror is first drawn on paper, and then applied to a mold of sand by pressing with carving tools. Since they were brought to Japan from the continent in the Yayoi period (300 BC – 300 AD), they played a special role as a host to the gods. In ancient times, bronze mirrors had close ties to religious ritual.
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