DOP JIN ITO

呼吸する静寂。

今回、宮内庁からの拝命賜り、皇居内を撮影させていただきました。

皇居の美を収めるプロジェクトです。
丸の内のビル群の喧騒を抜けた先には、静かな杜が広がっていました。
東京の中心にありながら、初夏には蛍が飛び交うそうです。

三代将軍家光ころから数百年もの間、歴代の職人たちに慈しまれ、呼吸し続ける盆栽たちと対峙しながら、 かつてこの国の美を追い求めた先人たちの「感覚」に、
ほんの少しだけ触れられたような気がしました。

歴史の重みと、深い静謐。 最高に贅沢で、震えるほど圧倒的な時間でした。

Breathing Silence.
I am deeply honored to share that, by special appointment of the Imperial Household Agency, I was granted the rare opportunity to photograph the interior of the Imperial Palace.
This project aims to capture the essence of the Imperial Palace’s timeless beauty. Stepping away from the bustling skyscrapers of Marunouchi, I found myself in a vast, serene forest. Though located in the very heart of Tokyo, this sanctuary is so preserved that fireflies are said to dance here in early summer.
Standing before these bonsai trees—living masterpieces that have been nurtured by generations of master gardeners for hundreds of years, some since the era of the third Shogun, Iemitsu—I felt a profound connection. It was as if I could momentarily touch the "spiritual senses" of our ancestors who pursued the ultimate beauty of this nation.
The weight of history and a deep, absolute tranquility. It was a moment of supreme luxury, overwhelming enough to make one tremble.

What is the Imperial Palace (Kokyo)? The Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. Built on the former site of Edo Castle, it is a vast green oasis surrounded by moats and massive stone walls. While the outer gardens are a popular tourist spot, the inner grounds remain a sacred and restricted area, preserving Japan’s traditional aesthetics and nature for centuries.

The Living History: Imperial Bonsai The bonsai collection within the Palace is world-renowned. Some trees are over 500 years old, having witnessed the transition from the age of Shoguns and Samurai to modern Japan. They are not just plants; they are "living cultural heritages" that require meticulous care every single day.