Henro: A Pilgrimage Across Shikoku Island Documented by Nora Rupp
Often, Japan is mistaken for a small country. An image dominated by one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, some may find it surprising that Japan is also home to vast farmlands and mountainous regions. As adventurous cities like Tokyo can be, rural Japan offers a different breath of air.
A country rich with history, ancient traditions, and remnants of past civilizations, preserved, often serving communities and visitors as a reminder of how deep the Japanese roots go. Among many, Shikoku, located East of Japan, is home to the famous 88-temple pilgrimage, established during the Heian period [794-1185] by Buddhist monks.
In 2010, Swiss photographer Nora Rupp took on the 1,400km pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku, visiting all 88 temples in approximately four weeks, all by herself. Being on foreign soil and not knowing how to speak the language, the Swiss photographer trekked mountains in complete solitude, forcing her to reflect within, in the gloom of night. A journey of self-discovery as intended by the Buddhist monks, Henro is a record of Rupp's spiritual awakening and the people she met on the way through.
“These images show a suspended time, where the ratios of proportion sometimes seem incoherent, where the buildings like the characters strike a pose, where the balance between tradition and technology seem constantly on the verge of tipping,”
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