Returning the kasagi<\/em> to their hometown of Hachinohe, Japan, required two years of transpacific coordination, community detective work, and a few strokes of luck. Through the exhibition, we exposing the magic in the details to bring the story to life \u2013 from the photos documenting each step of the journey to the heartfelt letters from city officials and students at the local school in Hachinohe \u2013 sharing the lessons learned of what connects us as humans: empathy, perseverance, and compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n READ THE FULL STORY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Pacific is not something that divides us but it’s something that connects us.”<\/p>Caroline Kennedy, former United States Ambassador to Japan (2013-2017)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Kasagi: Gates of Hope Full Documentary<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kasagi: Gates of Hope (NHK Coverage “Sacred Homecoming”)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n View<\/span>\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n What is a torii<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n A torii is a traditional gate used to mark the entrance to a hallowed space. It is often the first thing people see when they approach a Shinto shrine, symbolically marking the transition from the secular to the sacred (Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan).<\/p>\n Torii are originally made of wood; however, some torii are made of stone, metal, or even ferroconcrete for easy maintenance. While colors of torii vary, they are most commonly vermilion or red. In Japan, red symbolizes fire and the sun, and it is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Hence vermilion or red was often used to paint shrines and temples, including torii. Another, more practical reason for the red color is that vermilion pigment is made from mercury sulfide, making the wooden torii preserve better and last longer.<\/p>\n What is a kasagi<\/em>? <\/strong><\/p>\n While there are various styles of torii, all of them follow a similar structural pattern of having two parallel posts connected by a long and sturdy crossbeam, known as a kasagi<\/em>. It is this integral piece of a torii<\/em> that had been swept away by the tsunami, traveling over 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean over the course of two years and washing ashore on the Oregon coast.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/span>\n \n\n View<\/span>\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEmbark on the Journey of the Kasagi<\/h1>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
Videos<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Acknowledgments & News Coverage<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
Special Acknowledgements<\/h2>\n
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News Coverage<\/h2>\n
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The kasagi Path & Return Voyage<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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The Impact of The Great East Japan Earthquake<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Torii Gate Diagram<\/h3>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Visit Virtually<\/h3>\n\n\n