In 2025, I had the opportunity to visit Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. I was deeply moved by its solemn historical atmosphere and the mystical beauty of its surroundings. This piece is my humble attempt to express the impressions I received from that experience through music.

Founded in the Heian period and later developed into its present form by Taira no Kiyomori, Itsukushima Shrine preserves the architectural style of the Heian era. The site exudes a profound sense of history. The shrine's appearance transforms with the ebb and flow of the tide, leaving a lingering emotional resonance.

At high tide, the vermilion torii gate and shrine buildings appear to float on the sea, creating a magical spectacle. At low tide, visitors can walk right up to the gate, filling the area with a lively energy. At night, the moonlight reflects on the water's surface, and the illuminated shrine and torii create an ethereal scene. These countless charms speak to the shrine's long-standing spiritual significance and its ability to inspire awe in all who visit.

The work is written in a single movement and consists of several contrasting sections. Drawing inspiration from Impressionist music, I employed blurred distinctions between major and minor tonalities, along with Japanese musical elements such as whole-tone and pentatonic scales. The piece also explores sonorities beyond traditional tonality and functional harmony, combined with rich, colorful orchestration, in an effort to portray the many atmospheric facets of Itsukushima Shrine.

(Masanori Taruya)