Welcome to Diamond Fuji!

On February 19th, as special effect called "Diamond Fuji" was viewed in Yamanashi prefecture, home to the symbol of Japan, Mt. Fuji (Fuji-san) . Rising an impressive 12,389 feet ( 3,776 meters) above sea level, Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest mountain as well as an active, but dormant, volcano. Its name derives from an ancient Ainu word meaning "fire mountain." (The Ainu are the original inhabitants of Japan and still reside on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.) Historically, Mount Fuji has always been a revered landmark. The Japanese consider mountains sacred, a belief known as 'sangku shinko.` Traditionally, the Japanese have always viewed mountains as the homes of spirits and gods, as well as protectors of animals and the providers of streams that gave fresh water to villages.

Fuji fulfilled many roles in pre-modern Japan, serving as a common metaphor in classical poetry and a revered religious symbol since ancient times for mountain-climbing sects of the Shinto-Buddhist faith. The mountain holds a special place in the emotions and aesthetics of Japanese people living in and outside Japan, an attachment that has been ingrained in the Japanese psyche over the course of a thousand years.

It is not surprising that Mount Fuji became a popular subject of Japanese art, but no one is certain exactly when it was first depicted. The earliest image still intact dates from the year 1069. The mountain became a common subject during the Edo period (1600-1868) finding its way into the works of the traditional Kano and Tosa schools. By the end of the Edo period, countless artists had expressed their personal relationship with the mountain in images from virtually every angle and distance, and in all four seasons.

Images of Mount Fuji often are accompanied with poetry, a genre of art called 'surimono.' Surimono reached its height in Japan during the 1820s. The prints were done mainly for poetry clubs, where competitions would be held and the small prints with poetry on them would be distributed to friends and colleagues.

One of the most famous collections of views of the mountain is a set of color prints by Hokusai called "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji," created between 1830 and 1833. One of those prints inspired the American poet Amy Lowell to pen her own surimono, "Fuji in a Teacup," published in 1919:

Being thirsty,
I filled a cup with water,
And, behold! Fuji-yama lay upon the water
Like a dropped leaf!

Today, Mount Fuji has become the trademark and symbol of Japan. It remains an inspiration to poets, painters, print designers, photographers, and commercial advertising artists. The mountain also attracts thousands of recreational hikers during the summer months, and for many Japanese, a hike up Mount Fuji is an exercise in reconnecting with their history, heritage and the heart of Japan.

To see a collection of photos of Mt. Fuji, just visit the JapanCorner News PHOTO page.

JapanCorner News 2005