On July 13, a documentary film titled “Ripples of Physis” was aired at Kyoto Cinema.

The film begins with a visual presentation of the universal beauty of karakami patterns from the Karacho workshop, a karakami shop that has been in existence for 400 years since the Edo period. Interwoven with messages from Mayumi Tsuruoka, an art anthropologist, and Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the Hermès director, the film develops into anthropology, religion, geometry, natural science, etc., and is pursued in depth as if it were a ripple effect.

In his afterword, the anthropologist Shinichi Nakazawa, who gave the film its title, explains where the principle of beauty lies and why we feel comfortable with patterns that connect humans and nature.

It is a profound film that confirms once again that we humans are creatures of tremendous creativity capable of merging with nature.

On July 15, I met with Sanae Kawai, the producer of “Ripples of Physis,” and we talked over tea for about two hours.

We heard a very interesting story about the making of her film, which has many messages in common with Shiozawa’s Shinto and Buddhist paintings.

It was a very interesting making-of story that will be useful and inspiring for the documentary film Shiozawa plans to make in the future.