stephan schütze
  • Home
    • Contact
  • Stephan Schütze
    • Biography
    • Scores
    • Music
    • Professional Services
  • Listen-Blog
  • Reel

Mount Doom

6/29/2008

0 Comments

 
Location
Mount
Osoresan
Equipment
Zoom F4
Sennheiser MKH 60
Boom pole array
 
With only a few weeks left in Japan we wanted to revisit Mt. Osoresan one last time. Mt Osoresan translates to mean Mount Fear, and it is the second most holy place in Japan after Mt Fuji. There is a large temple complex there and many believe it is where many spirits go when they die. The mountain itself is an inactive volcano but there is still a lot of activity from hot springs, steam outlets and sulfur everywhere. The trip up the mountain supplied some good opportunities to record some more Japanese bird sounds as well as the first instances of the summer insects. There are various Crickets and Cicadas that are active during Japanese summertime, but the species vary greatly across the island. The sounds of the insects in the south of the country are completely different from those in the middle of the country and again in the north of the country.

Picture
Osoresan Volcanic Pool
Once we got to the temple complex itself I was able to record various samples of gases escaping the ground under pressure bubbly pools, and other interesting volcanic activities. Some of the sound sources were very quiet and were tricky to isolate, however most of the Japanese visitors to Osoresan are there only for the temple area, so it was possible to move away from the crowds and get some good material. Visually Osoresan looks far more appropriate when it's overcast and raining, maybe it complements the “place of the dead” feel, but having a clear sunny day was far more useful for recording quiet sounds. Osoresan is the second most holy place in Japan and many people come here to pray for the souls of young children. There are dozens of statues and little idols dedicated to children who have passed away. There are also dozens of brightly colored pinwheels that blow in the wind constantly. I guess these are to cheer the spirits of the departed children. I found the area very peaceful without being ominous. Many Japanese seem to be very uncomfortable with the place and were surprised we went there.


Picture
Osoresan Temple Complex
The contrast between the bleak gray volcanic crater and the brightly colored children s toys and pinwheels is really interesting. Osoresan is a place where people come to visit the spirits of departed children and as such they leave toys and snacks that children would love. The pinwheels are very common and add a unusual feeling to the atmosphere as they spin in the wind. It is places like Osoresan that really add to the feeling of mystery in Japan. A country with amazing modern technology living side by side with centuries old traditions and beliefs.
Picture
Child's pinwheel
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Stephan Schütze has been recording sounds for over twenty years. This journal logs his thoughts and experiences


    Categories

    All
    Aircraft
    Animals
    Aomori
    Articles
    Audio Production
    Augmented Reality
    Canberra
    Creative Industry
    Equipment
    Firearms
    Fmod
    Foley
    Game Development
    Hachinohe
    Historical
    Industrial
    Japan
    Korea
    Melbourne
    Military
    Musical
    Nsw
    Queensland
    Sannohe
    Sound Effects
    South Australia
    Sport
    Trains
    Updates
    Vehicle
    Vehicles
    Victoria
    Virtual Reality
    Work Life Balance
    Work-Life Balance

    Archives

    April 2019
    August 2018
    June 2011
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    August 2007
    March 2007
    December 2006
    August 2006

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Contact
  • Stephan Schütze
    • Biography
    • Scores
    • Music
    • Professional Services
  • Listen-Blog
  • Reel