The gold leaf artwork adorning the sliding doors in the former estate of the Shimadzu clan, now the Sengan-en gardens in Kagoshima, has been restored to its original luster and put on public display.
Five doors and one wall painting underwent the restoration work, which included the use of digital technology. Mitsuhisa, the 19th generation leader of the Shimadzu clan, built Sengan-en in 1658 in the early Edo era.
The gold sliding doors were used mainly in the changing room areas of the residence, and the artwork was said to have been the work of a painter of the Kano School during the Meji era (1868-1912). The doors stand 1.8 meters and are 90 centimeters wide, and feature cranes and pine trees.
Because of damage sustained over the years, the doors were moved to the Shoko Shuseikan Museum inside the gardens in the 1980s.
Hoping to re-create the original look of the estate, restoration work began in December last year. A local craftsperson used a high-definition camera to capture where parts were peeling off or where damage had occurred. The specialist then digitally repaired the damaged parts and printed them out on paper with a texture similar to the original door.
"I hope people take their time looking over these doors and imagine life back then," said an official in charge of the gardens.
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