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Upon graduating from Tama University of Fine Arts,
I followed in my father, Ginnosuke O'hara's footsteps to continue designing
the O'hara's Precise Sundial. Over 70 of these precise sundials have been
produced for Kirikiri Seaside Park in Iwate Prefecture and Marine Pia Kobe
as well as many schools and parks all over Japan. Many of these precise
sundials have been installed all over the world including Shanghai, Philadelphia,
Hawaii,Hanburug and others. He has been successful as the pioneer in designing
sundials. He has been successful as the pioneer in designing sundials.
My wish is for people to stop and take
a look at the sundial and enjoy the feeling of time.
The creator of the O'hara Sundial is my father, Ginnosuke O'hara.
He was lucky to be given the opportunity to design the very first sundial
for then Tamagawaen. However, the sundial was not precise at all and many
people made a mockery of the sundial, calling it gunnonhdialwatch. To
my father surprise, an elementary school teacher asked him to make one for
the school. My father turned down the offer saying, gI will never make
one again because I can never make it to accurately tell timeh. Rather,
he learnt many things from this.
It was 50 years ago today.
My father's interest for the sundial continued to grow. He made a copy of
a reference material at the National Science Museum and found books at the
used bookstores in Kanda.
He figured out many different methods on how to calculate the face of the
sundials. Ultimately, he was able to come up with the O'hara Sundial, which
even the Germans rate highly for its precision. I have since then taken
on the responsibility to maintain the O'hara Sundial tradition of quality
and precision.
I was a student in a fine arts university at that time. The reason I chose
to study fine arts was because I thought that I would not have to study
any mathematics. The irony of that is in order to build sundials you have
to start off with calculating.
When I got my driver's licence, my father said, gGive me a rideh. And
that's how it all started. In the beginning, I would go to the sundial designer's
workshop with my father. However as I became more acquainted with the sundial
designer, I went there by myself.
Even taking over the family business was natural. When my father passed
away, I completed the sundial that had been left incomplete. Soon after,
new orders kept on coming and I had no choice but be committed to this work.
I began to realize the beauty of the sundial while I was building them.
Prior to that, there were periods where I had argued with my father and
times when I just wanted to do things I liked. The only reason why I continued
this work was probably because I really had not made up my mind what to
do with my life.
Commitment to Precision
There may be landscape gardeners, sculptors, and amateur astrologists who
may make sundials, but there are not too many sundial artists. When it comes
to O'hara Sundials, there is especially a strong commitment to precision
on nature.
My father studied many hours and strove to be able to build a sundial that
is of high precision.
I too would like the precision the people require that is deem to be acceptable.
When it comes to nature, I would not want an easy way out just for my own
convenience. As my father had done in the past, I have continued to keep
that promise.
A time adjusting chart is always provided with the O'hara Sundial in order
to adjust the time to Japan's Standard Time (Akaishi City, Hyogo Prefecture)
as it changes everyday depending on where it is set up. This is because
the time on the sundial tells the gtrue solar timeh of that place.
When I set up the completed sundial at that location, the sundial, the sun
and myself become one, resulting in a beautiful shadow. And the best part
of it all,all is that I feel a cosmic providence in there.
Nature that Carves gTimeh
Sundials do not work without the light of the sunlight. It does not make
a sound. And it does not use man-made energy. The light of the sun carves
time, telling gtimeh accurately just using nature's tools. It can serve
as a sculpture even on rainy and cloudy days.
I would like you to stand in front of the sundial for even five minutes
and watch the movement of the shadow. The movement of the shadow was the
movement of the Earth and soon you will realize that the Earth itself is
moving. You will appreciate the enjoyment of time. It would even be more
wonderful if you can express yourself with a poem or pictures for the feelings
you have at that time.
Whenever I build a sundial at a school, I tell the teachers that building
a sundial asis a hard.is very hard work. So I tell them that I would leave
it up to the teachers and students on how to use it. Sundials have a way
to get to the heart of the innocent children.
From Spring - #3, 2002 gPortrait of the Naturalisth Schwabe
Greenwave Co. Guten-Morgen