Odyssey

Kamakura - Ma

Kamakura marks its thresholds. A noren hangs over the door, visitors leave their sandals at the step, a lantern by the entrance reads “open”.

In Japanese, ma (間) is the interval between things, a pause in music, the gap between two pillars. The character is the sign for sun set inside the sign for gate. I found ma on Kamakura’s walls, where light came through a window grille, and in a concrete tunnel that runs under the road to the sea. The chapter opens with the tunnel empty and ends as a woman and her dog walk through it.

Black-and-white view of ocean waves and sandy beach through a concrete beach tunnel
Black-and-white close-up of a textured sidewalk with scattered leaves, pine needles, and a small dark stone.
High-contrast black-and-white close-up of curved stadium seating with rows of empty seats and railings
Black-and-white photo of a traditional Japanese paper lantern casting shadows on a shoji screen, with a Japanese calligraphy sign beside it.
Grainy black-and-white view of a rooftop with a gutter, downspout, and silhouetted trees.
Black-and-white photo of books arranged on a wooden shelf beside a sunlit window.
Black-and-white abstract image of sunlight streaming through vertical window blinds
High-contrast black-and-white close-up of a person in a dark suit and tie
Pair of flip-flops on a dark carpet beneath a wooden table
Grainy black-and-white photo of a potted plant silhouetted in front of a window.
Black-and-white photograph of a silhouetted person standing in shallow ocean water as waves roll toward the beach
Black-and-white photo of a baker wearing a chef hat and apron, surrounded by framed bakery displays and a bright wall light.
Black-and-white nighttime street scene with a brightly lit storefront, outdoor sign, and road markings
Black-and-white silhouette of a bird flying over a coastal landscape with a tall post and distant buildings.
Black-and-white silhouette of a person with a dog walking beneath a concrete bridge toward the ocean