At the entrance to Gokoku-in, words are part of the architecture. Lettering and lanterns sit among the lines of the façade, asking the visitor to read as well as look.
The characters for Daikokuten give one point of orientation. They also remind us that a doorway carries information about the place beyond it; shape and inscription work together.
This photograph stays outside, at the threshold. I wanted the entrance to have its own presence instead of serving only as an introduction to the interior. Its visible words remain in the frame, inviting a longer look.
