About This Video
Birthplace of one of Tokyo’s oldest trees, which is more than 700 years old, Joshinji Temple, or Jōshin-ji, was first established in 1678 in Kuhonbutsu, just a few meters away from Kuhonbutsu Station.
The temple is home to three Buddha halls located in front of the main hall. Together, they house three of the nine Amida, or Amitabha, Buddha statues. Each of these tall statues displays a different hand position, also known as a mudra, which carries a symbolic meaning in esoteric Buddhism.
These Buddha statues are the work of the great master Kaseki Shonin, who lived from 1617 to 1694. He devoted many years of his life, from the age of 18 until 51, to creating nine different manifestations of the Amida Buddha.
Today’s video is unique because it was filmed using a 42-year-old lens: the Pentax SMC Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4. Even by today’s standards, this lens can produce extremely sharp images while retaining many of the distinctive imperfections associated with lenses manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s.
The lens also has a unique construction in which one of its internal elements contains a coating made with thorium, a radioactive material that contributes to its characteristic appearance and color rendering. The SMC Super-Takumar is a 35mm full-frame film lens and can be used with modern full-frame digital cameras through a simple and inexpensive mount adapter.
Anyone interested in this lens may still find well-preserved examples on eBay, often priced between approximately 100 and 150 USD.
Note: This video was filmed during Japan’s state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We took all necessary precautions when leaving home and visited the temple at approximately 6:00 a.m.
Despite the early hour, the temple grounds were relatively busy. I made an effort to include as few people as possible in the footage. At the time, many visitors were not wearing masks, potentially exposing themselves and others to infection.
Please follow the social-distancing guidance provided by the medical community and wear a mask whenever required.
