電子書籍

The Sacred Mask: Exploring the Stories Behind Humanity’s Oldest Faces

(著) 小笠原弘三

作品詳細

[About the Book]
Fascinated by the cultures and histories of masks across the world, the author invites readers on a journey through time and space to explore humanity’s spiritual heritage as revealed through masks. From mask rituals carved into Indian rock walls 13,000 years ago, to the birth of monotheism with its prohibition of idol worship, and ultimately to the rise of Judaism—masks emerge as “living fossils” of the human spirit.
This book traces the remnants of ancient rituals, myths, and beliefs, while offering reflections on the “Diverse Cultural Perspectives” needed in our contemporary world. By following the memory of the “face” embodied in icons and forms, readers are encouraged to listen for the primal voices of humanity—those that words alone cannot convey.

[Table of Contents]
Prologue: Where Did Earth (We) Lose Our Way?
Chapter 1: The Story of the Star of Life and the Birth of Humankind — A Journey Through Creation Myths —
Chapter 2: Exploring the Life of Homo Sapiens — A Journey Through Rock Art, Cave Paintings, and Mask Culture
Chapter 3: The Journey of Civilization’s Origins — Through the Levant Corridor and the Jordan Valley
Chapter 4: The Source of European Civilization = Sumer —A Journey to Discover the Roots of European Civilization in Mesopotamia—
Chapter 5: Tutankhamun and the Prophet Moses — A Journey Through Egypt Tracing the Birth of Monotheism
Chapter 6: The Birth of Monotheism, Judaism —A Journey Through Religion and the Ancient Near East (Orient)—
Author Biography


[Author Biography]
Kozo Ogasawara

Born in 1946 in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
Graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Tohoku University, then joined a major automotive parts manufacturer.
Throughout his career, he specialized in new business development, engaging in R&D, manufacturing, and sales. His various products were delivered to both domestic and international clients, including:
Industrial waste incinerators (e.g., Honda Motor Co.), Energy-saving electric heating furnaces (e.g., Shin-Etsu Handotai), Semiconductor manufacturing equipment (e.g., Tokyo Electron), Exhaust gas purification systems (e.g., Caterpillar Inc.), EMC anechoic chambers (e.g., Murata Manufacturing, Samsung).
In 2006, building on the above projects, he established a venture company as a subsidiary. As founding president of Riken Environmental Systems, he led the company until stepping down in 2013.

● Activities with the Mask Research Society
1981: Participated in the founding of the Japan Mask Research Society. Currently serves as its 4th president.
1982: Launched “Kawaraban Kamen newsletter”, Issue No. 1 (published through 2020, total of 170 issues), featuring meeting notices, activity reports, event information, and research contributions.
1991: Organized the mask exhibition “Masks of the World: The Heart of the People” (Ginza Mikimoto Hall)
1992: Received honorable mention in the JT Cross Culture Awards for the essay “Masks Are Global Citizens—Through Masks, We See Our Planet”
1996: Organized the exhibition “What Is a Mask?” (Takagi Bonsai Museum)
2001: Published a 20th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet (20 Years of Progress, Tōhō Shobō Publishing)

● Traveled to over 80 countries for mask culture research, sketching scenes along the way
2020: Held solo watercolor exhibition “Painting the World – Tracing Nations and Lives”

● Main Publications
“Eurasian Spacetime Journey” (Bungeisha, 2004)
“Blue Trajectory” (co-author, Tohoku University Press, 2009)
Watercolor Art Book: Painting the World – Tracing Nations and Lives (self-published, 2020)