Dedication-to-shrine of a high-precision replica of the “Tsunagi no Ryu (Tied Dragon)” sculpture owned by the Chichibu Shrine
This notification is intended to announce that Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd, specializing in industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters and 3D printers (headquartered in Tomi City, Nagano Pref.; President: Ikeda Kazuaki), has created a replica of the “Tsunagi no Ryu (Tied Dragon)” owned by the Chichibu Shrine by using a high-precision 3D scanning technique and high-precision full-color 3D printing technique in cooperation with Hara Seisakusyo (HARA SEISAKUSYO Co., Ltd. Ueda City, Nagano pref.) and Kowa Display Co., Inc. (Meguro Ward, Tokyo) and has dedicated it to the shrine.
Currently, a large-scale main-shrine renovation work that started in 2018 to celebrate the 2100th anniversary of the Chichibu Shrine is ongoing and will last for about five years. The renovation of the “Tsunagi no Ryu” created by “Hidari Jingoro,” who is famous as the creator of the “Sleeping Cat (Nemurineko) of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine,” was completed, and the “Tsunagi no Ryu” was replicated as a project to record the 400-year-old technique of the master craftsman of the Edo era by means of 3D techniques. In this project, Hara Seisakusyo (HARA SEISAKUSYO Co., Ltd.) took charge of 3D scanning and 3D data creation, and Mimaki Engineering took charge of 3D printing using its full-color 3D printer “3DUJ-553.” Kowa Display Co., Inc. manufactured the showcase.
Conventionally, the renovation of cultural assets always required hand working. The replica of the “Tsunagi no Ryu” (replica size: 1/5 of the original) created this time was realized by faithfully reproducing the 400-year-old technique of the master craftsman of the Edo era by creating full-color 3D data using a high-precision 3D scanning technique and by full-color 3D printing based on the created 3D data and using Mimaki’s 3D printer “3DUJ-553” without hand working such as carving and repainting.
Mr. Sonoda, Gonguji (deputy representative) of the Chichibu Shrine, said regarding the replication work in the project, “This was our effort to record the 400-year-old technique of Hidari Jingoro by means of the modern 3D printing technology. It was also a challenge in terms of “to what extent the sophisticated technique of the initial period of the Edo era can be reproduced using the 3D printer.” Usually, I can watch the original only from below at the foot of the shrine pavilion, but now that I can closely watch the replicated one from every angle, I have recognized anew its perfect color expression.” The replica of the “Tsunagi no Ryu” dedicated to the shrine this time is scheduled to be displayed as a special exhibit at a hall in the shrine compound.
Mimaki Engineering is endeavoring to enhance its full-color expression capability using more than 10 million colors and high-definition printing technology by utilizing its full-color 3D printing knowhow.
“Tsunagi no Ryu” by Hidari Jingoro, owned by the Chichibu Shrine
From the left: Mr. Ikeda (Kowa Display Co., Inc.), Mr. Ogiyama, (Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd.), Mr. Sonoda (deputy representative of the shrine), Mr. Sakai (Kowa Display Co., Inc.), Mr. Hara (Hara Seisakusyo) and Mr. Teramura (Kowa Display Co., Inc.)
About Mimaki Engineering
Mimaki Engineering develops, manufactures, sales, and maintains industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters, 3D printers, inks, and software. By providing total solutions for the printing process for the sign graphics, industrial products, and textile apparel markets, we aim to be an innovator that constantly delivers "Something New, Something Different" to our customers.
Company/IR site: https://ir-eng.mimaki.com/
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