The award-winning works of this year's "Ancient History and Culture Award", which is given to excellent books on ancient history and culture, have been announced, and the grand prize will be "face" about clay figures, haniwa, tattoos, etc. from the Jomon period to the Ritsuryo period. A work to read and understand was selected for the theme.
The 8th "Ancient History and Culture Award" this year is an award sponsored by five prefectures, Shimane, Nara, Mie, Wakayama, and Miyazaki, which are deeply related to Japan's ancient history and culture. Selected for published books for the general public.
The award-winning works were announced in Tokyo on the 2nd, and the Grand Prize was awarded to Hiroki Shitara, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo, "The archeology of the face, the spiritual history of the deformed".
This work analyzes clay figurines, haniwa clay figures, and tattoos from the Jomon period to the Ritsuryo period with the theme of "face" to decipher the messages of ancient people.
While taking up materials that are familiar to the Japanese people, the analysis of archaeological relics has led to broader issues facing Japanese society.
Ms. Shitara said, "I was surprised to receive such a prestigious award. I was able to get a bird's-eye view of the Jomon period to the Ritsuryo period through the theme of faces. In particular, when considering the social significance of tattooing, I feel that it is connected to modern history. From now on, I would like to focus on the spread of archeology.”