Bird Island

Hybrid Animation 

00:00:22

A kofun is an ancient Japanese burial mound, built for the members of the ruling class. These can be found in great numbers across Japan, and in the Kansai region in particular. They gave their namesake to the Kofun period (c. 300 - 538 CE) These large mounds, often keyhole shaped and surrounded by moats house the dead alongside relics of the past. The kofuns of today look much different than those of the past. In their current state they exist as impromptu nature preserves. They have become a densely forested island. A gesture that was to honor the legacy of the deceased ruling class has now become a world given back to nature. Birds inhabit these islands in a world of their own. The names of these emperors are debated - the details and records lost to time. The constant squawking of heron and cormorant are undeniable. They stand as reminders that eventually all returns to nature's hands.