Completion of the Daiichiji Daigokuden Hall at Heijō Palace Site

On April 23, a commemorative ceremony was held to mark the completion of the Daiichiji Daigokuden Hall (former Imperial Audience Hall). A head of the 1300^th anniversary of the capital’s relocation to Heijō in 2010, the building’s restoration had been underway since 2001. Based on the findings of extensive research, the project aimed to restore the hall’s original design, structure, and materials, by employing ancient traditional construction techniques wherever possible. The interior paintings, depicting the Four Directional Deities and the Twelve Zodiac Animals, were executed by nihonga artist UEMURA Atsushi. The Heijō Palace site, where the Daigokuden Hall had been restored, served as the main venue for the Heijō Relocation 1300 Year Festival from April 24 to November 7. (Japanese)