Mirai Moriyama is known not only as an actor and dancer, but also for his work in the arts. In his hometown of Kobe, he co-founded and co-runs Artist in Residence KOBE (AiRK), while also participating in a wide range of art projects as a director and curator. For Moriyama, who appeared in Naomi Kawase’s 2018 film Vision, Nara was a place that had recently begun to capture his interest once again.
“Growing up in Kobe, I remember visiting Yoshino on a school trip when I was in junior high. Vision was also set around Yoshino and Mount Kinpu. It may be something people often say, but I have a sense that Kyoto is academic, while Nara is more primal. I have always been fascinated by the understated depth of Nara—the place that came immediately before Heian-kyo became Japan’s capital and centre. I had been thinking that I would like to gradually explore it more deeply.”
“I was shown around the building, and when I first saw the exterior, I was amazed that a cultural property of this kind had survived in such remarkable condition.”
The Former Nara Prison was one of five major prisons planned by the Meiji government. It is the only one still standing today, and remains an important symbol of both the judicial system and architectural technology of modern Japan. Upon entering Japan’s first luxury hotel created through the adaptive reuse of an Important Cultural Property, Moriyama reflected on his impressions.
“Personally, I was especially drawn to the central guard station, which connects to each of the rooms. Because only the minimum necessary alterations have been made, you can take in the architectural distinctiveness of the entire structure at once. It left a strong impression on me as a place where you can still clearly sense that the building was once a prison.
“I also found the concept of preserving the spatial character of the solitary confinement cells while using contemporary design to transform them into a single guest room very interesting. This is a quiet area, free from the kind of noise you find in a city. The stillness and introspective atmosphere inherent to the former prison, as well as its particular sense of time, overlap with the hotel’s concept of offering an escape from everyday life. That is what allows it to function convincingly as a luxury space.
“I found it fascinating that it offers something beyond luxury alone. I imagine we will see more conceptual spaces of this kind emerging in the future.”
Ahead of the hotel’s opening, the Nara Prison Museum by Hoshino Resorts opened on April 27, making use of part of the former prison complex. Under the concept “Questions from a Beautiful Prison,” the museum presents works intended to encourage visitors to reconsider their own ways of living and the values they hold. Moriyama, whose own practice is closely connected to the arts, offered a characteristically thoughtful perspective on the museum.
“Alongside exhibitions that allow visitors to learn about prisons as institutions, there are existing works based on the theme of ‘freedom,’ as well as pieces created specifically for this museum. It was an opportunity to encounter works that can only be experienced here.
“While watching Kyun-Chome’s Dissolving Prayers into the Sea, in which a person simply continues to pray while sinking deeper and deeper into the water, I felt as though the work was connecting with the narratives that run through Nara Prison.
“At present, the museum is centred mainly on the curation of existing works. But I also thought that, for example, inviting artists to stay here and create work in response to what they experience could allow visitors to feel an even stronger connection between the site of Nara Prison and contemporary art.”
Finally, Moriyama spoke about the idea of introspection that lies at the heart of both a stay at HOSHINOYA Nara Prison and the experience of the Nara Prison Museum.
“This is hypothetical, but I don’t think someone who had been alone from the moment they were born would experience ‘loneliness.’ Loneliness exists precisely because relationships exist. In the end, human beings are weak creatures that can survive only as part of a group.
“Because we are destined, at a genetic level, to live collectively, each of us inevitably carries our own form of loneliness. Yet somewhere within me, I also believe that loneliness is necessary. Taking time for introspection—creating space in which to turn inward—may be essential both for living in society and for connecting with other people.
“Whether I am creating work as an artist, doing my job, or simply living my life, I want to continue valuing the act of listening to my own voice.”
Rooted in the weight of its history, yet beautifully transformed for the present day, the space invites guests to surrender themselves to its singular atmosphere. It promises a quiet and enriching period of reflection—a chance to enter into dialogue with oneself and reconsider how one chooses to live.