Artist: Yasushi Hori
Title: Gate of the Streams
Location: Matto Station, Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan
Date: 2013
Material: Stone / Granite
Technique: Stone carving and sculptural installation
Concept & Theme
Gate of the Streams was created by Japanese sculptor and stone artisan Yasushi Hori in 2013, as a commemorative monument for the opening of Mattō Station’s Shinkansen service. Commissioned by the city and positioned at the gateway to the city, Hori conceived the work as a sculptural representation of the natural identity of Hakusan City, particularly the relationship between Mount Hakusan and the Tedori River.
The composition consists of two monumental triangular stone forms rising like mountain peaks and framing a large arched opening. The forms evoke Mount Hakusan, one of the defining natural landmarks of the region, while the passage between them suggests the flow of the Tedori River, which originates in the Hakusan mountains and runs through the surrounding landscape.
At the centre of the composition, a large stone sphere and a curved disc introduce contrasting geometric elements. Together with the rough natural stones arranged around the base, they create a visual dialogue between mountain, river, earth and human intervention.
The central opening is also an important experiential element. Rather than functioning solely as a monument to be viewed, the sculpture forms a physical gateway through which people can walk. This reinforces the idea of arrival and departure, making the work particularly appropriate for its location at the entrance to the city and beside the railway station.
Hori deliberately combines rough-hewn stone surfaces with precisely finished geometric planes. The contrast highlights the dual character of the work: the permanence and strength of the natural landscape alongside the movement and transformation brought by human activity and transportation.
Through the symbolic forms of Mount Hakusan and the Tedori River, Gate of the Streams serves not only as a commemorative monument but also as a visual expression of Hakusan’s identity. Created specifically for the city’s gateway, the sculpture presents the region’s natural landscape to visitors arriving by rail and functions as a distinctive symbol and introduction to Hakusan City.
The work embodies Hori’s longstanding artistic philosophy of connecting stone, landscape, architecture and human experience. By transforming the local geography into an inhabitable sculptural gateway, Gate of the Streams becomes both a monument to a new chapter in the city’s transportation history and a lasting celebration of the natural heritage of Hakusan.
