“Everything in the universe is constantly changing.”

Feel your universe by D-K

What is D-K?

Based on this old Japanese philosophy, in 1995, Mr. Hasegawa invented a world-first projection technology for a new type of art

It’s called D-K “Digital Kakejiku”, which lights up a large area of architectural or natural surroundings with random sequences of abstract images constantly changing at a very slow pace just like the sun rises, the clouds drift or the river flows in the rhythm our planet rotates.

A kakejiku is a traditional Japanese art- work on a hanging scroll. In “The Way of Tea” which was influenced by Zen Buddhism, a kakejiku symbolizes a view of the Universe.

Akira Hasegawa created one million images spending 15 years. Every image he created reflects the universe because he recognizes everything existing whatever visible or invisible is a part of the universe or the universe itself.

A computer constantly and randomly updates the projected pixels, smoothly blending successive images into one another. Akira Hasegawa calls it “the hand of God.” The hand of God creates new images, each of which will be never repeated, so every D-K image you meet is an once-in-a-lifetime one.

Profile of Akira Hasegawa

Born in 1947 in Komatsu City of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. 　During his professional career as a media artist spanning over 20 years, Akira Hasegawa directed and created more than 4,000 commercials and cyber-graphic opening sequences for television and won various domestic and international awards. Some of his works are:

-CCTV (China Central Television) Station logo
-Issei Miyake’s Pleats brand, D-K print
-EXPO 2005 Aichi, Conceptual video
-Cyber Art Collaboration with IMAX
-Israeli musician, Ofra Haza’s music video “I want to fly”
-NHK Television Japan’s national broadcaster: Award winning opening title sequences for a historical drama “Dragon Spirits” and Atlanta Olympics

Akira Hasegawa and his D-K are introduced in Japan’s high school text book of science.

Since 2002, Akira Hasegawa has done the D-K Live installation for a special occasion or celebration at nearly 200 sites in Japan and at more than 40 sites all over the world, some of which are:

Ten major medieval castles in Japan, including Kanazawa, Kumamoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Matsumoto and Himeji Castles, and

Contemporary museums in Japan including The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Miyagi Prefectural Art Museum, and POLA Museum, and

Sacred ancient shrines and temples including Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Kamakura Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Horinji Temple in Kyoto for Kyoto Lights and Blossoms Festival, Keta Grand Shrine in Ishikawa, and Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo for the 3rd Anniversary of 311 Tsunami, and

Grand opening of The Roppongi Hills Shopping & Hotel Complex and

On the water at the charming fishing village of Shin-minato, Nakagawa Canal in Nagoya for The Canal Art Festival and Izumo Inasa Beach for Japan Myth Expo’.

On December 31, 2004 – January 1, 2005, “New Year’s Eve at the Acropolis” in Athens sponsored by UNESCO.

In 2005, China International Art Festival in Shanghai at Yu Garden, and Singapore International Arts Festival, and

In 2006, Zero One San Jose, International Symposium on Electronic Art in August by turning the new, Richard Meier designed City Hall into “a Kaleidoscope at Night” during the conference. This installation was included in The 2007 American Public Art Year in Review in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 2010, Akira Hasegawa was invited to the world famous Salzburg Music Festival as “Silent Music.” For the special opening event, D-K live was given at Salzburg Cathedral (Dome) and attracted the audience as a Symphony of Vision.

On December 10th, 2012, Akira Hasegawa was invited to Stockholm by The Nobel Prize Foundation for The Nobel Night Cap special attraction. The Nobel Night Cap is the grand after party of the Nobel Prize Banquet held yearly in Stockholm.

The year of 2012 marked the 1300th anniversary of completion of Japan’s oldest extant chronicle called “KOJIKI”, which is a collection of myths about the origin of the four major islands of Japan and the Kami (spirits, gods or natural forces). Most of myths were set in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. To cerebrate this special occasion, D-K live was given at ten historical sites in Shimane.

In May, 2013, during a series of national holidays called “Golden Week” in Japan, D-K live took place at the 332-year old Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo where more than 100,000 people attended over a four-day period. Gokokuji Temple was built by the fifth shogun of Tokugawa in Edo period. It was notable for surviving the air raids during World War II while most other historical sites in Tokyo were turned into rubble.

In January, 2015, Toyota International Environment Conference took place in Toyota City where Toyota Motor Corporation bases. D-K Live was given in town as a special attraction of the Toyota Environment Week.

In May, 2015, a collaboration live “Prayer for the peace of the world” of D-K with Japan’s traditional performing art called NOH was introduced at The Jerusalem Botanical Garden in Israel and well received.

In June, 2015, Akira Hasegawa became the executive director of UNEP JAPAN (The United Nations Environment Program Japan) for the environmental activities he has done through D-K spanning 20 years. He is approaching his mission under the slogan “A think about environment by each of us will save our earth”

Besides D-K projects, Akira Hasegawa serves as:

Advisor to Tokyo University of Technology
Advisor to NHK (Japan National Broadcasting) CG Centre
Advisor to Japan-China Project
Art Director/Producer of International Net-Robot Society
Executive Director of UNEP Japan.

This is also available in: Japanese