Joe Magowan is a photographer from London specializing in music and documentary photography. He shoots predominantly on film, using his trusty Nikon and Hasselblad to find shots of life in the city. In addition to street snaps and musician shots, he has also directed, produced and shot a documentary covering the lives of My Bad Sister, two former child actors turned rowdy musicians.
In February of this year, while there was still a chill in the air, Magowan came to Japan. The day after his arrival, he headed to the mountains to do something many residents themselves have never attempted before: takigyo . What Is Takigyo? Takigyo is a meditative practice composed of the Japanese words for “waterfall” (taki) and “do” (gyo).
It’s also known as misogi . The practice started over 1,400 years ago, with references to takigyo being found in the oldest Japanese texts, Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE). Buddhist monks and Shinto priests reportedly participated in the meditation to purify themselves before heading up a mountain or on a pilgrimage.
It was believed that letting the water pound your body would take you closer to the Shinto and Buddhist waterfall deities. In the past, takigyo practitioners stood beneath the waterfall and chanted or prayed. To this day, many takigyo retreats are hosted by temples and shrines.
Nowadays, in addition to the religious aspect, takigyo is practiced for its health benefits. The pressure of the waterfall is thought to stimulate the .
