Bronze Finials on the Upper Bridge

Bronze Finials on the Upper Bridge

Onion-shaped ornamental finials called giboshi (literally “faux jewel”) are common on bridges across Japan, made of bronze in traditional style. Many of them, however, were made recently to replace their older incarnations that had been lost in time. In the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, a set of 18 bronze finials has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. They sit on Kami-no-hashi, or the Upper Bridge, built over the Nakatsu Riv…