Hi everyone,
I am writing an essay on Japanese cinematography and the deliberate use of contrast. While the phrase “hikari to kage” (light and shadow) is common, I want to explore if there are more technical terms for a shadow in Japanese that describe specific qualities, such as a “long shadow” at sunset or a “faint silhouette” in the fog.
How do Japanese art critics differentiate between a literal shadow and the concept of “in-ei,” which seems to focus more on the beauty of gloom and shade as described by Tanizaki? Any technical or artistic terminology would be extremely helpful for my analysis.
Thanks in advance.


