First trial shooting of the ‘Arashiyama Lantern Float.’
Trusting in the image stabilisation function of my Pentax SLR and the explosive autofocus function of the lens, I photographed hand-held from start to finish.
As a photographer, I know that there will be many spectators and I cannot behave in an insane way like bringing a tripod.
A daring challenge with my new Pentax K-1 Mark II SLR.
The torii-shaped bonfire in the distance.
For the first time, I experienced a different view from the one of the torii-gata I used to see at Hirosawa Pond.
The timing of when I finished shooting and headed for Arashiyama Station was the result of my body moving naturally after many years of shooting experience. I was able to return home without getting lost in the huge crowds on the Togetsu Bridge.
With the satisfaction of shooting with the Pentax, I was able to see off the ancestors quietly.
Location: Arashiyama Nakanoshima Park The Arashiyama Lantern Festival is one of the three major lantern festivals in Japan. It originated in 1949 when memorial services using lanterns were started to comfort the spirits of the war dead.
photo equipment : PENTAX K-1 Mark II + HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mmF4.5-6.3ED PLM WR RE
Starting my photography journey in 1998 during my time as an expatriate in Singapore, I have now been a photographer for over 20 years. My deep affection for Kyoto is reflected in my work, which has been exhibited internationally. I am a photographer with a global perspective, dedicated to capturing the universal beauty found in the interplay of light and shadow.
My core focus is on documenting and preserving Kyoto's landscape, which is being negatively affected by the rapid increase in inbound tourism. I work across genres—from landscapes to portraits—always prioritizing the unique "essence" of the subject and the atmosphere of the moment. I am also actively engaged in international photographic expression, including photo shoots for tourists visiting Japan, exhibiting my work both domestically and abroad, and participating in cultural exchange projects.
2008年日本写真家協会（JPS）展 入選（プロ写真家への登竜門）Selected for the 2008 Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS) Exhibition (a gateway to becoming a professional photographer)
International Exhibitions: The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (JFLA) and the Consulate-General of Japan in New York's annual Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival)
The eaves of a traditional townhouse bathed in light and shadow, the stone-paved streets silent in the early morning, and the back alleys where the scent of daily life lingers.
Instead of the "Kyoto-ness" seen in tourist brochures, my mission as a photographer is to document and convey the genuine Kyoto—the lives of the people who live here and the atmosphere shaped by the passage of time.
However, this Kyoto is being quietly destroyed.
The traditional townhouses of Kyoto are not just scenery; they are a way of life.
Now, they are being sold off, along with their "memories of life," under the guise of temporary lodging businesses.
Tourism is undoubtedly a major industry that supports Kyoto. There is no denying that. However, if tourism transforms Kyoto from "a city for its residents" into "a spectacle for tourists," it becomes an act of cultural destruction.
I don't want to photograph a "tourist destination." I want to photograph a "living Kyoto," where people live, gather, and connect.
I will continue to photograph Kyoto. To document and share the "authentic Kyoto" that still remains. And I hope to contribute, even in a small way, to returning Kyoto to a place where "daily life, not tourism, is the main character."
Kyoto is not a place to see; it's a place to live.
