Chasing the Narrative Inside　

　As I travel, I seek out a wide range of subjects, always in pursuit of those unique moments that exist only in a certain place at a certain time.

　What I seek are not merely beautiful landscapes. They are the transcendent scenes that appear only in an instant when countless coincidences—light, time, the stirrings of people, the presence of life—achieve a perfect harmony. Behind these miraculous convergences, which I can only call fate, a profound narrative always lies hidden. And I believe these narratives hold essential insights for navigating the complexities of modern society.

　In our current era, we are inundated with information from the internet and social media, constantly pressured to adapt to change. In the shadow of this convenience, we often lose sight of timeless wisdom and the lessons the natural world can teach us.

　For me, travel is a conscious departure from the everyday. It is a time to encounter the part of myself that usually lies submerged beneath the surface of my awareness. In an age where plausible “answers” are all too easy to find, I feel it is more vital than ever to see with my own eyes on my journeys, to think with my own mind, and to cultivate a richer sensibility.

　One of the subjects I am pursuing is the submerged forest.

　These are trees that, while accepting their fate of being underwater, continue to live on with strength, transforming with the seasons and the hours. Their winter presence, standing still on a frozen lake, is especially overwhelming, their expression changing by the minute. Their very existence quietly speaks to us of what it means to embrace a harsh environment and live on with resilience and adaptability.

　To capture the deep meaning of these scenes—to draw out that definitive, “this is it” expression—camera technique alone is not enough.

　It requires visiting a place time and again to know the subject intimately. It demands continuing the quest—at times for months or even years—until I encounter that one, truly convincing moment. Only through this patient accumulation can a work be born that transcends mere documentation to become a message.

　The aim of the work born from this process is, through the stories they tell, to create an opportunity for the viewer to confront the essential questions of existence—questions that knowledge and information alone cannot answer.

　This conviction remains unchanged, no matter what subject I photograph next.

　I hope that the scenes my work reveals may become a “spark” for each viewer, inspiring them to re-examine their own way of being and to envision their future.