1974 Born in Kanagawa, Japan
2000-2001 Tokyo College of Photography
2001 Assistant to Katsuji Takasaki
2002 Start working as a Freelance
Solo Exhibition
2019 “MOON” Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)
2018 “BREATH” Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2016 "WAVE" Gallery Kogure (NY)
2018 “BREATH” Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2016 "WAVE" Gallery Kogure (NY)
2015 “CYCLE” Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2015 "BREATH" Soiz Galerie (Passau)
2013 “MOON” GALLERY KOGURE(Tokyo)
2013 “BREATH” Alternative Space in SEIBU Shibuya (Tokyo)
2012 “BREATH”&”MOON” Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2010 “BREATH” Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2010 “BREATH” LOWER AKIHABARA.(Tokyo)
Group Exhibition
2023 "icon contemporary Photography 2023" AXIS Gallery(Tokyo)
2022 "icon contemporary Photography" AXIS Gallery(Tokyo)
2020 "Paradise Lost" Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)
2019 ”Japanese Nudes” Japanmuseum SieboldHuis (Leiden)
2018 “Jin-Zo” Emon Gallery (Tokyo)
2018 “FINE LINE” sansiao Gallery HK(HongKong)
2017 "Waves and Emotions" Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2017 “GOTH II - Conception” Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)
2015 “DROPS” H.P.FRANCE WINDOW GALLERY MARUNOUCHI（Tokyo）
2018 “Jin-Zo” Emon Gallery (Tokyo)
2018 “FINE LINE” sansiao Gallery HK(HongKong)
2017 "Waves and Emotions" Micheko Galerie (Munich)
2017 “GOTH II - Conception” Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)
2015 “DROPS” H.P.FRANCE WINDOW GALLERY MARUNOUCHI（Tokyo）
2013 "Mujo-kan" Galerie Da-End (Paris)
Awards
Moscow International Foto Awards 2014 Bronze in a Book - Fine Art for “BREATH”
International Photography Awards 2012 2nd place in People (other) for "MOON”
PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS 2010 2nd place in Fine art (nudes) for "BREATH"
Xto image award 2010 1st place in Body in Nature for “BREATH”
International Photography Awards 2009 2nd place in Special (moving images) for "BREATH”
International Photography Awards 2009 1st place in People (other) for "BREATH”
International Photography Awards 2007 1st place for "WAVE”
Artist’s statement
Fascinated by the duality of water, its life-giving yet life-destroying presence, I am inspired by it and explore its philosophical aspects. I feel that my affinity for water is influenced not only by my upbringing on the island nation of Japan, but also by the ever-changing natural environment of abundant water due to active volcanic activity and tsunamis caused by 20% of earthquakes (magnitude 6 or greater) that occur in the world. In the ancient Japanese Shinto religion, death was considered a part of nature and coexisted with water. Water, which has given birth to numerous civilizations, reflects the moment of interwoven awe at the grandeur of nature and the unknown of death.
Underwater photography is subject to a variety of constraints, including safety, limited movement, and the effects of air bubbles, light, and waves. Within a limited time frame, these factors must be accounted for, and split-second decisions must be made regarding composition, light, and timing, while remaining flexible to the uncertainties that may arise in the field. Furthermore, by incorporating the element of coincidence, dramatic works can be created that transcend calculation. It is an expression of the human quest for the unknown and the strength of creativity in the face of uncertainty, while at the same time underscoring the importance of capturing the fleeting beauty of the moment.
I was obsessed with anime and manga from an early age, plus my parents are dancers, my art is influenced by ukiyoe, Western classical art, sci-fi animation, and contemporary dance. A moment created by chance is often linked to these works of art. The fusion of a deep-seated fear of death and familiar culture, whether unconsciously or consciously, makes the work more accessible. For example, the bubbles in "BREATH" resemble stars in outer space, and the waves in "WAVE" resemble the ukiyoe prints of Katsushika Hokusai.The ukiyoe-like expression, in which the background is stripped of detail, is also a continuation of the uniquely Japanese flat pictorial expression.
In the past, photographic expression was limited by the medium in which the image was captured, but advances in digital technology have greatly expanded the range of expression. I use a variety of mediums in my work, and many of the works in "BREATH" are made with plaster.
Influenced by a conservator he met when restoring a wall in his house, he came up with the idea of using plaster as a support for his work.Plaster, which has excellent humidity control and hardens over time as it breathes, is the perfect support for frescoes and embodies the fusion of traditional art and the latest technology.
In the past, photographic expression was limited by the medium in which the image was captured, but advances in digital technology have greatly expanded the range of expression. I use a variety of mediums in my work, and many of the works in "BREATH" are made with plaster.
Influenced by a conservator he met when restoring a wall in his house, he came up with the idea of using plaster as a support for his work.Plaster, which has excellent humidity control and hardens over time as it breathes, is the perfect support for frescoes and embodies the fusion of traditional art and the latest technology.
The models include dancers, performers, and athletes active in various fields, such as Ikuyo Kuroda, Daisuke Yoshimoto, Nobuyoshi Asai, Mimosa Koike, Aoi Yamada, Renshi Chokai, Tomohiko Tsujimoto, and Ryuzo Shinomiya. They play an important role in expressing the space between life force and death underwater. For example, the supple movements of the dancers express the dynamism of life, and the powerful bodies of the athletes symbolize the strength of human beings in the face of the fear of death.
Through my work, I want to express the beauty of the contradictory existence of life and death in water, and the fragility and strength of human existence. Death is inevitable, but that is why life shines and is precious.
水の二面性、生命を育む一方で命を奪う存在に魅了された私は、水からインスピレーションを受け、その哲学的な側面を探求しています。水との親和性は、生まれ育った島国である日本という環境だけでなく、活発な火山活動による豊富な水と、世界で発生する20％の地震（マグニチュード6以上）による津波という、常に変化する自然環境の影響も大きいと感じています。
日本古来の神道では、死も自然の一部として捉え、水と共存してきました。そして数々の文明を生み出してきた水は、壮大な自然と未知なる死への畏敬の念が織り交ぜられた瞬間を映し出すのです。
水中撮影は、安全性に加え、動作の制限、気泡や光、波の影響など、様々な制約の中で行われます。限られた時間の中で、これらの要素を計算し、現場で起きる不確定な状況にも柔軟に対応しながら、構図や光、タイミングを一瞬で判断する必要があります。さらに、偶然の要素を取り込むことで、計算を超えたドラマティックな作品を生み出すこともできます。それは、人間の未知への探求心と、不確かな状況下でも創造性を発揮しようとする強さを表すものであり、同時に、儚くも美しい瞬間を捉えることの重要性も強調することができます。
幼少期からアニメや漫画に夢中で、それに加えて両親がダンサーということもあり、私の作品は、浮世絵、西洋古典美術、SFアニメからコンテンポラリーダンスなど、様々な芸術作品から影響を受けています。偶然によって生まれた一瞬が、それらの作品とリンクすることが多々あります。無意識か意識的にか、心の奥底で抱える死への恐怖と身近な文化の融合により、作品をより親しみやすく表しています。例えば、「BREATH」の気泡は宇宙空間の星々のように、「WAVE」の波は葛飾北斎の浮世絵のように。そして背景のディテールを削ぎ落とした浮世絵のような表現も、日本独自のフラットな絵画表現を継承しています。
また、これまで写真表現は写し出す媒体に制約されていましたが、デジタル技術の進歩により、表現の幅が格段に広がりました。私の作品には様々なメディウムが使用されており、「BREATH」では漆喰を使用した作品が多くあります。家の壁を修復した時に知り合った佐官職人から影響を受け、作品の支持体に漆喰を使用することを思いつきました。調湿に優れ、時間をかけてゆっくりと呼吸をしながら固まっていく漆喰は、フレスコ画の支持体でもあり、伝統的美術と最新のテクノロジーの融合を実現しています。
モデルには、黒田育世、吉本大輔、浅井信好、小池ミモザ、アオイヤマダ、鳥海連志、辻本知彦、篠宮龍三など、各界で活躍するダンサー、パフォーマー、アスリートなど、様々な人物が参加しています。彼らは、水中で生命力と死の狭間を表現する上で、重要な役割を果たします。例えば、ダンサーのしなやかな動きは生命の躍動感を表現し、アスリートの力強い体は、死への恐怖と戦う人間の強さを象徴しています。
私は作品を通して、水に備わる生と死という相反する存在の美しさ、そして人間の存在の儚さと強さを表現したいと思っています。死は避けられないものですが、だからこそ生は輝き、尊いものです。