Water is memory itself. The image of my grandfather offering prayers at the family shrine, moments of silence by the riverside—these instances are deeply etched within me. My work attempts to visualize the flow of time and traces of prayer through water, creating a space where our memories can interconnect. Since the first chemical reactions in ancient seas gave birth to life, all living beings on Earth have coexisted with water in an endless cycle. In Japanese culture, water has always been revered as sacred—a symbol of purification and renewal, central to purification rituals, agricultural prayers, and spiritual practices. Yet in the contemporary world, our relationship with water is transforming dramatically. We may be losing sight of its fundamental power. I confront this issue through two distinct series. "BLUE MIND" explores the universal relationship between humans and water through moments at urban waterside spaces. Photographed over five years along Tokyo's Tama River and Kyoto's Kamo River, this series captures human presence by the water that transcends age, profession, and culture. At dusk, diverse individuals gather by the water's edge, each spending time in their own contemplative way before the murmuring streams. These images reveal a quiet dialogue with water that persists even in our modern society. The "RUTEN" series (meaning 'flux' in Japanese) investigates the profound cultural connections between water's blessings and people's prayers of gratitude. Centered around Gokonomiya Shrine in Kyoto, it visualizes prayers for abundant harvests—fundamental to Japanese agricultural traditions. This series captures traditional forms of devotion through rice stalk decorations, the ancient Noh mask of Okina, and shrine maiden dances, while examining the relationship between agricultural traditions and shrine practices. I find continuity between these traditional rituals and modern daily practices in observing my daughters saying grace before meals at school and expressing gratitude with "itadakimasu" ("I humbly receive") at home—a thread of prayer connecting ancient traditions to everyday life. In the contemporary world, water has become not merely a blessing but a symbol of crisis. Torrential rains, droughts, and floods—these water-related climate anomalies reflect our way of life. Water now serves as both a warning from nature and a mirror of human behavior. Platinum printing is a 19th-century technique that fixes platinum directly into paper fibers, ensuring centuries of permanence. Its deep tonal range and soft texture perfectly capture water's tranquility and ephemeral quality. The meticulous handcraft process of finishing each print embeds time and spirituality into the work, much like ancient prayer rituals. While these two series may appear divergent, they share a common exploration of human spirituality through water. Created as platinum prints, they establish contemplative spaces for dialogue. This spatial arrangement acknowledges both Hiroshi Sugimoto's exploration of temporal permanence in his "Seascapes" series and Kenro Izu's expression of sacred silence through platinum prints in his "Sacred Sites" and "Bhutan" series. I aim to create dialogue that transcends culture and time through water. Beginning with Japanese water culture as a foundation, I seek to document and visualize water's relationship with humanity across Asia, Europe, and the world. Photography is a vessel for memory. I hope my work becomes a prayer that carries water's memory into the future. For me, water is memory itself. My grandfather praying at the household shrine, quiet moments by the riverbank. These instants are deeply etched in my heart. Yet water is not only my personal memory but also the common origin of humanity. Covering 71% of Earth, water transcends borders and cultures, connecting all human beings. I explore the relationship between water and humanity through two series. The "BLUE MIND" series, photographed over five years along rivers in Tokyo and Kyoto, captures people gathering at dusk by the waterside. These works reveal a quiet dialogue with water that persists even in our modern society. The "RUTEN" series explores the deep cultural connections between water's blessings and people's prayers of gratitude. Centered on Kyoto's Goko Shrine, it visualizes prayers for abundant harvests rooted in Japanese agricultural culture. In Japanese culture, water has been revered as a symbol of purification and rebirth. However, in contemporary society, water has become not just a blessing but also a symbol of crisis. Torrential rains, droughts, floods—these water-related climate anomalies reflect our way of life. We may be losing sight of our essential relationship with water. Platinum printing is a technique that resonates with water's properties. Established in the 19th century, this method directly fixes platinum onto paper fibers, providing centuries of permanence. The creation process itself is deeply involved with water—sensitized paper is immersed in aqueous solutions and washed with water until complete. The subject matter and expressive medium are organically bound through the element of water. Though this exploration begins from a Japanese cultural context, the universal theme of the relationship between water and humanity resonates beyond borders. Climate change and water resource crises are global issues, and I believe that reexamining each region's unique water cultures will open possibilities for new dialogue. Water is simultaneously material and metaphor. It is memory, time, and life itself. Just as water continuously flows while changing form, memory too is passed on to the future. I hope my work becomes a quiet drop of prayer in this continuous flow.

Artist Statement