I was born and raised in Kamikatsu, a small mountain town in Tokushima, Japan.
As a child, I spent countless hours playing in its rivers. Clear water flowing over stones, changing reflections, and the quiet sound of the current were simply part of everyday life. I believed every river in the world looked like this.
As I grew older, I realized that many rivers no longer do. Across the world, waterways have been altered by pollution, industrial development, and the gradual loss of natural landscapes. What I once thought was ordinary had become increasingly rare.
That realization changed the way I looked at water.
My photography is not only about creating beautiful images. It is an attempt to preserve the quiet presence of rivers that still flow freely, and to invite others to slow down and truly observe them. Water is constantly changing, yet it carries memory, time, and the stories of the places it passes through.
Many of my photographs, including my ongoing series Between Breaths, were born along the rivers of Kamikatsu. This landscape continues to shape the way I see, photograph, and understand the natural world.
Through Waterface Journal, I hope to share not only my work, but also the rivers, forests, and moments of stillness that have inspired it. If these photographs encourage even one person to look at water with greater attention and appreciation, then they have fulfilled their purpose.