Grace of Mt.Fuji2

Grace of Mt.Fuji Part 2

The Lake of Ginkan

“Ginkan” means Milky Way in Japanese.
Heavy snow and severe cold during the night before have frozen the lake. The southern and northern shores become connected by a strip of ice that resembles the Ginkan.
The pure-white crystals that have fallen on the ice shimmers beautifully in the morning sun.
Right after Daikan*1, this magnificent world of silver white made its first appearance of the season. The purity of the scene permeates my soul.
*1: A day in the Japanese calendar that occurs around January 20 each year. Daikan literally means “major cold” and marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year.

The Lake of Ginkan

“Ginkan” means Milky Way in Japanese.
Heavy snow and severe cold during the night before have frozen the lake. The southern and northern shores become connected by a strip of ice that resembles the Ginkan.
The pure-white crystals that have fallen on the ice shimmers beautifully in the morning sun.
Right after Daikan*1, this magnificent world of silver white made its first appearance of the season. The purity of the scene permeates my soul.
*1: A day in the Japanese calendar that occurs around January 20 each year. Daikan literally means “major cold” and marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year.

The Lake of Ginkan

“Ginkan” means Milky Way in Japanese.
Heavy snow and severe cold during the night before have frozen the lake. The southern and northern shores become connected by a strip of ice that resembles the Ginkan.
The pure-white crystals that have fallen on the ice shimmers beautifully in the morning sun.
Right after Daikan*1, this magnificent world of silver white made its first appearance of the season. The purity of the scene permeates my soul.
*1: A day in the Japanese calendar that occurs around January 20 each year. Daikan literally means “major cold” and marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year.

The Halo

The symbol of animism…, now rising from behind the sacred mountain.
A halo formed by the morning sun.
In this age of chaos, may the spirit of tolerance prevail on earth.

The Halo

The symbol of animism…, now rising from behind the sacred mountain.
A halo formed by the morning sun.
In this age of chaos, may the spirit of tolerance prevail on earth.

The Halo

The symbol of animism…, now rising from behind the sacred mountain.
A halo formed by the morning sun.
In this age of chaos, may the spirit of tolerance prevail on earth.

White Clouds under the Mountain

Allured by the light of a full moon, I head to Mikuni Pass.
Along the way, while driving on the Tomei Expressway, I notice a good deal of fresh snow on the peak of Mt. Fuji.
I am always captivated by the sight of snow aplenty glistening under the moonlight.
I arrive. But fog on the lake is thicker than I expected and only scattered patches of snow can be seen on Mt. Fuji.
Unhindered, I start to drive again, this time towards Mt. Taikan.
I descend the Ashinoko Skyline, drive past the lake, and start climbing the Tsubaki Line.
Unexpectedly, no one is at my regular shooting site.
At three in the morning, fog begins to form over Ashinoko Lake.
I follow the movement of the clouds and the moon with my eyes. I become absorbed in the ever-changing scenery unfolding before my eyes.

White Clouds under the Mountain

Allured by the light of a full moon, I head to Mikuni Pass.
Along the way, while driving on the Tomei Expressway, I notice a good deal of fresh snow on the peak of Mt. Fuji.
I am always captivated by the sight of snow aplenty glistening under the moonlight.
I arrive. But fog on the lake is thicker than I expected and only scattered patches of snow can be seen on Mt. Fuji.
Unhindered, I start to drive again, this time towards Mt. Taikan.
I descend the Ashinoko Skyline, drive past the lake, and start climbing the Tsubaki Line.
Unexpectedly, no one is at my regular shooting site.
At three in the morning, fog begins to form over Ashinoko Lake.
I follow the movement of the clouds and the moon with my eyes. I become absorbed in the ever-changing scenery unfolding before my eyes.

White Clouds under the Mountain

Allured by the light of a full moon, I head to Mikuni Pass.
Along the way, while driving on the Tomei Expressway, I notice a good deal of fresh snow on the peak of Mt. Fuji.
I am always captivated by the sight of snow aplenty glistening under the moonlight.
I arrive. But fog on the lake is thicker than I expected and only scattered patches of snow can be seen on Mt. Fuji.
Unhindered, I start to drive again, this time towards Mt. Taikan.
I descend the Ashinoko Skyline, drive past the lake, and start climbing the Tsubaki Line.
Unexpectedly, no one is at my regular shooting site.
At three in the morning, fog begins to form over Ashinoko Lake.
I follow the movement of the clouds and the moon with my eyes. I become absorbed in the ever-changing scenery unfolding before my eyes.

Forget not of Spring

“When the east wind blows, send your fragrance, oh plum blossoms. Though you may become masterless, forget not of Spring.”*1
Not the plum, but the cherry blossoms did not bud well this year due to bad weather and insect damage.
Despite their bleak appearance, the cherry trees seem to have sensed the arrival of spring and have opened their blossoms as best they could.
*1: Famous poem (tanka) attributed to Sugawara Michizane, a ninth century Japanese scholar, poet and politician. The poem is said to have been written just before Michizane’s departure from Kyoto as a result of his demotion to a minor post in Dazaifu, a westerly outpost far from the capital city. It expresses his sorrow for having to leave behind the plum tree in his garden that he was so fond of.

Forget not of Spring

“When the east wind blows, send your fragrance, oh plum blossoms. Though you may become masterless, forget not of Spring.”*1
Not the plum, but the cherry blossoms did not bud well this year due to bad weather and insect damage.
Despite their bleak appearance, the cherry trees seem to have sensed the arrival of spring and have opened their blossoms as best they could.
*1: Famous poem (tanka) attributed to Sugawara Michizane, a ninth century Japanese scholar, poet and politician. The poem is said to have been written just before Michizane’s departure from Kyoto as a result of his demotion to a minor post in Dazaifu, a westerly outpost far from the capital city. It expresses his sorrow for having to leave behind the plum tree in his garden that he was so fond of.

Forget not of Spring

“When the east wind blows, send your fragrance, oh plum blossoms. Though you may become masterless, forget not of Spring.”*1
Not the plum, but the cherry blossoms did not bud well this year due to bad weather and insect damage.
Despite their bleak appearance, the cherry trees seem to have sensed the arrival of spring and have opened their blossoms as best they could.
*1: Famous poem (tanka) attributed to Sugawara Michizane, a ninth century Japanese scholar, poet and politician. The poem is said to have been written just before Michizane’s departure from Kyoto as a result of his demotion to a minor post in Dazaifu, a westerly outpost far from the capital city. It expresses his sorrow for having to leave behind the plum tree in his garden that he was so fond of.

The Snow Suite

A night of heavy snow has ended, but the thick clouds remain in the sky.
I go location hunting and visit a number of sites.
Just past noon, while driving from Fujiyoshida to Fujigamine, the weather changes.
A beautiful blue sky appears, and without second thought I change directions and head for the Nodai*1 Farm.
There, like the scene in the opening of the novel “Snow Country”*2, a graceful landscape of snow lay before me.
Snowy fields of white; fresh snow on the trees; the clear blue sky;
the majestic peaks shining like the mountains of Hakuba; the beautiful clouds flowing swiftly yet gracefully…
All were fused into a musical suite of snow.
*1: Tokyo University of Agriculture.
*2: A novel by Noble laureate Yasunari Kawabata.

The Snow Suite

A night of heavy snow has ended, but the thick clouds remain in the sky.
I go location hunting and visit a number of sites.
Just past noon, while driving from Fujiyoshida to Fujigamine, the weather changes.
A beautiful blue sky appears, and without second thought I change directions and head for the Nodai*1 Farm.
There, like the scene in the opening of the novel “Snow Country”*2, a graceful landscape of snow lay before me.
Snowy fields of white; fresh snow on the trees; the clear blue sky;
the majestic peaks shining like the mountains of Hakuba; the beautiful clouds flowing swiftly yet gracefully…
All were fused into a musical suite of snow.
*1: Tokyo University of Agriculture.
*2: A novel by Noble laureate Yasunari Kawabata.

The Snow Suite

A night of heavy snow has ended, but the thick clouds remain in the sky.
I go location hunting and visit a number of sites.
Just past noon, while driving from Fujiyoshida to Fujigamine, the weather changes.
A beautiful blue sky appears, and without second thought I change directions and head for the Nodai*1 Farm.
There, like the scene in the opening of the novel “Snow Country”*2, a graceful landscape of snow lay before me.
Snowy fields of white; fresh snow on the trees; the clear blue sky;
the majestic peaks shining like the mountains of Hakuba; the beautiful clouds flowing swiftly yet gracefully…
All were fused into a musical suite of snow.
*1: Tokyo University of Agriculture.
*2: A novel by Noble laureate Yasunari Kawabata.

Clear Blue Skies

Cirrus clouds hover high above, signaling the arrival of a brisk autumn.
So full of grace and elegance, they beckon my mind to soar up to the skies.
Oh, when autumn comes… The long awaited photography season has arrived.

Clear Blue Skies

Cirrus clouds hover high above, signaling the arrival of a brisk autumn.
So full of grace and elegance, they beckon my mind to soar up to the skies.
Oh, when autumn comes… The long awaited photography season has arrived.

Clear Blue Skies

Cirrus clouds hover high above, signaling the arrival of a brisk autumn.
So full of grace and elegance, they beckon my mind to soar up to the skies.
Oh, when autumn comes… The long awaited photography season has arrived.

A Daybreak during the Rainy Season

The weather was forecast to be cloudy all day. Conditions were not good.
I try my luck and head to Lake Tanuki for the filming of a TV show.
At the lake, against a cloudless sky so rarely seen during the rainy season, a brilliant silhouette of Mt. Fuji was awaiting us.
I would not have encountered this scene if I had not agreed to be interviewed for the show.
The realization of being guided by a higher being; the importance of actually being on the scene. On my tenth year, I reflect on the past and renew my resolution.

A Daybreak during the Rainy Season

The weather was forecast to be cloudy all day. Conditions were not good.
I try my luck and head to Lake Tanuki for the filming of a TV show.
At the lake, against a cloudless sky so rarely seen during the rainy season, a brilliant silhouette of Mt. Fuji was awaiting us.
I would not have encountered this scene if I had not agreed to be interviewed for the show.
The realization of being guided by a higher being; the importance of actually being on the scene. On my tenth year, I reflect on the past and renew my resolution.

A Daybreak during the Rainy Season

The weather was forecast to be cloudy all day. Conditions were not good.
I try my luck and head to Lake Tanuki for the filming of a TV show.
At the lake, against a cloudless sky so rarely seen during the rainy season, a brilliant silhouette of Mt. Fuji was awaiting us.
I would not have encountered this scene if I had not agreed to be interviewed for the show.
The realization of being guided by a higher being; the importance of actually being on the scene. On my tenth year, I reflect on the past and renew my resolution.

The Wind Shines

Dawn on the day of Keichitsu*1 from the twenty-four sekki calendar.
After each rain, spring becomes a little closer and the sun shines a little warmer.
*1: The day when the sun is at the celestial longitude of 345°, usually occurring on March 5. It marks the beginning of the 3rd of the 24 solar terms (sekki) of the East Asian calendar, and is said to be the day when hibernating insects wake up.

The Wind Shines

Dawn on the day of Keichitsu*1 from the twenty-four sekki calendar.
After each rain, spring becomes a little closer and the sun shines a little warmer.
*1: The day when the sun is at the celestial longitude of 345°, usually occurring on March 5. It marks the beginning of the 3rd of the 24 solar terms (sekki) of the East Asian calendar, and is said to be the day when hibernating insects wake up.

The Wind Shines

Dawn on the day of Keichitsu*1 from the twenty-four sekki calendar.
After each rain, spring becomes a little closer and the sun shines a little warmer.
*1: The day when the sun is at the celestial longitude of 345°, usually occurring on March 5. It marks the beginning of the 3rd of the 24 solar terms (sekki) of the East Asian calendar, and is said to be the day when hibernating insects wake up.

Daybreak at Lake Motosu

A cloudless dawn sky, the moment of daybreak.
The blue-violet glow cleanses my soul.

Daybreak at Lake Motosu

A cloudless dawn sky, the moment of daybreak.
The blue-violet glow cleanses my soul.

Daybreak at Lake Motosu

A cloudless dawn sky, the moment of daybreak.
The blue-violet glow cleanses my soul.