Born in Kumamoto City, Japan and currently living in Yamanashi Prefecture. Started diving at 19 years old and was impressed by the power of the ocean and the ddetermined way of life of living creatures. While working as an advertising photographer at a photography studio, taught herself underwater photography. Moved to Tokyo to study underwater photography in earnest and studied under underwater photographer Yukio Nakamura. Has been engaged in photography in Minamata, Sanriku, and other areas, focusing on her life's work, the relationship between people and living creatures.
Exhibitions
- Colored Stories of the Sea, Shinjuku Pentax Forum
- The Sea Breeze Diary: Treasures of Amakusa, Shinjuku Pentax Forum
- Living in Minamata, Shinjuku Epsite and elsewhere
- Thoughts on the Sea: Living in Sanriku, Living in Minamata, Nanak Department Store, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
- Living with the Sea: From Minamata to Sanriku, Chofu City Cultural Hall Tazukuri
- Minamata Monogatari, Canon Gallery Ginza, Fukuoka and Sendai
- Let's go home - A wish for no-kill, Fuji Photo Gallery Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Secrets of the mysterious fish, Himetatsu (seahorse), Ricoh Imaging Square Shinjuku
- Sea of Smiles - Minamata, Minamata Disease Municipal Museum
Books
- The Sea Breeze Diary: Treasures of Amakusa, Sangokan
- Let's go home - A wish for no-kill, Jiyukokuminsha
- Minamata Revives, Minamata Monogatari, Secrets of the mysterious fish, Himetatsu (seahorse), Taro the fisherman's dog, Singers in Minamata -Today they row their boat vigorously, Shin Nihon Shuppansha
Media
- Spaceship Earth (TV Asahi)
- Joshi Sai Sai, documentary on BS-TBS
- The Photographers 2, BS Asahi
I first met Kimiya Sasaki (nicknamed Kin-chan), a fisherman who runs an octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) fishery in Tanohata Village, Iwate Prefecture in 2014. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I visited fishermen who handled various species of fish and was allowed to accompany them on their boats in order to capture the revival of fishing in Sanriku with my camera.
Kin-chan's octopus fishery had been in a difficult situation even to launch a boat because of the prolonged poor catch and the rising cost of fuel. Kin-chan's dog, Taro, was the one who brought a smile to Kin-chan's face as he struggled with his worries. Taro is a miraculous dog who was swept away by the tsunami after the earthquake, but returned home on his own after nine days.
Taro has another face as a fisherman’s dog. He rides on a boat with Kin-chan to chase away seagulls that appear from the sky and try to intercept the fish they are feeding on. He is no ordinary dog.
I can still picture Kin-chan's happy expression when I told him: "If I can capture a great fishing scene, let's make a picture book of Taro-kun's photos.”
Years later, the poor octopus fishing continued. Gradually, Taro grew older and could no longer even get on the boat; in 2019, at the age of 19, he passed away.
(I didn't keep my promise to you, Kin-chan.)
Three more years passed, and I received the news that Kin-chan had fallen ill.
“What was I doing? I was!" I slapped myself on the butt and began working at a rapid pace to complete the photo-picture book. Unfortunately, I did not see the big fishing scene; but as soon as I got the go-ahead from the publisher, I immediately reported it to Kin-chan.
Kin-chan, who had looked forward to the completion of the book as his goal in life, passed away in 2023 without waiting for it to be completed. I am grateful that he was able to see even just a proof copy of the book.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences for his loss.
Through this photo exhibition, I sincerely hope that Kin-chan's wish, "by learning about Taro the fisherman’s dog, people will become kind-hearted people who love animals," will be conveyed to as many people as possible.
Tamaki Ozaki