When I was invited to Tanabe City’s summer festival—an annual matsuri with over 450 years of history—I was asked what kind of photographs I wished to make. My answer was clear: I did not want to create conventional landscape or tourism images. I wanted to photograph the people of Tanabe and the places where they live, work, and gather.

   Human presence lies at the center of my photographic practice. I believe a city reveals itself through daily gestures, quiet environments, and objects shaped by long use, where memory and history remain visible as something still lived.

   I approached Tanabe with simplicity and sincerity, photographing people and landscapes as they appeared in that moment. These images are records of encounters between myself, the city, and its residents.

   What kind of environment shapes its people—and how do people, in turn, shape a city’s culture and future?

   Today, as many young people leave small towns for larger cities, places like Tanabe continue to hold deep natural beauty, rich traditions, and refined craftsmanship. These photographs invite reflection on how historic cities may continue to live and evolve for future generations.