Pix4Japan

2024-10-15

Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing in Hakone: A Peaceful Moment with Dale-chan

「箱根で森林浴：愛犬との穏やかなひととき」

Growing up in landscapes of natural beauty—ranging from snowcapped mountains towering above the treeline to vast desert plains of sand and sagebrush, and canyons carved deep into the Earth’s crust—I took the calm serenity of nature for granted.

As I’ve grown older, however, the need to escape the sprawling concrete maze of Tokyo’s metropolitan area has become an essential prescription for my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

I recently learned there’s a term for this rejuvenating experience: “Forest Bathing,” or Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) in Japanese. This concept, embraced for decades, encourages immersion in nature to restore balance and harmony. To my surprise, it’s not just a Japanese practice—it’s recognized as a form of therapy and preventative care in countries like the U.S., Finland, South Korea, France, and the U.K.

In this photo, Dale-chan seems to capture the very essence of Forest Bathing. Resting contentedly on a rustic wooden bench along a nature trail near the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, she is surrounded by lush greenery and dappled sunlight. Her peaceful expression reflects the serenity and joy that these natural surroundings provide—a reminder of the simple yet profound healing power of nature.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:34・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Blessed Dogs by Niu

Two black sculptures of frolicking dogs silhouetted against a bright, sunny morning. The sculptures are installed outdoors near a modern museum of concrete, glass, and steel, with large glass windows reflecting the artwork. Photographed in black and white.

Blessed Dogs by Niu: A Celebration of Joyful Motifs
ＮＩＵの世界観：箱根の作品『しあわせな犬』

The black sculpture, “Blessed Dogs,” by Niu, depicts two playful dogs leaping joyfully, their forms silhouetted against the sunlight. Installed at the Pola Museum in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, this artwork reflects the artist's focus on creating motifs that celebrate the happiness of animals, while the dogs' lively poses evoke a sense of freedom and connection with nature.

The artist Niu, born in 1972 in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, spent her early years in both Iwate and Saudi Arabia. At the age of 10, her family relocated to Tokyo, where she has lived ever since. She credits her grandmother, an accomplished artist, for nurturing her appreciation of painting and folk art during her childhood.

In 1994, Niu began a successful modeling career, appearing in magazines, advertisements, and on runways in fashion hubs such as Paris, Tokyo, and other Asian cities. Since 2002, she has showcased her talents as a multidisciplinary artist, presenting paintings, sculptures, installations, and photography. Her works often explore themes of nature, incorporating motifs of animals and plants.

Among her notable creations is the 2016 sculpture Blessed Dogs, which is displayed at the Pola Museum in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Accompanying this sculpture, Niu shares the following message:

“I hope that as many living things as possible can find freedom of mind and body and spend happy times—dogs, cats, wild animals, and humans alike.”

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:17・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 500 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8
Acros film simulation

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Sequoyah Aono, Dexter Head, 2019

A Fusion of Traditions: Sequoyah Aono’s Marble Self-Portrait「青野セクウォイアの自己肖像彫刻『デクスターヘッド』：ミケランジェロに触発された美」

Sequoyah Aono, a New York-based sculptor, has a unique multicultural background that deeply influences his work. Born in Naples, Italy, to an American father and Japanese mother, Aono was raised in Japan, where he cultivated an appreciation for both Western and Eastern artistic traditions.

The marble sculpture, Dexter Head, featured here is a striking self-portrait of Aono, inspired by Michelangelo’s David. This 3-meter-tall masterpiece (9.8 feet) blends classical and contemporary styles. From the right, its minimalist flat side reveals a silhouette of Michelangelo’s renowned work. From the left, however, the sculpture transitions into a lifelike, three-dimensional depiction, incorporating Aono’s own facial features. This juxtaposition highlights the artist's creative exploration of identity and form.

Carved from white marble, the sculpture is a harmonious blend of clean, minimalist geometry and the graceful, flowing lines of traditional techniques. Its dimensions—3 meters high, 1 meter wide, and 2 meters deep (9.8 ft x 3.2 ft x 6.5 ft)—command attention while maintaining a sense of elegance.

Aono began work on this piece in his New York studio around May or June of 2019. By September that same year, the completed sculpture was installed at the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan—a fitting home for a work that bridges cultural and artistic traditions.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:12・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 3200 for 1/110 sec. at ƒ/2
Provia/Standard film simulation

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Sengokuhara Silver Grass Field

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Morning Light on Sengokuhara: Silver Grass and Tradition at Mt. Hakone
仙石原すすき草原：箱根山北麓に広がる、伝統と美の保護

The vast fields of Sengokuhara, situated at an altitude of approximately 700 meters, are blanketed with tall susuki grass (Japanese silver grass, Miscanthus sinensis). Lush and deep green in summer, the grass transforms in early autumn, sending up glistening mauve seed heads that evolve into silvery tufts by mid-autumn, creating a magical landscape that attracts both domestic and overseas visitors.

A gently climbing path flows straight through the field along the northern slope at the northwest foot of Mt. Daigatake, an inactive lava dome that forms part of the Mt. Hakone volcanic caldera in Kanagawa Prefecture. This dirt path stretches 680 meters (2,228 feet) across the full width of the slope, offering visitors an immersive journey through swaying seas of silver grass.

Designated as one of Kanagawa’s “50 Best Scenic Spots” and among the “Top 100 Flower Viewing Spots in Kanagawa,” Sengokuhara is a favorite for nature lovers. Leaving home at 4:00 a.m., I embarked on a less-than-two-hour drive from Yokohama via the Tomei Expressway, with a few stops for hot drinks and a stretch break for my border collie, Dale-chan.

The grassland’s scenic beauty is preserved through controlled burning, a tradition rooted in practicality dating back to the Edo period (1603–1867). Back then, the grass was harvested for thatching rooftops, an essential material in Japanese architecture. However, as modern building materials replaced traditional thatch, the fields languished for several decades.

In 1989, preservation efforts were reintroduced on a trial basis, and since 2000, annual cutting and burning have been conducted to prevent trees and invasive plants from overtaking the field. This practice has ensured that visitors can continue to appreciate the unique beauty of these fields, as well as the cultural significance of Japanese silver grass.

Today, Miscanthus species are recognized not only for their ornamental value but also as potential resources for biomass energy. Initially valued as grazing and structural materials in China and Japan, these grasses are now found worldwide, naturalized in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and beyond.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 08:05・2024/10/15
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/11

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Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 08:07・2024/10/15
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
95 mm ISO 100 for 1/15 sec. at ƒ/11

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Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 06:49・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/2.2
Astia/Soft film simulation

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Sengokuhara Village

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Sengokuhara Village: Home to a Silver Grass Haven Beneath Mt. Hakone
金時山の麓に広がるススキ草原の町、仙石原

Sengokuhara Silver Grass Fields, nestled at the base of Mt. Hakone’s northern slope in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, offer a sweeping view of Mt. Ashigara to the north, quietly overlooking the peaceful resort town of Sengokuhara.

I arrived just before sunrise, just in time to catch the first rays of light spilling over the ridge of Mt. Hakone despite the forecast of heavy clouds.

The history of Sengokuhara stretches back to the early Edo period (1603–1700). Back then, plains of silver grass blanketed the landscape as far as the eye could see, sparking hopes that the land could support grain crops.

However, the volcanic ash soil and high humidity made farming unviable. Instead, the village turned to cultivating Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis), essential for thatching traditional roofs.

While once vital to daily life, today Sengokuhara is cherished for its scenic beauty and proximity to Hakone’s popular resorts and tourist sites.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 06:46・2024/10/15
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
53 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/8.0

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2024-09-25

Soleil Hill Beach

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A Coastal Canvas: Feeling the Passage of Time at Soleil Hill Beach
「ソレイユの丘砂浜で時を感じる」

My visit to Nagai Seaside Park Soleil Hill (長井海の手公園ソレイユの丘) in Yokosuka, Japan, with my border collie was originally planned around photographing fields of flowers and scenic coastal views. Since I was visiting on a weekday, I anticipated a quieter park, allowing me to explore at my own pace without the rush of crowds.

However, the intense summer heat had taken its toll, wilting nearly all the flowers in bloom. I set aside the idea of photographing the park’s interior and opted instead for a leisurely walk around its outer paths, as dogs aren’t permitted in the central areas.

At the southernmost edge of the park, I discovered a small trail that led down to the coast and onto Soleil Hill Beach—a secluded, dark-sand beach accessible only to park visitors.

Normally, I prefer shooting seascapes during early morning or evening light, when I can capture the softer hues of the blue or golden hour. Here, though, beach access is restricted to the park’s operating hours, so I had to work with the midday light. To compensate, I experimented with long-exposure shots, aiming to capture the gentle movement of the waves and the soft trails of foam as the water ebbed away from the shore.

One rock formation in particular caught my eye, part of the rugged coastline that defines much of the Miura Peninsula, south of Yokohama and Tokyo.

This peninsula separates Tokyo Bay to the east from Sagami Bay to the west. Looking into the geological history of these formations, I was intrigued to learn that many of the rocks along this coastline consist of alternating layers of pyroclastic sandstone and mudstone, which were deposited on the seafloor between 10 and 4 million years ago.

From around 500,000 years ago, tectonic forces and coastal uplift began exposing these ancient seabeds above sea level. The most recent uplift occurred in 1923, during the Great Kanto Earthquake, when sections of the coast rose approximately 1.5 meters.

The layers in these formations angle at an estimated 30 degrees, a reminder of the earthquakes and tectonic tilting that shaped this landscape, lifting some areas while lowering others. Over time, the natural striations in the rock have been softened by weather and waves, revealing a fascinating story of geological transformation.

Occasionally, when the sun peeked through the clouds, the water revealed dark hues of green and blue, adding depth and contrast to the scene against the otherwise muted, overcast sky.

It’s this interplay of colors and textures—the layers of rock, the subdued tones of the sea, and the hints of ancient history—that made this spot feel somewhat special.

Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 17:02・2024/09/25
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP + 10-stop ND filter
28 mm ISO 100 for 1.0 sec. at ƒ/18

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Border Collie at Rest Stop

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Rediscovering Retro Japan: A Nostalgic Stop by Zushi Beach
逗子海岸近く、懐かしの休憩スポット「逗子海岸ロードオアシス」

On my way to Nagai Seaside Park Soleil Hill in Yokosuka, Japan, I stopped at a roadside rest area on Route 134, about 400 meters (1,300 feet) west of Zushi Beach in Kanagawa Prefecture.

This rest stop, called Zushi Beach Road Oasis, has a retro charm that took me back to my youth. It features a cozy restaurant reminiscent of company cafeterias from the 70s and 80s (Maruwa Shokudo) and 808Cafe10R, a small cafe also selling potted plants and succulents in small batches. Although the cafe was closed for lunch, its rustic display of signage, posters in the windows, and antique items from North America added a splash of life to the quiet atmosphere.

Inside Maruwa Shokudo, the simple Formica tabletops, stainless steel chairs, and no-frills decor brought back memories of company cafeterias where I used to have lunch back in the 80s, when a bowl of curry udon could be had for less than 200 yen!

I ordered a hearty dish made with locally sourced vegetables and fish—comforting and fresh. Meanwhile, my loyal companion, Dale-chan, happily waited outside, resting on a bench surrounded by succulents and a quaint Farmer’s Market sign.

Out on the terrace, I enjoyed my meal while Dale-chan indulged in some kibble and treats, making it a relaxing moment for both of us.

Though the sky was overcast, the view from Zushi Beach Road Oasis still held a quiet beauty, with calm waves lapping at the beach. On clear days, you can see the expanse of Sagami Bay stretching out beyond Zushi Beach—a peaceful sight that makes this stop well worth it.

Location: Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 13:58・2024/09/25
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 2000 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/10
Provia/Standard film simulation

2024-10-15

Morning Light on Sengokuhara: Silver Grass and Tradition at Mt. Hakone仙石原すすき草原：箱根山北麓に広がる、伝統と美の保護

Sengokuhara Village: Home to a Silver Grass Haven Beneath Mt. Hakone金時山の麓に広がるススキ草原の町、仙石原

2024-09-25

A Coastal Canvas: Feeling the Passage of Time at Soleil Hill Beach「ソレイユの丘砂浜で時を感じる」

Rediscovering Retro Japan: A Nostalgic Stop by Zushi Beach逗子海岸近く、懐かしの休憩スポット「逗子海岸ロードオアシス」

Morning Light on Sengokuhara: Silver Grass and Tradition at Mt. Hakone
仙石原すすき草原：箱根山北麓に広がる、伝統と美の保護

Sengokuhara Village: Home to a Silver Grass Haven Beneath Mt. Hakone
金時山の麓に広がるススキ草原の町、仙石原

A Coastal Canvas: Feeling the Passage of Time at Soleil Hill Beach
「ソレイユの丘砂浜で時を感じる」

Rediscovering Retro Japan: A Nostalgic Stop by Zushi Beach
逗子海岸近く、懐かしの休憩スポット「逗子海岸ロードオアシス」