Exhibition

Tannery
Photo exhibition by Akihito Yoshida

Main Bar (Dec. 3, 2016 - Jan. 6, 2017)

There is a district called Hazaribagh in Dacca, the capital city of Bangladesh which is known for its densely concentrated oxhide processing factories. 90% of domestic oxhide production comes from this district and is exported to Europe, North American and Asian nations. Japan is the biggest importer of oxhide from Bangladesh, mainly in the form of about 4 million pairs of leather shoes per year. According to the Blacksmith Institute reports, an international environmental watch dog, Hazaribagh is listed as one of the 10 most toxically polluted areas in the world. There are 150 to 200 oxhide factories that have roughly 20,000 workers handling toxic chemicals with barehands and barefeet. There are no safety compliances and regulations. Dumping of unprocessed chemical materials into rivers, disposed hazardous waste and unfiltered incinerators are common sightings. Workers who spend substantial amount of time there have all sorts of physical problems along with a short life expectancy. I headed to Hazaribagh to bare witness the conditions of the workers in oxhide industry.

The People and the Forest
Photo exhibition by Yasuo Ota

Main Bar (Nov. 5 - Dec. 2, 2016)

Man has been hunters and gatherers for the greater part our history. In order to survive and grow, it had been necessary to be at one with nature. Man was just one part of the habitat. He respected and showed gratitude to the trees, rivers and all the living things that made up the forests. However since the Industrial Revolution, we have fallen for the illusion that humans can control nature. Having damaged and destroyed it for our own greed, we have come to a moment when this planet is no longer capable of holding the strains of our devastating activities. As mankind looks for a path to guide us towards the future, we may find clues through looking at the way the people of the forest have coexisted with nature.

TSUKIJI Fish Market
Shun KATO Photo Exhibition
FCCJ Main Bar

Oct. 01 - Nov.04

Even the sun is incapable of withstanding the passage of time, sinking at the end of each day, and likewise, things with character are helpless to resist the passage of years.  The Tsukiji Fish Market is an example of this and despite the various problems involved in its relocation, its existence at its present site is finally drawing to an end after a period of 80 years.  The people who work there are renowned for their high-spirits and energy, imbuing each fleeting moment with a unique charm.  Will the market be able to retain the same atmosphere after moving to its new site in Toyosu?  I believe the ambience of the place is something to be treasured.  Tokyo’s new governor has postponed relocation until after February 2017 and in order to cherish the valuable time that remains, I intend to use my camera to capture every small drama in Tsukiji Market as it occurs.

FantaSea
Photo exhibition by Sachi Murai

Sept. 3 - Sept. 30 Main Bar

Welcome to the world of FantaSea.
An abundance of beautiful colors exist beneath the ocean's surface.
I chose these artworks to introduce the enchanting life found in the oceans of Japan.
The scenery might seem unreal, but they are truthfully there.
The fantastic colorful underwater world is there waiting for you to see.

Our Earth is beautiful.
I believe if more people appreciate the wonders of nature, there will be more smiling faces filling the earth.
I hope you enjoy this promenade through the "FantaSea".

Profile
Sachi Murai was a diving instructor on a small island in Okinawa before turning to photography.
He balances time between photography, writing essays, and talkshows.
Murai's primary goal is to make people happy through his photos.
His images are significant as they are taken at the precise moment when feelings get in sync with the scenery.
Locations vary from underwater to dry land, taking larger than life macros to wide landscapes, as he shuttles from different places around the globe.

HP: http://muraisachi.com/

The Exhibitions Committee

"KAO" Project
Photography exhibition by Shintaro SHIRATORI

Aug. 8 - Sept. 2, 2016  FCCJ Main Bar

Following the ending of World War II, the nation rose from the ashes of a devastating defeat. The Dankai (Baby Boomer) generation contributed greatly to the country's newfound prosperity. They are now in their late 60's and facing the retirement. However, this generation, which produced so many professionals in various fields of the Arts, Science, and Culture, are still taking vital part in our society. I asked myself, "What did these Experts envisage for the hereafter?" and "How are they going to connect hitherto to the hereafter?" As I am also a member of this generation, I wished to photograph them and listen to their visions. Their faces overwhelmingly communicated not only their vitality and fascination, but also their enthusiasm for the future and determination to contribute for the good of the society. I sincerely hope that the messages from the KAO Project will inspire people think more positively.

ON THE WATER
Photo exhibition by RAI SHIZUNO

July 2 - Aug.5  2016 / FCCJ Main Bar

Water is everything; it is where it all starts.

The origin of everything that exists in the world that stretches beneath our feet. Something that is never still, that is forever changing its form. Exhibition features various expressions of nature, along with the rich individuality of human life and the diversity of cultures. Showing beautiful moments and unalterable truths happening in the world. Feel the pulse of the Earth where nature and mankind coexist.

Profile
Rai SHIZUNO - Photographer - CEO of CINEMA CARAVAN

Rai loves to place himself in nature, exploring its essence through photography and communicating with people. His photos are published in various magazines including Wingspan, ANA's inflight magazine, and seen in advertisements for Ron Herman and other clients. Other work includes photographing the 'WAVEMENT'trip on Rokkasho nuclear waste reprocessing plant, documenting the French equestrian theatre, 'Zingaro', and collaborating with the contemporary artist Takashi KURIBAYASHI on the theme of 'Borders' for his 'Yatai Trip' project.

http://www.raishizuno.jp

FOREST・森
Photography exhibition by Hisashi MOCHIZUKI

June 4 - July 1, 2016 (Main Bar)

My memories from 40 years ago of being held up in a shelter atop Mount Hachimantai in the middle of winter are as clear as if it happened yesterday. I was trekking through Iwate and Aomori Prefectures, in strong winds and blizzards so savage they seemed to lift the shelter off the ground. The storms continued relentlessly two weeks and just as I reaching my limit, the eastern sky became colored deep red with the morning sun. It was the most moving thing I have ever experienced. The elation at seeing the shapes of the rime-covered trees extending far off into the distance mountain tops with the morning moon sparkling above, gave a dream-like impression - as though I were on another planet. It is now difficult to view large examples of rime-covered trees. But even now, I head off toward the mountaintops, through the deep snow, heavy pack on my back, filled with the desire to feel those emotions again.

Ise Jingu and the Origins of Japan
Photographs by Miori Inata

May 7 - June 3, 2016 / FCCJ Main Bar

In 1991, I moved from my home in Japan to New York City, where I spent the next ten years. My world changed, however, as I watched the terrorist attack of 9/11 from my apartment window. I spent the following year in a haze of depression, before eventually coming to the realization that there must be a key to peace somewhere. I began a pilgrimage in search of answers at holy sites around the world. The moment I set foot on Ise Jingu grounds I could tell that it was a special place. Jingu's simplicity is strong and beautiful, and it speaks to me deeply with its energy. Ise Jingu is the ultimate expression of humans not only living in harmony with nature, but living "as" nature. Like anyone else who follows the news, I have been watching as our world is increasingly wracked by horrific events. I feel, however, that Ise Jingu and the philosophy it represents could serve as a beacon of light for humanity, becoming not only a treasure for Japan, but for the entire world.

Kataezome Art - Color Harmony -
Artwork by Fusa Sakamoto

April 2 - May 6, 2016 / FCCJ Main Bar

Do you know about Kataezome art?
It is a traditional Kimono dying techniques on Japanese paper that mixes colored pigment with soy milk. A characteristic of this technique is that the colors grow softer and warmer. As time passes they dissolve into the paper, becoming clear and more beautiful. My Kataezome art is made from a single sheet stencil, dye-blocking paste that is applied to the Japanese paper. Each work is a mixture of stencil and drawing; every piece is an original. Simple, black lines and flat colors combine with perspective and original designs Kataezome is thought of as a general handicraft, however my work is based on my imagination, creating a new style.

Road to Recovery: 5 Years and Counting
Photography exhibition by Shinpei Kikuchi

March 5 - April 1, 2016 / Main Bar

I live in the town of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, on Pacific seaboard of the Tohoku region of Japan.  The town is famous as being the birthplace of modern iron manufacturing.

When the great earthquake struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, I grabbed a camera and fled towards the evacuation center located in the grounds of the local junior high school, with the tsunami close on my heels.  From that day on, my family and I began life as refugees.  Also from that day, I started to slip out from the evacuation center early in the morning while most of the people were still asleep, walking through the devastation wrought by earthquake and tsunami and photographing the various sights until dusk fell.  This became my daily routine.