WHERE MYRIAD CLOUDS ASCEND

Where Myriad Clouds Ascend is a photographic series that explores my ancestral roots and the rituals that shape cultural memory. Through photography and video collage, I examine memory as a shared, fluid entity—one that shifts across time, events, and geography. As a Japanese immigrant living in America for over 25 years, I inhabit a dual perspective that continually questions the notion of “home” and its evolving meaning. This duality informs my practice, allowing me to investigate identity, cultural belonging, and the ephemeral nature of recollection.

Following the loss of my parents, I returned to Izumo province—the resting place of my ancestors and a region steeped in mythology and ancient customs—to reconnect with the traditions that shaped my lineage. My journey led me to Mihonoseki, a sacred port town where I witnessed a community devoted to rituals symbolizing the death and rebirth of a god. Experiencing these ceremonies in the wake of personal grief deepened my understanding of impermanence and reincarnation, offering a profound acceptance of life’s transience.

This series considers how cultural identity is preserved, fractured, and reshaped across time and distance. Through photograpy, I seek to capture these fleeting moments of remembrance—bridging the personal and collective, the past and the present.