KAIKOU

KAIKOU (邂逅) —meaning ‘encounter’ in Japanese— is a collected work of photographic images and chemigrams documenting my exploration of memory, identity, and the concept of "home." This series represents my personal journey of reconciling life between two homes, Japan and America, while reflecting on the ways memory can shape and redefine our sense of belonging.

Developed over several years, the series emerged during a time when I was unable to return to Japan. I sought out subjects in America that resonated with memories of my homeland, using light and shadow to capture fragments of recollection. These fragments are woven into a visual pathway toward understanding the essence of "home."

In creating KAIKOU, I blend film photography with historical photographic processes, such as the chemigram, to illuminate the transient and elusive qualities of memory. By integrating the analog precision of film with the experimental nature of chemigrams, I carefully shape light, chemicals, and photographic paper to create organic, textured visuals that reflect my encounters with fragmented and shifting recollections. Each image emerges through an intuitive process of experimentation, embracing the unpredictable interactions between materials to capture ephemeral moments that resonate with nostalgia and impermanence.

While KAIKOU reflects a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for my birthplace, it transcends personal memory. It is a spiritual journey through a shifting landscape of recollection, where reality and illusion intertwine. In navigating this terrain of memory, I encounter both the past and present, ultimately discovering a profound sense of belonging.