1974
Gunkanjima
On
January 10, 1974, at the age of twenty-two, I headed for Hashima (the
official name of Gunkanjima), the island I had been longing to visit
since childhood. I was glad to fulfill my long-cherished wish, but at
the same time, I was disturbed by the fact that the island’s coal mines
were being closed and the island would be deserted soon. “If only I
could have a glimpse of the island.” My wish drastically changed once
I had landed; the island was well beyond my imagination. I was astounded.
When I recovered my senses, I found that I had only the drive to photograph.
It was just since the previous year that I had decided to pursue photography
seriously and started taking photographs. The crudeness of this series
is obvious. When I see the pictures
now, I feel, before everything, embarrassment. But however unskillful
the pictures might have been, I honestly feel that my desire to take
photographs then was stronger than it is now.
I saw, at close range, islanders in pain for leaving, while I was, myself,
at a loss because of the difficulty in taking photographs. I plunged
myself into photography, while asking the meaning of life. In those
days, photography was everything for me.
I kept on returning to the island until it was finally deserted.
When I was twenty-five, I had the luck to hold two exhibitions in a
year at Nikon Salon in Tokyo, a photo gallery I admired at the time.
I showed the pictures of Hashima at one of the exhibitions. My work
at both exhibitions got me nominated for the third Kimura Ihei Photography
Prize. Among the prominent nominees I found my name, even though I thought
of myself unworthy to be called a photographer. I did not win the Prize,
however, but I gained a lot of confidence.
After this series, my photography has changed greatly. Now I have little
interest in taking photographs that are notably documentary. Nevertheless,
these are certainly the photographs that I have taken.
I have changed the title of this series, previously published as “Closing
; Gunkanjima” to “1974 Gunkanjima.”
Translator:
KUROIWA chie
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