Colors of My Heart

Spanning from Akiruno City to Hinohara Village in Tokyo, the Akikawa Valley offers convenient access from the city center and is one of the Kanto region’s premier destinations for enjoying dramatic valley scenery and vivid autumn foliage. The leaves typically begin to turn color in early November, reaching their peak from mid- to late November. When framing a shot from behind the guardrails or along the side paths of the Hinohara Highway (Metropolitan Route 33) that runs along the valley, looking upward reveals a stunning contrast: lush pampas grass at your feet, vibrant red and yellow maple branches spreading overhead, and a brilliant blue sky above. At that time, I captured this scene using a Nikon F2 Photomic AS paired with an Ai 24mm F2.8S lens and Kodak Gold 100 film. With today’s digital cameras, I can check my results instantly. Back then, however, shooting on film meant I wasn’t entirely confident in my exposure, and I distinctly remember taking multiple frames just to be sure....

These photographs were taken at the autumn Thanksgiving display in the Conservatory at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Looking back, I can hardly believe that it was already 19 years ago. The expansive flower gardens beside the lobby, the giant pumpkins, and the whimsical sculptures featuring the faces of woodland spirits beautifully captured the atmosphere of a traditional harvest festival. Just a few steps away from the noise and excitement of the casino, it felt as though visitors had entered an entirely different world. Before this trip, I mainly associated Las Vegas with casinos and gambling, and I did not have a particularly favorable impression of the city. However, after seeing the Bellagio’s seasonal displays and the spectacular shows presented by other hotels, my perception of Las Vegas changed dramatically Since the arrival of Formula 1 in 2023, the image of the city has continued to evolve. Today, Las Vegas is no longer simply a gambling destination. It has grown into one of the...