KAI Fusayoshi
in Carleton-sur-mer

Ōita Prefecture, located on the eastern coast of Kyushu Island in Japan, faces the open sea to the east and rugged mountain ranges to the west. The region is rich in cultural heritage, home to ancient stone sculptures such as the Gohyaku Rakan and cliffside Buddhist carvings. It is also known for its abundance of hot springs, including Beppu Onsen, which boasts the second-highest volume of hot spring water in the world. Roads and tunnels weave through a landscape of towering mountains, connecting a network of villages known for their competitive spirit and deep, enduring warmth.  

I was born in the prefectural capital, Ōita City, and as a child, I could neither speak nor walk until the age of four. Later, my father was reassigned by his company to a rural post, and our family moved to Yamaga Town. While continuing his regular work, my father also took up raising chickens as a side pursuit. I often helped him, sometimes protecting the chickens from predators with an air rifle. Concerned about the danger, my older sister took the rifle away from me and gave me a camera instead—a gift that would ultimately shape my life. Although the exhibition does not feature photographs from that time, it presents a selection of works from later years. At 18, I moved to Kyoto for university, became involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement, and eventually, along with friends, opened a small café near the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Immersed in photographing the local community, I found myself rarely returning to my hometown.  

The photographs in this exhibition are drawn from the few images I captured during those rare visits back—scenes of the resilient, heartfelt people of my home, and the surrounding landscapes that quietly nurture them.