MIHO YOKOCHI
YASHI NO MI
Published by Sokyusha, 2021
Book Size 23.2 × 27.1 cm
Pages 80 pages, 75 images
Hardcover
Limited Edition of 400 copies
Signed by the artist
An alluring, strangely compelling photographic record of Japanese photographer Miho Yokochi's journeys to seaside towns all over Japan.
“I was born near Cape Irago, at the far end of the Atsumi peninsula in Aichi Prefecture; the place where the “Song of the Coconut” is set. When I did not yet know what it felt like to travel, the word coconut seemed as nostalgic and distant to me as a graduation year book.
But before long, I eventually came across coconuts at the ferry terminal in Irago, and I began to wonder where they came from and what kind of journey they had behind them.
As I wandered along the seashore taking photographs, I felt the strong desire to spend all my time walking along the seashores of Japan taking photographs, just like the coconuts that spent so long to cross the ocean.
The local fishermen taught me about the tides and the seasonal delicacies that I waited for me in inns and stores; about the beaches and lighthouses that reminded me of Irago; about the strong winds; about the laughing families and lovers… Each place felt to me like my own birthplace, and I felt happy to have been born in Japan, surrounded by the sea in all directions.
This book is merely a small collection of photographs of mine, but I hope it will inspire you to travel and to think about your own home.”
— statement by the artist (translation by shashasha)
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“I was born near Cape Irago, at the tip of the Atsumi Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture; the setting of the “Song of the Coconut.” When I didn’t yet know what it was like to travel, the word coconut seemed as nostalgic and distant as a yearbook.
But soon after, I finally came across some coconuts at the Irago ferry terminal, and I began to wonder where they came from and what kind of journey they had behind them.
As I was walking along the coast taking pictures, I felt a strong desire to spend all my time walking along the coast of Japan taking pictures, just like the coconuts that took so long to cross the ocean.
The local fishermen taught me about the tides and seasonal delights I expected at the inns and shops; about the beaches and lighthouses that reminded me of Irago; about the strong winds; about laughing families and lovers… Each place felt like my own birthplace, and I felt happy to have been born in Japan, surrounded by the sea in every direction.
This book is just a small collection of my photographs, but I hope it will inspire you to travel and think about your own home.
— artist statement