From 26 May to 17 June 2025, I travelled alone through Japan on what became a modern-day pilgrimage — a journey to explore the country’s relationship with the sun, its coastline, and its spirituality. Starting in Tokyo and heading south through Numazu, Ise, Takamatsu, Hiroshima, and Hagi, I followed the coast to capture sunrise and sunset. These were moments that revealed the sun’s sacred presence across Japan.

Shot entirely on film, the trip was both a photographic and personal exploration. I visited Shinto shrines, spent time at Ise’s most sacred sites, and focused on Japan’s natural environments more than its people. As much as I was travelling and searching alone, people naturally fell into place along the way, adding unexpected depth and spontaneity to the journey. For most of the journey, I listened only to Bob Dylan’s Desire — its storytelling and search for meaning mirrored my own state of mind.

The images in this story are just a snapshot of the chaos and beauty that Japan offered me and my camera — a country that is at once empty and ever-changing. What began as a search for clarity became a process of reflection and acceptance. Nearly a thousand frames later, this experience continues to shape my new body of work.

This series was shot on a mix of medium format 120, with some hand-printed in the darkroom, 35mm, and infrared film.