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In Tanegashima, place I was born, has no "Habu" (a venomous viper native to
Okinawa), but according to the natives of the island, there is a snake more
poisonous than that, called "Hibakari". We are told as young child not to
go into the fields by the ocean after dark. If bitten by one, by the time
sunsets, your life is terminated. This is where the name "Hibakari" came,
from "measuring the day light", but also, in the picture, meaning "hunting
for the light", hinting "photography".
Honestly, I've never thought what photography is. I didn't take photos with
a special meaning or theme. Since my work place is underground at Shinjuku
terminal, I try to go out everyday, to start off a new day, making a fresh
page in life.
From_the large avenues, once behind the alleys, patterns of asphalt changes.
I walk through the alleys thinking about that. There are no obstacles, but
I often stumble. It feels like something is calling me to stop, so I
decided to believe that. I ask myself, "where am I going in such a hurry?"
Then, looking around carefully, I find a little flowers blooming behind the
telephone pole, making eye contact with a little girl passing by, cat
crouching in the sun.
Each time, I press the shutter. It's been said so many times, photo is an
incident, catching that moment. Each photo is a result that exists.
Incident is no such big matter. Honestly, it's just like greeting with that
little girl or cat very lightly. Therefore, I only press the shutter once.
It's awkward exchanging greeting with that person several times at that
moment. Of course, in all photos, not only the subject is in frame, but
also the vicinity.
I, myself, am probably aiming for the light that inserts at that instance.
May be due to living like a mole, underground, I feel startled. To express
more directly, it's not aiming, but more of capturing the image immediately
after pointing the camera, where the light shines the object. I feel that
I'm being targeted instead.
At least, I don't eel that I'm targeting anything. Object of photo, what is
that object? Curiosity? Or is it to express myself? No, I don't have the
time to ponder about that. It's more like getting oneself into a fix from
the others. I feel that the object is not irrelative to me but still, not
nearby. There seems an invisible wall in between the object and myself. By
that object, I feel rather defenseless.
Despite all that, from photography, I've learned much. I've realized that
it's been already 19 years of taking photos of Shinjuku. But after all
that, it's still Shinjuku, that day "Hibakari" of Shinjuku. I can't explain
well, but please take the time to see the photos and see what I mean.
Profile of Naoko Sakokawa
Born in island of Tanegashima, Kagoshima Pref.
Joshi Bidai Art and Design, dress designer major, studied modern
photography.
From_textile design and editing illustration book at art design publisher,
in 1990, joined the co-management of Shinjuku "Beer & Cafe Berg".
Currently, director and vice store manager.
Also licenced chef, sommelier of Japanese sake, and art navigator.
Whilst working 364 days a year, escaping from workplace, traversiong taking
photos of Shinjuku and Tokyo.
