Life Across Hokkaido: From Woods to Waters

Ki Niseko Gallery’s latest exhibition, Life Across Hokkaido, showcases the breathtaking landscapes of Hokkaido - both on land and beneath the water. Photographers Kenta and Michiko Hiramoto capture the region’s vibrant marine life, while Akira and Ruriko Sato focus on its diverse wildlife.

This unique collection highlights the deep connection between land and sea, from ice diving in Shiretoko to foxes resting in the snow. It also serves as a reminder of nature’s fragility, urging us to appreciate and protect Hokkaido’s ever-changing environment.

Kenta Hiramoto: More than ten years ago, I joined a photography club at the invitation of an acquaintance and started taking photographs in earnest. My wife Michiko invited me to start scuba diving at the same time. At first, I took underwater photographs simply as a ‘record of memories’, but now they have become the purpose of my diving.

Michiko Hiramoto: I have enjoyed scuba diving for more than 30 years, but I was never interested in underwater photography. However, I became hooked on underwater photography when I was able to take a wonderful photo at an ‘underwater photography seminar’ that I attended with my husband.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: Akika Sato developed an interest in photography 30 years ago, while Ruriko Sato began scuba diving 40 years ago and started capturing the underwater world through photography. Inspired by an encounter with the Ezo puffin, she shifted focus to wild birds and wildlife, eventually dedicating herself to nature photography on land to showcase Hokkaido's wildlife—its charm and resilience.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: Mr. and Mrs. Sato and I have long enjoyed drinking, singing, and shooting together, and they invited us to join this joint exhibition. Though hesitant due to our lesser experience, we couldn’t pass up such a valuable opportunity. Having retired from underwater photography, the Satos now focus on land-based nature photography. This project was born from a shared desire to showcase Hokkaido’s natural beauty—land through their work and underwater through ours.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: We had always wanted to do land and water photography at the Ki Niseko Gallery so that guests could enjoy viewing Hokkaido's natural beauty, but we had already ‘retired’ from underwater photography, so we approached our long-time friends, Mr and Mrs Hiramoto, who take wonderful underwater photographs, and asked them to join us.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: The theme of this year's exhibition was limited to ‘Underwater Photography of Hokkaido’, so we chose works with an awareness of Hokkaido's character and its four seasons. Rather than simply beautiful underwater photographs, we chose works with some kind of message, unexpectedness or surprise.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: The frames are crafted from traditional Japanese Kyo-iroshi paper, with carefully chosen print paper to complement each design. Winter visitors to Hokkaido can delight in the charming wildlife while experiencing the beauty and resilience of their harsh winter surroundings.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: Eight of the ten images on display were captured in the Rausu area of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ever-changing landscape, where the seasons transform both above and below the water, offers a truly unique and fleeting experience. The knowledge that no two moments will ever be the same adds depth and power to each shot, making every encounter a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: Hokkaido, the only subarctic island in Japan, has distinct northern flora and fauna, unlike Honshu. During the Ice Age, it connected to the Asian continent via Sakhalin, while Honshu remained isolated. Many animals north of the Braxton Line adapt their appearance with the seasons, offering a glimpse into Hokkaido’s changing wildlife. The exhibition features foxes, crossbills, Eurasian flying squirrels, black martens, red-crowned cranes, and striped hyenas.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: For underwater photographers, climate change and rising water temperatures are major concerns. A 1°C rise in water temperature has an impact equivalent to a 10°C rise on land. In autumn 2024, Rausu saw a dramatic decline in pink salmon returning to their home river, while southern Sakhalin experienced record catches due to its cooler waters. This rapid shift highlights how climate change is reshaping underwater ecosystems. The scenes captured today may vanish in a decade, pushing us to consider our role in addressing global environmental issues.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: If the forest can live in its original forest form, the sea can also live in its original form. If the forests cease to be what they should be, the oceans will cease to be what they should be. We encourage people to think about what they can do to protect the rich natural environment, not only in Japan but also on a global level?

Kenta Hiramoto: I like the “Scallop Sphere” the best. This work is an imitation of the work of the famous underwater photographer Katsunori Seki, who runs the diving service ‘Shiretoko Diving Project’ in Rausu, and in that sense it has no originality. However, by using a special lens called a circumferential fisheye to capture the hundreds of thousands of scallops living as far as the eye can see, I think I was able to express them as a small globe that exists on this planet.

Michiko Hiramoto: My favourite work is “Late Summer, Late August, Returning pink salmon”, in which a male pink salmon is heavily bitten by another male. I was able to capture this moment by lying down in the shallow river, about 50 cm deep. I tried to hide my presence, and held still until the trout stopped paying attention to my presence. The focus is slightly off, but I think this also contributes to the sense of realism.

Akira Sato: My favourite work is the fox sleeping on the snow. In recent years, the number of urban foxes that have established territories in towns has been increasing year by year. They are regarded as an environmental problem, but when I see their faces, I am healed.

Ruriko Sato: Even people living in Hokkaido have rarely seen black foxes, which are said to be characterised by the cross-shaped pattern on their backs. It is said to have been worshipped by the Ainu people as the ‘highest-ranking god’ among foxes.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: In Okinawa, water temperatures vary by less than 10°C, while in Hokkaido, they can fluctuate by over 20°C, sometimes dropping below freezing. This wide temperature range creates diverse underwater encounters, from sea otters embracing in February to ice diving in March, pink salmon returning in September, and lingcod mating in October. I strive to capture these unique seasonal moments with care.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: Walking through the forest year-round, I sense the changing seasons. Fewer birds arrive for spring breeding and wintering each year—perhaps due to global warming. I worry some may stop coming altogether. As the environment shifts, I carefully photograph wildlife in their natural habitats, keeping a respectful distance.

Kenta Hiramoto & Michiko Hiramoto: We occasionally post our work on Facebook. If you are interested, search for Kenta Hiramoto or Michiko Takagaki.

Akira Sato & Ruriko Sato: We are currently exhibiting works at the Niseko Gift Shop and the Maruyama Zoo Official Station (west side).　
*Photo exhibitions are also held irregularly.

Instagram : Akira Sato / Ruriko Sato

Facebook : 蝦夷っちphotography

Dates: Saturday 1 February - Monday 31 March, 2025
Location: Ki Gallery in front of Ki Niseko Gift Shop
Admission: Free