The Traffic Culture Exhibition 2024Award-Winning Photo Gallery

• The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award
  “A Traditional Spring Ritual Event in Beppu” IKEDA Shinichi
  Oita, Beppu City [Beppu Hatto Onsen Festival, Ogiyama Fire Festival]

  “Beppu Hatto Hot Spring Festival” takes place in April in the city of Beppu. The festival includes a Fire Festival where the slope of Mt. Ogiyama is burnt down on a grand scale. The intense atmosphere of the bright fire against the dark night sky creates a grand scene that has become a feature of spring in Beppu. I took this photo offshore on the embankment where I had an extensive view of the entire mountain as well as the onsen town of Beppu. When I shot this picture, I tried to include the surface of the sea reflecting the city lights and glaring flames.（Taken April, 2022）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro： I was dazzled as I saw the view of the burning Mt. Ogiyama overlooking the city of Beppu. The reflection of the glittering city lights and the blazing red flames of the burning mountain slope on the surface of the sea further adds to the intensity of the scene. The photographer included the blue sky and the sillouette of the contour of the mountain that successfully created a sense of grandeur and lasting image. The white smoke rising up from the hot spring chimneys also remind us that Beppu is a hot spring town. The smoke also helps to provide an “image scaling” to show the grandeur of the scene.

• The Minister of the Environment Award
  “The Sound of Colorful Autumn” MIZUNO Takao
  Toyama, Tateyama City [Shomyo Falls]

  Boasting the highest water fall in Japan, Shomyo Falls is a fifteen minutes’ walk from a parking lot. As I looked up, I was never bored watching the cascading water running down with the roar of the rushing water. On that day, the color of trees was at its best. The cliffs were decorated beautifully like gold-brocaded satin damask, while the falling water was so pure and clear. The clouds flowing high in the sky also heighten the atmosphere of a fresh autumn day. I used super-wide angle lens to shoot this grand scenery.（Taken October, 2022）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro： I think this picture of Shomyo Falls was photographed under the most favorable conditions capturing the autumnal clouds, the blue sky, a variety of colorings of foliage of the trees and the clear mountain stream. I can easily feel the exhilaration of the photographer who found this scene. Shomyo waterfalls boast the highest drop in Japan, so the photo shows only a portion of the lower section. Above the waterfall are several other tiers of waterfalls. There is a unique charm and exceptional beauty in autumn that is different from the lush greenery and abundant water of spring and summer.

• The East Japan Railway Company President Award
  “Pre-Dawn Work Preparing for the First Train” SHIDA Yukio
  Niigata, Uonuma City [JR Tadami Line Echigo-Suhara Station]

  JR Tadami Line is operated in one of the heaviest snowfall regions in Japan where more than 3 – 4 meters of snow piles up. The first train bound for Aizu-Wakamatsu comes into Echigo-Suhara station at 5:58 a.m. Clearing the snow that accumulates on the station platforms before the first train arrives is a race against time. The work becomes particularly difficult when snow keeps falling due to winter pressure pattern. The workmen struggle early in the morning to accomplish this. I have always been very grateful to the people who work for the safety of the train operation.（Taken December, 2022）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro： Japanese railways are able to operate from the Tokyo metropolitan area to every corner of the country, contributing to people’s peace of mind, reliability and convenience. However, users rarely think about the daily efforts of the people involved in the railway industry. In this picture, the photographer is quietly trying to remind viewers of the struggles of the workers coping with heavy snowfall in early morning and also speaks to the gratefulness of the passengers for their work, which touches my heart.

• The Japan Travel and Tourism Association Chairman Award
  “Zero Kilometer Post” (A set of four pictures) ONO Kyota
  Tokyo, Chiyoda City [JR Tohoku / Joetsu Shinkansen Tokyo Station]

  “Zero-kilometer post” is a sign that indicates the starting point (=0 km), placed somewhere on a railway platform to measure distance. Tokyo Station is the “zero-kilometer spot” for many railroads that spread from Tokyo to nationwide stations. At the same time, for many people Tokyo station is either a destination or a starting point. I will be happy if you could sense the excitement just before starting a trip, which I tried to depict by the image of Shinkansen train reflected on the glass of the waiting room and the round roof of the station building.（Taken March, 2020）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro：This suite of photographs was taken at the Shinkansen platform at Tokyo station. The photographer seems to be excited about his upcoming trip and is overwhelmed by everything he sees. Everything is precious and nothing is overlooked. His sharp sense of perception and originality in capturing a mosaic of images of the Shinkansen train overwhelmed me. The impressive title, which can be interpreted as the starting point of both “train” and “travel”, is also highly appreciated. It makes me want to go on a train journey.

• First Place
  “The Town of Bengara Red” HIROSE Yasuyuki
  Okayama, Takahasi City [Fukiya Furusato Village]

  Fukiya Furusato Village, nestled in the Chugoku Mountain Range, is the production center of bengara, a Japanese pigment made from iron oxide. The town was built by wealthy merchants and is famous as the “birthplace of Japan Red,” and has been officially recognized as a Japanese Heritage Site. The town is unified by its copper-red Sekishu roof tiles and bengara-colored exteriors. For a few months a year, a classic ‘bonnet bus’—an old-type bus with front engine—drives through the village. Because the bus matches the townscape so well, tourists were busy taking pictures of the bus.（Taken September, 2023）

• First Place
  “The Sunset Bubble” TAMURA Atsushi
  Hyogo, Tatsuno City [Shinmaiko Beach]

  The beach of Shin-maikohama is the longest shallow beach in Kinki region, where Uncle Soap Bubble, a Guinness World Record holder, often puts on soap bubble shows out there on the beach. That day, I asked a woman who had come to see the show to be our model, and under the direction of Uncle Soap Bubble, other photographers joined for an ad hoc photo session. As the silhouette of the model emerged against a golden sky, the soap bubbles and the setting sun rays added the finishing touch to the scene.（Taken September, 2023）

• Second Place
  “A Burning Valley” INOUE Daisuke
  Fukushima, Fukushima City [Tsubakuro Valley, Fudosawa Bridge]

  Bandai-Azuma Skyline in Fukushima, where I lived for five years, is one of my favorite places. There we could see the changing landscape with the seasons. My favorite is autumn when the trees gain such rich colors. In the early morning when lit by the morning sun, the whole valley is painted burning red. On a cooler day, we can see the sea of thin clouds forming over the Fukushima basin. Shadows of human figures on the Fudosawa Bridge is clearly visible in this picture, which I think enhances the grandeur scale of nature in the photo.（Taken October, 2022）

• Second Place
  “Sunset over Seto” OKIMOTO Yuji
  Hiroshima, Takehara City [Matobayama Castle Ruins]

  I have been photographing the sunset over the Seto Inland Sea from autumn to winter. That day, because a storm was forecast the next day, I went out expecting to see some interesting clouds. About an hour before sunset, I was excitedly taking pictures of the magnificent ‘mackerel sky’ resembling fish scales, which began to blanket the sky. But as time went by, the clouds thinned out considerably. With the ferry boat approaching, I took a desperate decision to incorporate tree branches in the foreground, and the photo ended up having a more atmospheric feel.（Taken December, 2023）

• Second Place
  “Galloping” TAKAHASHI Kunio
  Niigata, Tainai City [Tossaka Shrine, Shang Shang Uma]

  The “Shang Shang Uma (horse)” is a traditional spring event to pray for a good harvest when the local horses decorated with bells parade around the Tossaka Shrine. The highlight of the event is the “Kakeagari” scene, which is held twice a day once in the morning and once in the afternoon, where the horses gallop up a steep mountain path to the shrine grounds. I followed the scene through the viewfinder. This took only a few seconds, but it was a long enduring day of waiting.（Taken April, 2023）

• Third Place
  “Powerful Wings in the Evening Sky” KUDO Yoshiaki
  Osaka, Toyonaka City [Itami Airport]

  At dusk I went to the bank of the River Senri near Itami Airport to take pictures. Using a wide-angle lens, I tried to capture the moment when a powerful airplane was landing on the runway. With the evening sky in the background, I was able to capture the airplane’s full structure against the beautiful gradation of the setting sun, resulting in this dynamic shot that combines power and beauty.（Taken May, 2023）

• Third Place
  “Rice Planting Girls” YAMAGUCHI Kazuyuki
  Kyoto, Nantan City [Miyama’s thatched village (Kayabuki no Sato), Rice Planting Festival]

  The Kita village of Miyama-cho is home to many kayabuki thatched roofed houses. This village is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Every year in May, a rice planting ceremony is held to pray for a bountiful harvest. On this day in the light rain, the young women called Saotome were heading for the fields to plant rice seedlings. The kayabuki -house and koinobori (carp streamers) remind us of “genfukei”, the nostalgic traditional Japanese lifestyle and landscape. （Taken May, 2024）

• Third Place
  “Hanamiyama, the Most Picturesque Japanese Mountain” KUMADA Yukio
  Fukushima, Fukushima City [Hanamiyama]

  In springtime, Hanamiyama is a Shangri-La in Fukushima Prefecture for its cherry blossoms and colorful seasonal floral blooms. These days it has become famous nationwide. At dawn, the soft light paints the various spring blossoms a graceful color, while the large Azuma mountain range in the background looms like a phantom. The faint morning moon added to the ambience. I wish to continue taking pictures of this local scenic spot.（Taken March, 2023）

• Third Place
  “The Starry Sky Viewed Under the Viaduct” OSHIRO Osamu
  Saga, Ogi City Okinawa, Haebaru Town [Okinawa Expressway, Haebaru Viaduct]

  The Haebaru Viaduct was the longest arched concrete bridge in the world. I found this shooting spot after repeatedly visiting the area and walking around to search for the best angle. This area is often cloudy without a break in the weather as I always hope for a clear sky. It was the same with this picture; it took me more time than I expected waiting for the right time to take this photo. It’s an attractive design, I would like to take more shots in the future.（Taken July, 2024）

• U-22 Award
  “With Dignity” KITAGAWA Masato
  Tottori, Yonago City [JR Sun-in Line, Hōki-Daisen Station – Higashiyamakōen Station]

  It was a very cold clear day in February. I came out to this shooting spot expecting to get a good view of Mt. Daisen. Just past noon, when the haze covering Mt. Daisen cleared and the trains began to bathe in sun rays, the limited express train Yakumo No. 9 came into view. It passed away in a flash, but I got a surprisingly good shot of the instant. Because it is rare to get an unobstructed view of Mt. Daisen, I was very happy to be there at that moment.（Taken February , 2022）

• Winner
  “Heading for Suruga Province” NAKANISHI Keiichi
  Shizuoka, Shizuoka City [Shimizu Port, Miho Masaki Beach]

  This is a view of Shimizu port against Mt. Fuji, a World Heritage site, in the background. I took this picture at Miho Masaki beach at the tip of the Miho Peninsular, which is famous for the Miho-no-Matsubara pine grove. On that day, I began shooting Mt. Fuji from early morning to see how it changes throughout the day. I have been doing this for the past three years, but today I was lucky enough to encounter a unique scene that I have seen only three times. The Suruga Bay is the deepest bay in Japan, which allows a variety of ships to come in and out. I have never seen Royal Princess cruise ship before, and my friend who accompanied me was also incredibly happy that we saw it cross our path.（Taken April, 2024）

• Winner
  “Galaxy of the Falls” SATO Yoshiki
  Nagano, Chino City [Otome Falls]

  Otome Falls is located at the entrance of Yokoya Gorge. After the rain, the waterfall was swollen with water, adding power to the gush of water coming over the edge. I figured the time when the December sun would come to the required position, and then fixed the camera on underexposure while setting shutter speed high so that the details of each droplet of the splashing water stand out against the blue sky. From the entire shape of the waterfall and the flow trajectory, I gave this picture the title of “Galaxy of the Falls”.（Taken December, 2021）

• Winner
  “Super Express Train in Spring Color” TODA Naoko
  Okayama, Takahashi City [JR Hakubi Line, Hokoku Station – Bitchu-Kawamo Station]

  When I thought about where to photograph last revival run of the purple Super Express Train “Yakumo”, the first place that came to mind was Hanamomo no Sato (Peach Blossom Village) in Takahashi City. I have visited there for many years ago, but this time I visited late in the season and many blossoms had already fallen. However, the scattered petals looked like pink carpet creating a scene different from the one I had seen before. I think it was a really flowery stage to mark the final performance of Super Yakumo.（Taken April, 2023）

• Winner
  “My Faraway Longing View” OGURA Tsukasa
  Ibaraki, Kasumigaura City [Lake Kasumigaura]

  “Hobikisen (sailboat) ” are seasonal feature of Lake Kasumigaura. I was intending to take pictures of sailboats at sunset, but when I started taking pictures I was surprised to see the beautiful Mt. Fuji glowing in the evening sun. I replaced the lens from the standard one to 300mm telephoto lens so that the size of Mt. Fuji will be enlarged. It was with great luck for me to be blessed with fine weather. This is my faraway longing view.（Taken December, 2023）

• Winner
  “Fire Sparks Dancing High in the Sky” SHIRAYAMA Kenetsu
  Iwate, Ninohe City [Nitadori Hachiman Shrine, Saitogi (Fire festival of Nitadori Hachiman Shrine)]

  Saitogi is a traditional event held every Jan. 6 of the lunar calendar at Nitadori Hachiman Shrine, which is designated as a national intangible folk cultural property. The ritual is to predict the year’s harvest by the appearance of flames and sparks of the burning wood arranged in a double cross. On this evening the weather was sleety and wet, but men in underclothes (shitaobi in Japanese) were beating the burning woods with sticks to send up sparks of fire high up into the night sky.（Taken February, 2024）

• Winner
  “After a Long Night Running” KADOWAKI Masaaki
  Tottori, Houki Town [JR Hakubi Line, Hōki-Mizoguchi Station – Kishimoto Station]

  The Sunrise-Izumo Train left Tokyo Station last night. Throughout the night it crossed the steep mountains of the Chugoku region and has now reached the San’in region facing the Japan Sea. Spring is around the corner, but the night was still lingering, and the morning was chilly. The photo shows the row of houses along the railroad tracks, set against the mountains and hazy villages in the background. This scene depicts the long journey Sunrise-Izumo made as it kept on running throughout the night to finally reach this San’in region.（Taken February, 2024）

• Winner
  “Trams Running Under the Tokyo Skytree” ENDO Yoshinobu
  Tokyo, Arakawa City [Toden Arakawa Line , Arakawa-kuyakusyomae Stop – Arakawa-nichome Stop]

  I have been taking the photos of the Toden Arakawa (nickname: the Tokyo Sakura Tram) as a theme of photographs. This is the only one surviving streetcar in Tokyo. On this evening, I chose this spot because I had a commanding view of both the Skytree and streetcars. I took the picture after the Skytree was lit up. Shooting on a cold evening was tough, but the pain turned to joy as this photograph was selected for a winner.（Taken January, 2024）

• Winner
  “The Sunset Train” SAKAMOTO Nobuhiro
  Mie, Ise City [JR Sangū Line, Miyagawa Bridge]

  I hear that the landscape here has not changed much since the days of the SL locomotives. So, I think it should be preserved as “genfukei”, a landscape of the heart of the Japanese people or an evocative landscape of time past. That day, I was anticipating a great explosive sunset. So, I was waiting for the right conditions to capture this sunset. However, while waiting, with impeccable timing, the much-anticipated dramatic sunset appeared just when the rapid train Mie rolled by. “Hooray!” In addition, no one else was taking the picture at that time. What a joy of monopolizing such a grand scene. But at the same time, I wanted to share this photograph with as many people as possible to appreciate the dramatic scenery.（Taken June, 2023）

• Winner
  “Junsai Swamp in Early Summer” TORII Hideyuki
  Yamagata, Murata City [Oyachi Swamp (Junsai Swamp)]

  Junsai—an edible, wild aquatic plant, a delicacy in the local cuisine—grows in marshes and ponds that have excellent water quality. The season of harvesting junsai is from early to late summer, when we see flat-bottomed boats being used for harvesting. Once in danger of extinction in this swamp, Junsai rebounded as a result of constructing waterways and drainage that helped improve the water quality. The weather had been bad, and on the photo shooting day it was raining. But it finally cleared up and I could photograph the harvest scenes with a blue sky in the background.（Taken June, 2024）

• Winner
  “Silhouette at Dusk” ONO Takashi
  Hyogo, Kakogawa City [JR Kakogawa Line, Yakujin Station – Ichiba Station]

  “To take the photo of trains crossing over the Kakogawa Bridge against the setting sun”—” easier said than done” just fits the circumstances regarding this photograph. The time of passing trains and the setting sun, the position of the sun sinking, weather, my own schedule. To take into consideration all these elements, the chance comes by maybe only once every year, if ever. But I kept on coming to this place every autumn, and “November 4, 2022 time 16:55” was a commemorative moment, when I finally took the photograph just the way I have long envisioned.（Taken November, 2022）

• Winner
  “Signposts” NAGATOMI Ritsuko
  Fukuoka, Kitakyusyu City [Hiraodai Limestone Plateau]

  Hiraodai, one of the three great karst topographies in Japan, offers a variety of enchanting landscapes throughout the year. My favorite among them is the one with golden pampas grass. It was also very beautiful that day. The pampas grass blowing in the wind illuminated by the setting sun. In my picture, the shape of the clouds, the limestone rocks and the light on the pampas grass looked like “signposts.” It has become one of my favorite photographs.（Taken October, 2021）

• Winner
  “Test Run in the Rain” KUNUGI Toshiaki
  Yamanashi, Fuefuki City [Yamanashi Maglev Test Track, Hanatori Tunnel – Uehara Tunnel]

  I was hoping to take photographs of the Linear Magnetic Levitated Shinkansen (commonly called Linear Shinkansen) running with a rainwater splashing, so I visited the test track during the rainy season. As there was no roof at Hanatori-yama Observation Deck, I got completely drenched in the rain. In addition, compared with the test track at Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center, the trains didn’t come often. While I waited for three hours, the trains ran only twice; this time and another time while I was preparing for the shoot. So, I am glad that I was able to take this photograph as I had planned, since I only had this one chance.（Taken June, 2024）

• Winner
  “Driving through Waterspray” OHASHI Minoru
  Shiga, Maibara City [JR Tokaido Shinkansen, Maibara Station – Gifu-Hashima Station]

  The sprinkler system at Maibara Station has become famous through TV commercial. The heated water is sprayed to clear snow from trains. The lack of snowfall in recent years, however, decreased the need to apply the sprinkler operation. I have visited this place many times while checking the forecast, but on this particular day, while there was no snow, the sprinklers were working. I thought that if I missed it, I would never have another opportunity to shoot this scene again. It was a small shooting site, but fortunately I was alone, so I was lucky enough to be able to change my position a little at a time to get the best angle.（Taken February, 2022）

• Winner
  “4-tierd Lion” SHIBAZAKI Shizuo
  Ehime, Imabari City [Imabari Region Spring Festival, Tsugijishi]

  During the spring festival in Imabari region, a local folk performance “Tsugijishi” is dedicated to the gods in each of the shrines. Tsugijishi is a kind of gymnastic exhibition where performers stand on the shoulders of others and rise one after another to the rhythm of the festive drums, usually with a child on top wearing the lion mask and performs various postures. At this Noma Shrine there are different tsugijishi performers from each district. Many people come to enjoy the thrill of the lion dance as the dancers increase the height to the third, and fourth tier. This traditional event should be preserved forever.（Taken May, 2024）

• Winner
  “The Village of Myths and Kagura” (A set of four pictures) CHO Yoshihide
  Miyazaki, Takachiho Town [Takachiho]

  There are many fascinating scenes to photograph in Takachiho, the town of Japanese mythology. The main purpose of my visiting the town this time was to take photos of the night Kagura dance performanc．Fortunately, in early morning I saw a sea of the clouds at the Kunimigaoka Overview where I took the first photograph. Then I visited the cave of Amanoyasuhara where a lot of tiny wish stones were piled up. Around 3 p.m. in Iwado district, I came across the Michiyuki, which is kagura performers’ traveling to the shrine where they perform kagura at night. Performers were acting even during this traveling. The next day I was fortunate again when I photographed the Takachiho Gorge. What a luck to be able to take all these photos in just two days.（Taken December, 2023）

• Winner
  “A Symphonic Grand View” SUZUKI Yuji
  Miyagi, Shibata Town [JR Tohoku Line, Ōgawara Station – Funaoka Station]

  “Hitome Senbonzakura”, rows of thousands of cherry blossom trees at the Shiroishigawa Bank is one of the most famous cherry blossoms viewing places in Tohoku region. It was my first time visiting this place. As there were so many tourists, I had a hard time finding a good shooting spot. I finally found one and was wondering which angle would be good, just when a special train “Kazekko” came by. My plan was to take ordinary trains, but fortunately I could take the picture at the perfect moment when the blue sky, the Zao Mountain Range in the background, the cherry blossoms and the railway were in harmony. I had a really good luck at this famous spectacular scenic place.（Taken April, 2024）

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