Award-Winning Photo Gallery 2021

• The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award
  “My Favourite Home Town”　MASUDA Syunji
  Kumamoto, Aso County [Minamiaso Village]

  The foot of the outer rim of Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan, is home to the life of a young rice farmer. The family captures the natural bounty of the land and lives a steady life with a strong will. “I took over the family farming business so that I could leave the nature of this village to our children” said the farmer. I will be happy if this picture conveys their strong will to protect the beautiful nature, warmth of the family, and their beloved home town.（Taken October, 2020）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro ：This photograph captures the healthy exuberance of the rice farmer’s family holding a few stalks of ripe golden rice. Their big smiles are infectious to me. The photographer must have a narrative skill and established a rapport with the young family in how they express their joy. I think the charm of the land can be conveyed through the people who live there. This may be the origin of tourism.

• The Minister of the Environment Award
  “Izunuma Lake Dyed in Red”　ENDO Yoshio
  Miyagi, Kurihara City [Izunuma Lake]

  Izunuma Lake was registered in 1985 with the Ramsar Convention on Wetland of International Importance especially as waterfowls sanctuary wetlands. Every year, from autumn to winter more than a hundred thousand migratory birds come to these lakes and make their temporary home here. The photograph captured the exact moment when a huge number of waterfowls took off all at once in the morning glow just after sunrise. I have visited this lake many times a year, but such an ideal photographic situation never happened. I kept on releasing a shutter in ecstasy.（Taken February, 2021）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro ：Izunuma and Uchinuma Lakes in Miyagi Prefecture are the second Ramsar-designated sanctuary wetland in Japan. This photograph captures a scene in the middle of winter when in the early morning tens of thousands of white-fronted geese took off all at once. No matter how many times I look at the sight, I am never tired of. Catching the exact moment when all these huge flocks of birds took off heading towards the viewer under this glow of the sunrise in the sky with these forms of clouds is rare. The photographer captured this rare chance and created this masterpiece.

• The Kyusyu Railway Company President Award
  “Flower Tunnel”　KASHIMA Kazuo
  Oita, Hita City [JR Kyudai Main Line, Bungo-Nakagawa Station]

  A spring scene of Bungo-Nakagawa Station in the middle of a verdant tunnel full of flowers and blossoms, trees, cherry and peach blossoms, all blooming in profusion. “Third time is the charm.” Unlike my past visiting, the weather was fine and I was so happy to take many photos with many other photographers. To enter this contest, I had chosen this photograph of the limited express train “Yufuin no Mori” arriving at the station through the majestic array of different colors enfolding the train.（Taken March, 2020）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro ：The photograph captures the scenery of Bungo-Nakagawa Station in spring surrounded by a variety of flowers and blossoms all blooming in profusion as the limited express “Yufuin no Mori” is just arriving. What an ideal way of co-starring with each other! The train is just one of the features of this photo, but due to the vertical composition, the photographer was so successful in showing the presence of the train stronger than blossoms. Inclusion of the station and a man is adding lingering effects to this picture.

• The Japan Travel and Tourism Association Chairman Award
  “Sunrise”　Dan SCHOLL
  Chiba, Kimitsu City [Zuta Water Park]

  The lakeside of Sasagawako Lake, a famous fishing spot, is also featured with parks and walking paths where you can enjoy nature. One winter morning when I was driving the area in dawn, a time zone when fishes are caught well, I saw an angler enjoying the solitude of the lake in the center of the tranquility. I stopped the car. The early morning cold created celestially beautiful mists over the lake. I took out my camera and successfully took this picture just when the first rays of sunlight broke through the mist.（Taken December, 2020）
  
  Comment by SHIMIZU Tetsuro ：It must have been a very cold morning. When the cold air hit the warmer water of the lake, a mist develops. The photograph is shot against the early morning sunlight that accentuates the mist and the shimmering light. The silhouette of the boat and the angler contrast with this hazy background, giving depth and scale to this superb view.

• First Place
  “Hirono Emotion”（Hospitality activities by Hirono’s people）　SHIRAYAMA Kenetsu
  Iwate, Hirono Town [JR Hachinohe Line]

  The train is the “Tohoku Emotion”, a restaurant train that serves dishes using locally harvested fish and vegetables. In this photograph I could capture the joyous exchange of the passengers waving to local people welcoming them. The locals are practicing “Hirono Emotion”, a hospitality activity using traditional flags which fishermen hoist when they return to the port with a big catch.（Taken August, 2020）

• First Place
  “Into the Sky!”　HIRANO Toshiyuki
  Ehime, Niihama City [Niihama Taiko Festival, Kakikurabe]

  Niihama Taiko Festival also known as Men’s Festival is one of three grand annual autumn festivals in Shikoku. Elaborately decorated “taikodai”, a large float that carries the taiko, the Japanese drum, weighs more than three tons. It takes more than 150 men (called kakifu) to shoulder the weight of the float. The highlight of the festival is the “kakikurabe”, when dozens of taikodai representing various communities of the city gather together and compete against each other. I went out to shoot a kikurabe at Jyobu Yamane area. At the climax, the taikodai must be raised above the shoulders, when it sways making it difficult to keep the float balanced. Sometimes, the float falls, but in this case, the float stays upright in a perfect lift towards the sky.（Taken October, 2019）

• Second Place
  “Runners and Bullet Trains”　IMAI Tomomi
  Saitama, Saitama City [JR Joetsu Sinkansen, Omiya Station － Ueno Station]

  I was holding the camera wishing to be lucky enough to take the picture of both the group of powerful runners participating in the Saitama International Marathon and the Shinkansen bullet train together. A few minutes after the start, just when the top group of huge number of runners came by the railroad overpass, the engine of the bullet train came into the view as though it is cheering them on.（Taken December, 2018）

• Second Place
  “The Station on a Snowy Night”　IGUCHI Koshi
  Mie, Komono Town [Kintetsu Yunoyama Line, Naka-Komono Station]

  I have long wished to take the picture of a snowy evening scene of a local train station. While the train is stopped, there stands a station man who finished the day’s work against the falling snow and the warm train lights. This is a small single-track railroad, but has been an important transportation means for local people including me since my childhood. So, I am extremely happy that this picture was selected as a winning work of this photo contest.（Taken February, 2021）

• Second Place
  “Midsummer”　ONOGI Fumikazu
  Shimane, Hamada City [JR San-in Line, Orii Station － Miho-Misumi Station]

  This photo was taken at a famous shooting spot along JR San-in Main Line. I like this place because the scenery has a variety of expressions day by day. On the day I took this picture, it was layered of the sky with dynamic cirrocumulus clouds contrasting with the shinning emerald green sea with little gentle waves with crests breaking softly towards the shore. While I was pressing the shutter button, I thought of the passengers who must have been enjoying the trip with this incredible vista.（Taken August, 2018）

• Third Place
  “Solar Guidance”　TSUSHIMA Yukio
  Aomori, Aomori City [Aomori Airport]

  Aomori Airport lies near Hakkoda Mountain Range to the east and Mt. Iwakisan, a symbolic mountain of Tsugaru region to the west. On the day I shot this picture, it was hazy due to cold air in the sky. But then a circular halo appeared around the sun shining just above the airport central guide lights. While the number of flights decreased these days, an aircraft approached for landing at a perfect timing as if beaconed by the halo and the sun. I took this picture thanks to all these elements.（Taken April, 2021）

• Third Place
  “I’m in Training”　HASEGAWA Yuji
  Saga, Kashima City [Yutoku Inari Shrine, Hatsuuma Festival]

  Yutoku Inari Shrine is one of Japan’s three most famous Inari shrines. In February when the shrine holds the first horse day festival called “Hatsu’umasai” a variety of traditional celebrations parade through the neighborhood approaching to the shrine as offering to the shrine god. One such celebration is Menburyu, a typical folk dancing that is unique to Saga prefecture. At the head of this dancing procession, I saw cute child dancers performing as well and as powerful as adult dancers. When I see this festival, it always reminds me that spring has finally come.（Taken February, 2020）

• Third Place
  “Here Comes the Train!”　AKISAWA Makiko
  Tokyo, Edogawa City [JR Sobu Line, Hirai Station – Kameido Station]

  While out with my son to watch the hydrangea in bloom, he became more interested in the trains passing by every few minutes. Every time a train came, he rejoiced by stamping his feet. This picture was taken at one such joyful moment as he turned around to me as if to let me know that a train had come by. I was so moved to see his lovely expression that I took this picture. Since this experience, his love and interest in railway trains was awakened, and I realized that he became a perfect miniature “train geek”.（Taken June, 2021）

• Third Place
  “Climax”　YOSHIDA Masahiro
  Niigata, Niigata City [Niigata Soh-Odori]

  Niigata Soh-odori is the largest of all genres of dance festival in Japan. This event which started 20 years ago was created and managed by citizen volunteers. Today, people from around the world, and not just Japanese, work together to create this festival. Every year, I am moved by the sense of togetherness when many of the participants dance together at the very end of the festival.（Taken September, 2019）

• U-22 Award
  “Tail Lights in Spring Breeze”　UCHIDA Naruhiro
  Yamanashi, Kosyu City [JR Chuo Line, Kai-Yamato Station]

  Waiting for the Limited Express Azusa to pass, my train stopped on the siding of Kai-Yamato Station. The station was quiet with no one around, but I was moved to see the beautiful cherry blossoms nicely in full bloom. Employing a slow shutter speed to get the panning effect, I caught the lights of the Limited Express Azusa speeding past. The photograph captures the cherry blossoms and the express trains as if they were being sucked into the Sasago Tunnel to the right.（Taken April, 2021）

• Winner
  “A Cold Morning”　YAMADA Toru
  Gifu, Mizuho City [Tarumi Railway, Higashi Ogaki Station – Yokoya Station]

  While for more than five years I have been shooting pictures of Tarumi Railway, I realized that I had never taken a picture of the railway in the snow. To address this I chose Yokoya in Mizuho City to take my photograph, and since then I had been alert to the weather forecast. One early morning when the weather forecast was snow, I went out to Yokoya. By the time I got there, the snow had already stopped falling, but fortunately, snow-covered mountains appeared out of the fog, and to my satisfaction I could take this picture that captures the snow and the railway.（Taken December, 2020）

• Winner
  “The Passage of the Savannah”（Where the Iron Giraffe Watching Over）　KUDO Mitsuyoshi
  Tokyo, Koto City [Aomi Wharf]

  One evening in August, 2020 I was out observing the quiet gantry cranes, which are popularly called sea giraffes, at Odaiba artificial island. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic and it was all still and quiet, almost no people and there was not much to photograph. When I was heading back home, a large high-speed hydrofoil boat cut across the landscape raising clouds of spray behind it. I didn’t miss the chance and shot the speeding boat while in the background the sea giraffes remain standing solemnly making a nice contrast.（Taken August, 2020）

• Winner
  “Hydrangeas in Evening Glow”　MICHINOBU Takeo
  Tokyo, Koto City [Kyu-Nakagawa Waterside Park]

  In the center of Koto Ward in Tokyo lies Kyu-Nakagawa Waterside Park designated as a landscape priority area where you can enjoy canoeing and kayaking. It is a scenic location where you can command the view of five kinds of hydrangea against Tokyo Skytree tower. In one instant, the glow of the evening sun painted everything in gold. The photograph captured this golden hue on the full hydrangea blossoms in the foreground while the Tokyo Skytree tower seems as though it was watching over the city at the end of the day.（Taken June, 2021）

• Winner
  “The Galaxy Railway Firefly Journey”　USUI Yutaka
  Okayama, Okayama City [JR Tsuyama Line, Fukuwatari Station－Kome Station]

  I already had an idea of the title of the photo so I knew what I wanted to create. As I placed myself at the right spot in the middle of the night, I was looking to create an image where stars, fireflies, and the trains jointly perform. In the beginning, the sky was cloudy but it became clear later that night by the time the fireflies began to fly. I was happy with the result, just as I wished to create.（Taken May, 2021）

• Winner
  “Good Luck Until the End!”（Series 700 of Bullet train on the verge of retirement）　HISATOMI Yuito
  Tokyo, Shinagawa City [JR Tokai Oi railway vehicle base]

  I was invited by a friend of mine to join him to ride on the first train to go to the Oi railway vehicle yard. Since when Shinkansen 700 Series trains were decided to retire, they are decorated with a label on the side saying thank you and indicating the date of their retirement. I wanted to take a photo of this practice. After standing around in the yard, I came across a 700 Series train and the train crew heading for it. This coincidence presented an opportunity to take this photo perhaps providing a glimpse of what the crew was thinking about taking this train for its last run. Due to this reason, this is one of my favorite photographs.（Taken February 2020）

• Winner
  “Shiretoko in the Glittering Winter” 　TAMURA Yuya
  Hokkaido, Shari Town [Cape Puyuni]

  Wishing to shoot wintery scenery unique to Hokkaido, I visited Shiretoko Peninsula where thanks to a variety of natural phenomena, floating ice from the far-away sea drifts. I think it is a very romantic scene. I chose a vantage spot where the floating ice can be seen against the setting sun. In this picture, I captured the vast field of floating ice and the land of Shiretoko shimmering in the sunset.（Taken February, 2019）

• Winner
  “A Secluded Station”　DAN Yoshio
  Tokushima, Miyoshi City [JR Dosan Line, Tsubojiri Station]

  On the day weather was forecasted snowy, I went out to an observation platform where JR Tsubojiri Station was visible. The station is one of the two switchback stations in Shikoku. The weather was not ideal for taking pictures with occasional hard snow fallings. But just when a local train came in, the snow stopped falling for a while. I was so fortunate to take the photo of the switchback of the local train.（Taken January, 2021）

• Winner
  “Godzilla Appears”　ISHII Yoshiaki
  Kanagawa, Yokosuka City [Kurihama Flower Park “Hananokuni”]

  I came to this place many times before wishing to take a photo of Godzilla with an aircraft close to its mouth. However, this area was not on a regular flight path so sometimes no plane flew overhead for the entire day. However, on the day I took this picture, I learned that for about thirty minutes the flight path changed bringing planes over this area. I didn’t miss the chance and I was able to capture an aircraft passing near Godzilla’s mouth.（Taken April, 2021）

• Winner
  “Hina Dolls on the Water”　KAWAMOTO Izumi
  Fukuoka, Yanagawa City [Yanagawa Dolls’ Festival Sagemon Meguri]

  Yanagawa Dolls’ Festival Sagemon Meguri is a water parade to celebrate girls’ day. This year, the event took place again after a two-year break. The girls dress up in gorgeous colorful kimonos and decorations and they are rowed on boats called “Donko Boats” and paraded through the networks of moats stretching across the city. During the festival, “sagemon” ornaments are decorated here and there along the moat. I took this picture when one such boat passed under the masonry floodgate of the moat leading to Yanagawa Castle, while the boatman was showing off his great skill at keeping the boat in line. As I greeted the young girls from the bridge, they looked up and waved backed.（Taken March, 2021）

• Winner
  “Galaxy Travel” (Set of Three Photographs)　AKISHINO Shigehito
  Iwate, Tono City [JR Kamaishi Line]

  The JR Kamaishi Line is popularly called the “Galaxy Dream Line Kamaishi Line”. The name is given in honor of the book titled “Night On the Galaxy Train” written by MIYAZAWA Kenji, a local poet and the writer of children’s stories from Hanamaki City which is located along Kamaishi Line. The SL Galaxy train began to be operated regularly on Kamaishi Line in 2014. I took three rapid burst shots of the sparkling SL Galaxy train running through the spring mist contrasted against the great cherry blossom tree in the background.（Taken April 2019）

• Winner
  “Through the Morning Mist”　KONO Kiyoshi
  Ibaraki, Joso City [Kanto Railway Joso Line, Mitsuma Station – Minami-Ishige Station]

  It was a misty morning on the day of the photograph. Gradually, however, the first rays of the sun broke through the early morning mist lighting up the vista. The rice paddy fields with newly planted seedlings were shimmering silver when a single train ran breezily across the landscape. I found this shooting spot by chance. Because I have never seen another photographer here, I was thinking that this spot was my secret place. To my disappointment, however, later I found it was a rather well known spot to take photos.（Taken May, 2021）

• Winner
  “Hurry up ! To the vaccination Center” (Set of Three Photographs)　TACHIKAWA Akira
  Kanagawa, Yokohama City [Yokohama Municipal Bus]

  Covid-19 dramatically changed our everyday life. These three photos of a shuttle bus heading for a vaccination center on a dark rainy evening depict people’s unprecedented anxiety and fears for the pandemic. All I can do is to pray for us to be able to get through the long dark tunnel and emerge into the bright peaceful days that lie ahead by conquering the Covid-19 virus by means of vaccination and all other methods we can think of.（Taken July, 2021）

• Winner
  “Concerto for an Autumn Evening”　SOMA Tatsuya
  Tochigi, Oyama City [Oyama Balloon Fiesta]

  The Oyama Baloon Fiesta takes place in the fall in Oyama Sogo Park. During the day the hot air balloons compete in races and give rides to people. At night, the many balloons are transformed into gorgeous lighted orbs by their gas burners and by the fireworks that surround them. As I had never been to this event before, it was difficult to determine the composition of the photo. Sometimes the fireworks were shot too high in the sky taking them out of the picture. I randomly released the shutter of the camera leaving it to chance. So, I was truly happy that one such photo caught the lighted balloons and the fireworks at the same time, winning me a prize in this contest. I hope this picture fascinates people with hot air balloons.（Taken November, 2019）

• Winner
  “Get into the Spirit”　MATSUBARA Tomomi
  Fukuoka, Tagawa City [FujiHachiman Shrine, Jinko-sai River-Crossing Festival]

  Fuji Hachiman Shrine’s “Jinko-sai River-crossing Festival” has been performed for the past 450 years and is registered as an intangible folk cultural property by the Fukuoka Prefecture. The climax of the Jinko-sai River-crossing Festival is the scene when the bearers of each float, the Yamakasa, jump into the Hikosan River and start rocking the float to splash water. Overwhelmed by their energy, I was absorbed by the scene and released the shutter. This festival didn’t take place for the last two years due to Covid-19 pandemic. I look forward to the day when I can revisit this festival and again take photos of this traditional festival.（Taken May, 2019）

• Winner
  “Raising Children Now”　HAYASHI Hiroshi
  Hokkaido, Nemuro City [Lake Furen]

  As I live in Kyushu, in the southern part of Japan, I have a special interest in Hokkaido to the north. I have visited Hokkaido many times. One summer, when I took a package tour to Hokkaido, the landlord of the hotel next to Lake Furen advised me to go to the lake early in the morning if I wanted to take good pictures. I followed his advice, and indeed, I came across a family of red-crested cranes in the early morning light. As they are designated endangered species, I sincerely hoped those baby cranes would grow up safely. The summer morning scene reminded me that life is precious in Hokkaido.（Taken June, 2018）

• Winner
  “On the Way Home…”　SUZUKI Yoshiaki
  Shizuoka,Kakegawa City [Tenryu Hamanako Railroad, Haranoya Station － Harada Station]

  Wishing to convey to people how our local trains are continuing to serve the local transportation needs, one evening I was standing on the riverbank of Haranoyagawa River to shoot a local train passing over the bridge. There was a breeze in the air that evening, but just when it stopped and the water stood still, a train passed by against the glow of the setting sun. The timing was perfect and I could take this nice reflective shot. I will continue to support our local train, “Tenryu Hamanako Railroad”, in this way by means of photography.（Taken February, 2020）

• Winner
  “Autumn Seclusion”　MIKI Masaya
  Tokushima, Miyoshi City [JR Dosan Line, Koboke Station － Oboke Station]

  The JR Dosan Line is operated between Tadotsu Station in Kagawa Prefecture and Kubokawa Station in Kochi Prefecture. I took the picture of the Dosan Line trains running along the riverside of the Yoshinogawa River stretching between Koboke and Oboke stations both located near the prefectural border. Historically the Yoshinogawa River is one of the three wildest rivers in Japan and nicknamed Shikoku Saburo. Autumn commands magnificent scenery of the canyon with mountains on both sides covered by Japanese maple trees.（Taken November 2020）

• Winner
  “To the Sky of Hope”　MIZUTAMARI Keiko
  Kagohima, Isa City [Sogi Falls]

  Sogi Falls stretches 210 meters wide and 12 meters high, and due to its magnificent scale is called the Niagara Falls of the Orient. The day before, Sogi Falls received a lot of rainfall. Early the next morning I went out to the fall hoping to see rainbows. I stayed there the whole day until almost evening. Someone advised me “Be tenacious a little bit more”. I followed the advice and the result is this picture. I could see a really mystical rainbow.（Taken July, 2020）

• Winner
  “Coexisting with Nature”　MORIKAWA Katsumi
  Okayama, Kurashiki City [Mizushima Industrial complex, Kojima Unotsu Rice terraces]

  I have come to this shooting spot many times in the past wishing to take the picture of Mizushima Industrial Complex together with the terraced rice fields during rice planting season. But I had not been fortunate enough to catch the evening glow because of the rainy season or because of the haze from the yellow sand that occasional blows from the continent. Fortunately, on the day I took this picture, the sky was clear and the setting sun began to shine through the clouds to illuminate the industrial complex, while the rays reflected on the terraced rice fields. I was moved to see the changing scenery from moment to moment. We need to be determined to protect nature so that this beautiful landscape will continue to be preserved.（Taken July, 2020）

• Winner
  “Blue Saphir”　TANIGUCHI Akito
  Kanagawa, Odawara City [JR Tokaido Main Line, Hayakawa Station － Nebukawa Station]

  One fine winter day, I went out to shoot a picture of the trains and the sea in a powerful composition. I decided to shoot the pictures around the Ishibashi railway bridge, where I would be able to shoot from various angles. The background of the picture should be the sea. I framed the iron pillars in the picture so that viewers would be able to identify it as a railway iron bridge. Because the trains pass in a moment, I had to take the picture with perfect timing. I was glad that I successfully captured the head of the locomotive just inside the frame of the picture.（Taken February, 2021）

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