Tokai Gábor szerk.: Fujiyama, A japán szépség Hokusai, Hiroshige fametszetein és fényképeken (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2005/4)

Tomitsuka Haruo - On Mt. Fuji

On Mt. Fuji Mt. Fuji is the symbol of Japan. It is said to be the spiritual home of Japanese people and is loved by all Japanese people. As you may know, Mt. Fuji is located in the center of the Japan archipelago and the highest mountain of all Japanese mountains. Also, from ancient times, it has been known as the nickname of "Fujiyama" in overseas as well. It stimulates a creative urge of everyone in various fields such as haiku, literature, paintings and photographs. I would emphasize that no other object can be a substitute for Mt. Fuji. In many places in Japan, we find a lot of firms and shops with the name of "Fuji". Also, people use the name "Fuji" for their cities, hills and bridges simply because they can see Mt. Fuji from those places. Thus, judging from the fact that there are so many names of mountains with a suffix "Fuji", anyone can understand how Japanese people love and respect Mt. Fuji. From a photographic point of view, as Mt. Fuji is the independent highest peak in Japan, pictures can be taken from all directions of 360 degrees. In other words, for beginners, it is rather easy to handle as an object. However, if it is treated as a work of art, the situation is quite different. Mt. Fuji does not always allow us to take good pictures of it. That's the unique point of Mt. Fuji. Throughout the year, approximately 30 percent is the chance you can see Mt. Fuji. The best time for the most beautiful Mt. Fuji is a moment at sunrise and just a few minutes at sunset. In winter, the top of Fuji is covered with snow and the rose-colored Fuji is too beautiful to compare with. I live in the plains at the foot of Mt. Fuji on 1000 meters above sea level and have my own photo gallery there. By living in this area, I can get a momentary expression of nature which is given to us only once. Thus, I live a happy life by taking pictures every day completing my lifework. When Mr. Ferenc Kósa, a movie director in Hungary, came to Japan to take pictures of Mt. Fuji, he happened to drop in our gallery because of the bad weather on that day. With his visit to our gallery as a start, "Mt. Fuji Exhibition" in National Gallery in Budapest came into realized. Invisible Mt. Fuji on that day may have sent the mysterious power to us. Tomitsuka Haruo Photographer, Yamanakako Photo Gallery