Earth Week: Kazuaki Koseki: Summer Faires

Earth Week: Kazuaki Koseki: Summer Faires by Michael O. SnyderApril 20, 2025

©Kazuaki Koseki, Courting Soul, 2023. Fireflies sometimes draw beautiful parabolic trajectories in the forest. In modern times, many forests have been lost for various reasons. This image was taken in a forest where a portion of a developed virgin forest remains. I feel that the presence of these fireflies is proof that the forest remains as rich as ever.

Each year during Earth Week I curate a collection of photographic projects from artists who are working to make the often-invisible nature of the global climate and the ecological crisis more visible using conceptual, lens-based art techniques. The arts – and the visual arts in particular – have a unique capacity to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths, provoke meaningful discussion, foster empathy, and inspire individuals to take action on today’s most pressing issues.

Today, we’re looking at Kazuaki Koseki ‘s project, Summer Fairies.

Born in 1977 in Yamagata prefecture, Japan. Kazuaki Koseki was born into a family photo studio business, of which he is the eldest son. With photos forming a familiar part of his life since early childhood, Koseki now conducts his private photographic work while running the studio he has since taken over. Mountains. Forests. Rivers. Koseki forges his way into the wilderness of Yamagata and Tohoku, evoking the five senses through the four seasons, and has dedicated himself to capturing the natural majesty of the area in many of his works, including in his landmark series Summer Fairies.

Including the award at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021,Critical Mass 2023,2024 Top 50,LensCulture Critics’ Choice 2024 Top10 (Megan Wright selected/Saatchi Art. Paolo Woods selected/Cortona On the Move)2021(Chris Pichler selected/Nazraeli Press), Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Professional Shortlist, BigPicture Nature world Photography Competition 21’23’24’,Photoville FENCE 2020,He has received numerous awards at home and abroad. Solo exhibition “Forest of Misty Vision” (2022, Fujifilm Photo Salon, Tokyo, Osaka).

Including photo exhibitions in the World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland),the Natural History Museum in London, the California Academy of Sciences, as well as being published in the Japanese edition of National Geographic magazine.2022 Published the art book “Forest of Misty Vision” (TOSEI Publishing Co.)

Instagram: @isseycraft

©Kazuaki Koseki, Full moon flower, 2022. This plant is called Campanula punctata Lam and its Japanese name is “Hotarubukuro” (firefly bag). It is said that the origin of the name comes from the flower that blooms at the same time as the typical Japanese firefly “Genji firefly” flying around, and that children used to play with fireflies in this flower and enjoy watching it. This image was taken with a 20-second long exposure, during which time a firefly flew toward the camera, stayed on the lens, and blinked twice. The resulting image looked like flowers floating inside the moon.

螢火(HOTARUBI)“Summer Fairies”

For my series Summer Faries, I explore the relationship between the ecology and natural environment of “Himebotaru” flying in the summer night forest. The spectacle of fireflies, an endemic species of Japan, flying through the summer forest is like a scene where the stars in the sky repeat twinkling. That sight is fantastic enough to forget the awe of the night forest. It is the shine brightness of life of only 10 days in the summer.

The forests they live in include forests that have been replanted by clearing old virgin forests, and some forests left behind after clearing virgin forests for development. These places also have a connection with Japanese nature worship, and are familiar with “Shinto”, which believes in “animism”, an ancient Japanese way of thinking that feels God in all things.

For many years in the forests of Yamagata Prefecture in Tohoku, Japan, I have been observing the ecology and habitat of “Himebotaru” and have come to feel that it is not an individual but a species. And I myself have noticed that the repeated glow of fireflies is remembered in my brain not for a moment, but for a longer unit of time. The sun goes down, the forest starts to get darker, the fireflies start to fly and continue to fly through the darkness.

Himebotaru draw beautiful parabolic trajectories in the night forest. While capturing reality, I create stories by condensing them into a single image by adding subjective perspectives and sensations, including the excitement of looking at it without time, and the awe of mountains and forests.

In this series, the trails of light drawn by fireflies are realistically captured and superimposed on the night forest. Alteration and damage caused by deforestation, natural disasters, climate change, and exploitation of wild places by tourism and industry. The mesmerizing light and awe-inspiring images of the forest at night suggest the need to protect the forest. The unpredictability of the fireflies’ trails of light suggests concern about the urgency of our planet’s climate crisis, while at the same time holding a strong and enduring hope for the future.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Path of Himebotaru,2018 Fireflies going across the mountain slope. The light that fireflies make creates a beautiful and shining road.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Forest Serenade,2020 Deep in the forest, the fireflies’ Serenade is played. The two fireflies climb up intertwined.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Layer of lights,2018 Japan is a country of rich nature with distinct four seasons. There are various signs that the forest will be rich in season, but one of them is when ferns cover the forest. The forest begins to be covered with deep green, and many plants and animals grow vigorously.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Lights of Life,2021 During the 10 days when “Himebotaru” flies, there is a peak period when many fireflies fly around most actively. The sight you see that day is the most beautiful. However, it is a day when the end of life of fireflies is approaching. The fireflies continue to shine to connect their descendants to the future with their lives. It is the lights of life.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Get lost in the fog,2022 A thick fog hangs in the forest. The forest at night is enveloped in a faint and soft atmosphere

©Kazuaki Koseki, Summer Forest Fearies,2023 This image was taken in a forest where people planted trees to produce wood. Nowadays, this forest is no longer well-maintained, and the light is blocked and plants other than ferns do not seem to grow, but this forest with good visibility seems to be a good place for fireflies to breed. It seems that humans and these fireflies are trying to coexist, unknown to us. Forests are living things.I feel that the presence of these fireflies is proof that the forest remains as rich as ever.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Journey to Rowan,2021 I found a beautiful rowan tree. A single firefly came from far away, blinking repeatedly. Then it circles the tree and leaves again. They continue small journeys to appeal their own light. Shining forest,2018 There is a cedar forest planted by humans. Japanese architectural culture is rooted in the culture of using wood, and people have built houses with the trees and lived there. Since ancient times, people have lived in close contact with the forest, and we humans have been nurtured in the forest.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Gate of God area,2018 The other side of the rope is a god area. Only the large cedar tree to which the rope is tied is a mutant that grew while twisting. The rope tied to the Japanese cedar tree is called “shimenawa”, and the other side is the barrier that enshrines the god. In ancient times, the area from here onwards was a sacred area forbidden to women.

©Kazuaki Koseki, The gods live,2018 Passing through the gate of the sacred area and proceeding forward, there were many gods protecting the forest.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Tanabata,2020 In Japan, there is a story that a prince (Altair) and a princess (Vega) can meet on July 7. The day is called “Tanabata”, and children write their wishes on strips and hang them on bamboo. Illuminated by the Milky Way, the fireflies also met once a year.

©Kazuaki Koseki, Ancient memory,2021 Look up at the sky and see the light of ancient stars. Looking at the unchanging sight that even the ancients saw, I feel the flow of a long, long time. I think that sometimes.

Tags: Kazuaki Koseki, Michael O. Snyder