Kanagawa

Travel

Noble flowers that lightly color late spring

Wisteria flowers have been loved in Japan since the Heian period for ornamental purposes. It is a leguminous plant with a sweet scent and elegant appearance, and there are many famous places in Japan. This time, I visited Yokosuka Iris Garden, where you can enjoy various varieties.

Fujien, which is mainly made of standing wood instead of wisteria trellis

Unlike the wisteria trellis, the line of sight is lowered and you can appreciate it in a natural way. Although it is within reach, it is a delicate plant that requires frequent care, so let’s enjoy it with your eyes without touching it.

Kushaku Fuji

Lens used: "Helios-44" 3rd generation

It is a variety with long spikes. It is a variety that is often cultivated like a wisteria curtain by making a wisteria shelf.

Nagasaki Ichi-sai Fuji

Lens used: TAMRON 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

It bloomed in a mixture of purple and pink flowers. Many are produced as pot varieties.

Noda Fuji

Lens used: TAMRON 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

Derived from the name of a botanist. The contrast between the white and purple of the petals is beautiful.

Honbeni Fuji

Lens used: TAMRON 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

The flowers are pink and have a gorgeous brightness.

Yaekokuryu Fuji

Lens used: TAMRON 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

The dark purple double flowers come in bloom. Another name is “Button Fuji”, and the lumps of vine-like flowers bloom.

Kobitan Fuji

Lens used: TAMRON 28-200mm F2.8-5.6

Capitan wisteria. The gradation when viewed from a distance is beautiful.

The world seen through an old lens

Finally, I would like to touch on the equipment used for shooting.
In recent years, old lenses have become more popular in Japan. Disposable film cameras are also popular.
Each has its own characteristics, but I would like to introduce how the lens used for shooting this time looks like.

Helios enjoying the bokeh round and round

Notice the background behind the flowers. Can you see that it has a rugged atmosphere? This is commonly known as “round and round bokeh.”
This is not an intentional product, but a product made by a Russian manufacturer imitating a German lens manufacturer, resulting in such an image. It is a popular and easy-to-find lens.

Old lenses are prone to ghosts and flares

Modern lenses are processed to prevent the above-mentioned red light (ghost) and the phenomenon that the screen becomes white due to sunlight (flare). Therefore, it is difficult to take such a picture. I think people have different tastes, but those who use old lenses will add this kind of play.

By the way, the TAMRON described in this article is a modern lens. It is a lens that shoots things in the distance, which is indispensable for shooting outside, and most of the photos posted in the past are taken with this lens.

I hope that the number of people who start photography with the photos posted will increase as much as possible. With that in mind, I wrote an article. I hope the world you see through the viewfinder will expand as much as possible.

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Featured articles

Kumamoto

JP info

[Minamioguni Town, Aso District]Information on new facilities and refurbished establishments around Kurokawa Onsen

Discover newly opened facilities and refurbished establishments in and around Kurokawa Onsen (Minamioguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture). Each spot lies within a 5-10 minute drive from Kurokawa Onsen town, making them easy to visit between hot spring hopping. From new ventures by long-established inns to cafés nestled in lush satoyama landscapes and restaurants dedicated to local ingredients, these spots brim with diverse appeal. Explore them as fresh ways to enjoy Kurokawa Onsen.

Tochigi

JP info

Avoid the traffic and enjoy the autumn colours of Oku-Nikko at dawn: “SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER’s Early Morning Autumn Foliage Tour” now on sale

From October 2025, we shall commence operations of the high-grade chartered coach ‘SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER’ as a new secondary transport service within the Nikko area. To commemorate the launch, Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd. has planned the ‘SPACIA X NIKKO CRUISER Early Morning Autumn Foliage Viewing Journey’, which will go on sale from Friday, 12 September 2025.

Countrywide

Event

Eighty Years After the War: A Reflection on the Preciousness of Ordinary Life YUKIKAZE – In Theaters Nationwide from August 15, 2025

“To Return Alive, To Bring Others Home Alive”

Opening nationwide on August 15, 2025—marking eighty years since the end of World War II—YUKIKAZE is a feature film based on the true story of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) destroyer Yukikaze, a vessel that rescued countless lives amid the horrors of war. A press screening was held in advance at the Sony Pictures screening room.

The destroyer Yukikaze, which served throughout the Pacific War, was renowned for rescuing numerous sailors thrown into the sea during fierce naval battles, surviving to the end of the war virtually unscathed. It earned the legendary moniker “the lucky ship.” This film brings to life the ship’s heroic journey, alongside the lives of those who persevered through one of the most turbulent eras in modern history.

Leading the cast is Yutaka Takenouchi as Captain Kazutoshi Terasawa—a fictional amalgamation inspired by the real-life captains of Yukikaze. Hiroshi Tamaki portrays Petty Officer First Class Kohei Hayase. Supporting roles are delivered by an ensemble of acclaimed actors including Daiken Okudaira, Rena Tanaka, Kanji Ishimaru, and Toru Masuoka. Kiichi Nakai delivers a commanding performance as Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō, the Second Fleet Commander of the IJN who met his fate aboard the battleship Yamato.

In today’s world, once again shaken by division and violence, YUKIKAZE poses an urgent question to those of us living in the peace that others fought to protect: Are we once again treading the path of past mistakes? As collective memory of the war fades, this film becomes ever more vital—a call to reflect on the true value of peace.

Fukuoka

Event

Restaurant

Takamiya Garden Saryo, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City, 18 Jul (Fri) – 11 Aug (Mon, national holiday) Summer event to feel cooler ‘Summer Lights – NATSU NO HI’ Reservations now being accepted.

The Takamiya Teien Saryo will hold its popular seasonal event “Summer Lights” from 18 July (Fri) to 11 August (Mon) 2025.A special dinner course, prepared exclusively for Summer Lights, featuring an abundance of seasonal fish and summer vegetables to bring out the coolness of summer. The meal finishes with shaved ice with matcha green tea, a summery treat. Please enjoy the dishes that gently add coolness to your summer evening in a relaxed atmosphere.

Hiroshima

Art

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part II: Ryosuke Yoshimura, Kisei Takahashi, Mario Cristiani, and Stefano Pesce

Opened in 2023 in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the Simose Art Museum sits on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, facing the sacred island of Itsukushima. Designed by globally acclaimed architect Shigeru Ban, the museum rose to international prominence when it was awarded the Versailles Prize in December 2024 as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Museum,’ drawing significant global attention.

To commemorate this achievement, the museum launched its first-ever contemporary art exhibition, Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art, which runs from April 26 to July 21, 2025. Within just ten days of opening, the exhibition surpassed 10,000 visitors—a record-breaking turnout for the museum.

Featuring works by emerging artists born between 1980 and 2000, primarily from across Asia, this special exhibition marks a bold new chapter for the museum as it ventures into contemporary territory.

Following our previous interview, HYAKKEI continues its coverage with insights from Ryosuke Yoshimura, Representative Director of Simose Art Museum; Kisei Takahashi, Board Director of the museum; Mario Cristiani, co-founder of Italy’s leading gallery Galleria Continua; and Stefano Pesce, Advisor of the Mark Tobey Committee CMT.

Hiroshima

Art

Simose Art Museum: “Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art”Interview Part I: Chief Curator Keita Saito

Opened in 2023 in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the Simose Art Museum sits on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, facing the sacred island of Itsukushima. Designed by globally acclaimed architect Shigeru Ban, the museum rose to international prominence when it was awarded the Versailles Prize in December 2024 as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Museum,’ drawing significant global attention.

To commemorate this achievement, the museum launched its first-ever contemporary art exhibition, Ambient, Environment, Circumstances – The Topography of Contemporary Art, which runs from April 26 to July 21, 2025. Within just ten days of opening, the exhibition surpassed 10,000 visitors—a record-breaking turnout for the museum.

Featuring works by emerging artists born between 1980 and 2000, primarily from across Asia, this special exhibition marks a bold new chapter for the museum as it ventures into contemporary territory.

HYAKKEI visited the exhibition shortly after its opening and sat down with Chief Curator and artist Keita Saito for an in-depth interview. “I wanted this project to challenge the current condition of the Japanese art world,” Saito noted.

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