YUIMARU

In Okinawan culture there is a concept called yuimaru which emphasizes support and mutual aid. It is the idea that people come together to look after one another.

This collection of photos offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of those on Ishigaki Island, where yuimaru defines what it means to be islanders.

Situated near the southernmost edge of Japan, Ishigaki is a subtropical island known for its beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. Last year, I spent three months there, arriving as a visitor and slowly becoming part of the community. I was invited to clean shrines at dawn, cook dinner for new friends, and sail with a former regatta champion.

My goal was to see the island as it really was. To meet the people who called it home. With each new encounter, each gesture of kindness, I felt it. Yuimaru. That became the photo project.

The portraits here are more than images of individuals. They reflect a place where people care for the island and for one another.