Nemurushima: The Sleeping Island

Visually stunning portrait of a nearly abandoned Japanese island

Teshima is one of the 28 islands of the Shiwaku Islands in Japan. In former times the island has been famous for its navy, and the island's shipbuilding and ship handling skills were valued and played a major role in maritime distribution.
Today, there are only a dozen or so islanders living on Teshima. The terraced fields that once covered the mountains have been swallowed up by bamboo forest, including the stone walls that had been left. The island's last fisherman passed away at the end of last year, and his fishing boat remains tied up in the harbor, swaying in the waves. Listening to the island's quiet sleep without disturbing it will lead us to face the present situation of Japan as an island nation.
Kentaro Kumon (b. 1981) is active in a wide range of fields, including magazines, books, and advertising. In 2012, he was awarded the Photographic Society of Japan's Newcomer's Award.