BONSAI - Microcosms Macrocosms Masao Yamamoto

This is a photobook by photographer Masao Yamamoto, known for his deeply expressive works characterized by monochrome tonality.

The title, Ichie Ichie (A Single Drop in Hand), is a term coined by Yamamoto based on the Zen teaching that "the universe resides even in a single drop of dew."

This series focuses on Bonsai, a quintessential form of Japanese traditional aesthetics. Yamamoto photographed these miniature trees—which survive only through human hands and water—by placing them within the majestic, expansive landscapes of Mount Yatsugatake and the foothills of Mount Fuji.

The Bonsai featured were created by Bonsai artist Minoru Akiyama of Akiyama Bonsai Garden in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Bound by hand using the Japanese Watoji (traditional bookbinding) method by the artisans at Hakushodo Bindery, the book itself is akin to a piece of craftsmanship. Within its pages unfolds a world that pursues the ultimate beauty woven by the interplay of artwork and nature.