SEMIMARU Atsushi Fujiwara

Semimaru is a compelling photobook by Japanese photographer Atsushi Fujiwara, set in his hometown of Shiga Prefecture, where he lived from elementary school until his mid-twenties. For Fujiwara, his "hometown" is not merely a place of nostalgia; it is a complex entity that is sometimes troublesome, lingering and clinging to his heart.

The title originates from the Noh play Semimaru, a tragic tale in which a blind prince and his sister, both burdened by strange fates, lament their misfortunes. In Shiga, the very setting of this classical play, Fujiwara captured his subjects while imagining the haunting sound of Semimaru’s biwa (Japanese lute). He confronts his deep-seated, conflicting emotions toward his roots, delicately and beautifully expressing the clinging light and shadows of his mind.

Although this is the most deeply personal work of his career to date, framing it within the profound worldview of Semimaru elevates the book beyond the conventional boundaries of personal photography. We invite you to experience the seamless intersection of memory and landscape through the lens of Atsushi Fujiwara.