Mizukoshi is a veteran photographer who lives next to Lake Kussharo in Hokkaido. Mizukoshi mainly photographs nature, especially mountains. While he has shot abroad, this year Mizukoshi decided to concentrate on the theme of Japan from an ecosystem perspective. Mizukoshi has recently been shooting on Yakushima Island, famous for its Yakushima cedars and unique environment. How does a veteran photographer like Mizukoshi see the island? Following is Mizukoshi's photo essay of the island.

about 1300~1400m	I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I	interviewed by: sensorium staff I have been fascinated by Yakushima Island for 25 years. The island is so small, just 130 kilometers in circumference. However, it has various ecosystems that change depending on the altitude. The climate of the island ranges from subarctic to subtropical. It's like a microcosm of Japan's climate. I have visited Yakushima Island several times, but I love winter there . Although it is only located 30 degrees north of equator, it snows there. So I carried winter climbing equipment while shooting photos on this southern island.
about 1,200m
about 1,100m
about 1,000m
about 800m
about 750m
about 400~500m
about 0m

Yakushima Island
Yakushima Island is located 70 kilometers south of Sata Point, the southern tip of Kyushu. The island is circular, with an area of about 500 square kilometers. There are seven mountains, each of which is around 1,800 meters high. Accordingly, the island's climate ranges from subarctic to subtropical. It is well known for its climate and its unique botanical characteristics.
Yakushima Island has an annual rainfall of 4,000 millimeters on the coast and more than 8,000 millimeters in the mountains. The forests of Yakusugi Japanese cedars are thousands of years old. They are called Jomon cedars, and they grow together with evergreen forests.
In 1993, UNESCO listed Yakushima Island as a World Heritage site in accordance with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage.

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[Mizukoshi Shots Fiery Mountain]
[map page of sensing Japan]