Mitsuhiko Imase x Yoshitaka Haba Talk Show | New BMW GRAN TURISMO at BMW Studio ONE 01

Chapter 10 Talk Show “Nature”

4th Talk Show: “Culture” – Mitsuhiko Imimori x Fuminori Haba 01

BMW Studio ONE, a limited-time space in Tokyo’s Jingumae, open until February 28th. The talk show series, held over four weeks with the theme “Sustainable Ways of Living,” reached its final installment on February 19th. The closing guests were photographer Mitsuhiko Imimori and book director Fuminori Haba. Their conversation, centered on their beloved subjects of photography and books, was filled with hints for a new lifestyle.

Summary by OPENERSPhotos by Kenta Yoshizawa

“Today’s final talk show is titled ‘Culture – A New Lifestyle Unraveled Through Photography and Books.’ We are delighted to welcome these two gentlemen: photographer Mitsuhiko Imimori and book director Fuminori Haba. Mr. Imimori has traveled from Shiga, and Mr. Haba, I understand, just returned from Paris yesterday.”

Imimori“Yes, from Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture.”

Haba“That sounds rather sophisticated, but I wasn’t doing anything particularly special, you know (laughs).”

“I’m a great admirer of your seminal work, ‘Satoyama Monogatari.’ I feel it holds the essence of a ‘sustainable’ way of life. Could you perhaps explain what ‘satoyama’ means to you?”

Imimori“The term ‘satoyama’ is often used in the media, but I sense it’s not fully understood. It’s surprisingly a relatively new word. It was only added to the Kōjien dictionary a few years ago. Before that, it was a neologism used by scholars. While the Kōjien defines it as ‘a mixed forest,’ there’s a slight discrepancy between the dictionary definition and its actual meaning. The concept of ‘a place where living things and people coexist,’ which is how I use it, has only recently begun to take root. It’s a landscape with rice paddies, mixed forests, people, and other living creatures. That’s what ‘satoyama’ is. No matter how beautiful, a ‘park’ simply isn’t the same.”

BMW Studio ONE | Mitsuhiko Imimori’s Seminal Work “Satoyama Monogatari”

BMW Studio ONE | Imimori Discusses “Satoyama”

“So, it’s a natural space where humans and living things can coexist. The concept in your photo collection, ‘Nature is not sustained without humans,’ was particularly striking. Mr. Haba, thank you for bringing the photo collection with you.”

Imimori“Ah, my apologies.”

Haba“Not at all. I’m a fan of Mr. Imimori’s work, so I’m happy to play the role of assistant today.”

“How long did it take to shoot ‘Satoyama Monogatari’?”

Imimori“These were taken over 10 years ago. I didn’t set a specific period for shooting, but I encountered this place when I was a student and have continued to photograph it for over 30 years. When I was a student, I stayed on Sulawesi Island in Indonesia for four months. Upon returning to Japan, I realized there was such a wonderful place in my own hometown of Shiga. I was only 19, but seeing the rice paddies made my heart race. Looking back now, it was my time in Indonesia that led me to take these photographs. I didn’t start shooting because I was originally from such an environment.”