"Thanaka" is a natural skin cream used primarily by women and children in Myanmar to protect their skin from the harsh South East Asian sun. The paste is made by grinding the bark of a citrus tree against a wet stone. People carefully apply the cream to their faces in the mirror. Some young ladies also make decorative leaf patterns on their faces with the cream.
“Thanaka” is indeed a symbol of Myanmar's culture.
At Inlay Lake, where I have traveled to, the locals live without the convenience of electricity or gas, and still draw their water from wells. Their lives may seem inconvenient but, as devout Buddhists, they are content to live simply while following a path of virtue.
One day I became separated from my party and found myself lost in the public market. The concerned locals approached me and helped me locate my companions.This altruism is called “Ritashin” in Buddhism. They were very thoughtful, even towards a tourist such as myself. I felt this was something we Japanese have lost in our prosperity.
Their natural character is similar to Japanese people in that they have a tendency to make it a priority to harmonize with others, not to be assertive, and their religious beliefs, which are tied to their lives, are based on Buddhism as well as an indigenous faith. Since there are many people who look like Japanese near Inlay Lake, the landscape there reminds me of Japan in the old days.
I look through the viewfinder with bated breath, feeling uncomfortable as they look back at me. Their calmness coming from the vitality of a people who appreciate what most of us take for granted.
After visiting several times, I began to talk to them, and started to understand the harsh reality they face, suffering from poverty, sickness, and a lack of healthcare and education; however, they believe in a brighter afterlife and try to live humbly.
Myanmar is undergoing a rapid shift from being a military regime to a democracy. It is clear that urban development will be inevitable under a free market economy. I live in Tokyo, where society is pressed for time and profit takes priority. It seems when the direction is towards a Western-type consumer society the environment changes and this affects the lives and temperament of the people.
These black and white photographs document the people and their lives, and the passage of time at Inlay Lake
I believe the most appropriate and beautiful format to represent my aesthetic is the gelatin silver black and white print.