Being A Witness 1

Ikeshima, Nagasaki, was once a thriving coal-mining island. Following the sudden closure of its mines in 2000, the island rapidly lost its population and much of its daily life.

This work was developed after encountering one of the few remaining residents who continues to live on the island.

Through several days of staying, observing, and conversing with the people who remain, the work reflects on the memories, traces of time, and emotions embedded within the landscape.

Rather than documenting Ikeshima itself, the work contemplates the enduring presence of what may still be called home.

This experimental video work was created by reflecting on the past, present, and future of the island and this man, evoking the question, "What is a homeland?" It captures the persistent emotions and realities that remain on the island.