For my series Summer Fairies, I explore the relationship between the ecology and natural environment of Himebotaru fireflies flying in the summer night forest.
The spectacle of fireflies, an endemic species of Japan, illuminating the summer forest is like a scene where the stars in the sky twinkle repeatedly. That sight is so mesmerizing that it makes one forget the awe of the dark forest. It is the radiant brilliance of life that lasts only ten days in summer.
The forests they inhabit include areas that have been replanted after clearing old virgin forests, as well as forests that remain untouched following deforestation for development. These places are also deeply connected to Japanese nature worship and are closely associated with Shinto, which embraces animism, an ancient Japanese belief that sees divinity in all things.
For many years, in the forests of Yamagata Prefecture in Tohoku, Japan, I have observed the ecology and habitat of Himebotaru and have come to perceive them not just as individual creatures, but as a collective species. Over time, I have also realized that the continuous glow of fireflies is not just a fleeting moment in my memory but lingers for a longer period.
As the sun sets and the forest darkens, the fireflies take flight and continue to glow through the night. Himebotaru trace beautiful parabolic trajectories in the nocturnal forest. While capturing reality, I create stories by condensing them into a single image, incorporating subjective perspectives and sensations— the excitement of observing the scene beyond time, the reverence for the mountains, and the deep connection with the forest. In this series, the light trails left by fireflies are realistically captured and superimposed onto the night forest.
Deforestation, natural disasters, climate change, and the exploitation of wild places by tourism and industry cause significant alterations and damage to these environments. The mesmerizing glow and awe-inspiring imagery of the forest at night serve as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these natural spaces. The unpredictability of the fireflies’ light trails evokes concern about the urgency of our planet’s climate crisis, while simultaneously embodying a strong and enduring hope for the future.
About Kazuaki Koseki
Born in 1977 in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, Kazuaki Koseki grew up in a family that owned a photo studio, where he is the eldest son. Having been surrounded by photography from an early age, he now balances his personal photographic work while managing the studio he has inherited. Mountains, forests, and rivers serve as his inspiration as he ventures into the wilderness of Yamagata and Tohoku. Through all four seasons, he captures the natural majesty of the region, evoking the five senses in his imagery. His dedication to nature photography is evident in many of his works, including his renowned series Summer Fairies.
Koseki has received numerous awards both in Japan and internationally. His accolades include recognition in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021, Critical Mass 2023 and 2024 (Top 50), and LensCulture Critics’ Choice 2024 (Top 10)—selected by Megan Wright (Saatchi Art) and Paolo Woods (Cortona On The Move). He was also shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Professional Category and received honors at the BigPicture Nature World Photography Competition in 2021, 2023, and 2024, as well as at Photoville FENCE 2020. In 2021, his work was selected by Chris Pichler (Nazraeli Press). His solo exhibition Forest of Misty Vision (2022) was held at Fujifilm Photo Salon in Tokyo and Osaka. His photographs have been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland), the Natural History Museum in London, and the California Academy of Sciences. His work has also been published in the Japanese edition of National Geographic magazine. In 2022, he published the art book Forest of Misty Vision (TOSEI Publishing Co.). [Official Website]
