Interview with Masaaki Toyoyoshi from Japan

I have been involved in various forms of photography, including books, online articles, videos, and photography classes. Since 2010, for about 10 years, I received guidance from Mr. Yukinori Tokoro, a photographer.

It was a family travel photo taken with an instant camera when I was little. I remember that taking photos itself was interesting at that time.

I mainly use Sony's series and also use the Ricoh GR III. I also use a retinal projection camera.

It's not a compliment but I am very inspired by the words of the pianist Gohei Nishikawa, who said, "This illness is a gift".

It's the everyday scenes that inspire me the most. I am strongly inspired by visual hallucinations where the sense of distance and horizon is disturbed and things that are not actually there are seen.

Invisible vision, unique expression and multiple exposure.

We see this award as a step towards creating better work as photographers and hope to continue producing meaningful pieces.

In Japan, the genre of contemporary photography is not yet well-established. Therefore, we mainly submit our work to overseas competitions.

Winning awards at overseas competitions is highly valued in Japan. Also, exhibiting in a virtual gallery was very meaningful. My friends and acquaintances were surprised and supportive of the award.

Ansel Easton Adams II,Man Ray,Yukinori Tokoro.

The best advice I received from a mentor was that there's no point in copying someone else's work. Originality is key.

It's important not to give up and to keep going. The methodology for becoming a photographer varies greatly and is different for each person. Some people debut by winning competitions, while others continue to publish their work consistently and gradually build their career.

Some people also learn techniques by joining a photography agency before becoming independent. There is no easy way, no matter which path you choose. It's important to find your own way and follow your own path. To seize opportunities, it's important to never give up. Personally, I continue to work hard every day with this in mind.

Listen to your inner voice. The answer is always within you.

There is no set form for artistic expression. Continuously exposing oneself to new experiences and incorporating them leads to further refinement of one's work. This includes not only technical aspects, but also ways of thinking, emotions, and world events. The key is to always keep learning and incorporating new ideas.

I am still very much a novice. I will continue to strive and aim for bigger awards. At the same time, I also want to use the power of photography to contribute to society. I hope to engage in activities aimed at achieving a society where no one is left behind by tackling various social issues. Thank you for your support going forward.