Natsuyasumi means “summer vacation” in Japanese. As a young child in the 90’s, my twin sister and I spent alternating summer vacations with our grandparents on the coastal town of Manazuru. We spent our days swimming in the ocean, collecting marine life in buckets, and staying occupied at my grandparent’s parking lot-store. This culturally-immersive experience at such a young age cemented a strong foundational connection to my Japanese ancestry and the land that my mother once knew. In this body of work I use photography to explore my personal experience with barriers, identity, and familial history.

Odori Film Stills