Hokkaido Heritage consists of the tangible and intangible assets of Hokkaido that should be passed on to future generations. The winning entries for the "Hokkaido Heritage Photo & Tanka Challenge 2024," a contest that called for photos and tanka poems on the theme of the 74 designated Hokkaido Heritage sites, have been announced. Starting this year, submissions via social media were accepted, and a new Tanka Division was established. The powerful works submitted give us a chance to rediscover the charm of Hokkaido. Please enjoy the allure of Hokkaido Heritage as expressed through these photos and tanka poems.

Photo Division: Grand Prize & Runner-ups

Grand Prize

Shigezo Hayashi / Land of a Secret Tale

■Subject / Location & Time
Shakotan Peninsula and Cape Kamui / Cape Kamui, August 2022

■Artist's Comment
While preparing to shoot the "Candle," a collaboration of Kamui Rock and the sun that occurs in spring and autumn, I encountered a dramatic scene where an unexpected "Angel's Ladder" spread across the entire sky. I took this photo while thinking of the secret tale passed down in this land.

■Judge's Comment
The highlight of this work is the bold yet soft and gentle rays of light and the golden color remaining in the rift of the dark clouds. Sometimes you can visit the same place many times and not encounter a satisfying scene, but this time you were able to capture that perfect moment. It's not just luck; it requires the sensibility to recognize it. The upward-reaching shape of Kamui Rock is also brought to life.

Runner-ups

・Kazuharu Hirata / mikuni no aki

■Subject / Location & Time
Sea of Trees in Tokachi Mitsumata / Mikuni Pass, October 2021

■Artist's Comment
I checked the weather forecast and headed to Mikuni Pass after the rain. The morning sun illuminated the peak autumn colors, and the sea of clouds was in the perfect position for me.

■Judge's Comment
The sea of trees seen from Mikuni Pass is one of the popular spots for camera enthusiasts. Among many similar shots, this one was great for capturing the perfect photo opportunity. It's wonderful how just a small part of the overwhelmingly powerful sea of trees is highlighted by the morning sun, and the composition, which includes the Matsumi Ohashi Bridge as a symbol of modern architecture without being too overpowering, is also quite skillful. It has become a dramatic work.

・Kinue Ezaki / Solitude

■Subject / Location & Time
Notsuke Peninsula and Utasebune Boats / Notsuke Peninsula, Todowara, February 2021

■Artist's Comment
The trees of Todowara are decreasing year by year, making it a precious peninsula that is disappearing. The tree that was there when I took the photo has now decayed and no longer exists, making me appreciate the power of photography to record things.

■Judge's Comment
Accompanied by the brilliantly shining setting sun, a single, leafless, and seemingly fragile tree stands firm. It really makes for a picturesque scene, doesn't it? The snowfield dyed in crimson is magnificent, resulting in a powerful photo with a harshness characteristic of Hokkaido in winter. The several shadows in the foreground and the black area in the center are well-balanced, and the composition is sophisticated.

Tanka Division: Grand Prize & Runner-ups

Grand Prize

Yusuke Endo

■Subject
Shimo-no-ku Karuta

■Artist's Comment
When I used to enjoy competitive karuta as a hobby, I became friends with a female player from Hokkaido, and through her, I learned about Shimo-no-ku Karuta. She married another male karuta player (not of Shimo-no-ku Karuta), and apparently, she was the one who proposed. I found it amusing to think that regular karuta must have been too slow for her, so I turned it into a poem.

■Judge's Comment
The idea of combining Shimo-no-ku Karuta and a marriage proposal is excellent. Placing the theme in the latter half of the poem is the technique of a skilled poet.

Runner-ups

・Satoshi Nakamura

■Subject
Wakka / Koshimizu Primeval Flower Garden

■Artist's Comment
This June, I traveled from Shiretoko to Koshimizu. I had wanted to visit this area since I was a student (more than 50 years ago). As expected, both places were wonderful, but as I gazed at the Sea of Okhotsk from the hills of Koshimizu, memories of the past and the many people who have passed through my life came to mind. The swaying Ezo daylilies seemed to be waving goodbye, and this poem came to me naturally.

■Judge's Comment
The proper noun part, which could have been anything, is perfected with "Koshimizu's daylilies," showing stability. The rhythm is good.

・Toshihiko Matsumoto

■Subject
Lake Mashu

■Artist's Comment
I went to Lake Mashu on my honeymoon more than thirty years ago. We toured various places in Hokkaido, but the blue of Lake Mashu remains the most impressive to this day. It was definitely "blue," but a completely different kind of "blue." When I looked up, there was the usual sky. That was also "blue," but it was a familiar "blue." That's why the "blue" of Lake Mashu was a "blue" that remains in my memory forever.

■Judge's Comment
A magnificent image vividly unfolds. The skillful use of refrain makes each "blue" appear as a different color.