In the harsh cold of a Hokkaido winter, a single photograph capturing a fleeting moment of wild red-crowned cranes is now drawing significant attention on social media.

The red-crowned crane's breath was on fire.

Source: @nagi0467's post

The photo shows two beautiful red-crowned cranes, their breath appearing to "burn" in a fantastical scene. While it was just a momentary event, its beauty strongly captivates the hearts of viewers. When this photo was posted on social media, it was reposted over 2,000 times, drawing numerous comments such as, "It's like a Japanese painting," "Their breaths are perfectly in sync," and "Both the photo and the words are beautiful."

Photographer Kohei Nagira has been nominated for an international photography award.

A beautiful red-crowned crane captured by Mr. Nagira

This shot was taken by Kohei Nagira, a photographer who works as a high school teacher in Hokkaido and continues to photograph wildlife. He carefully follows the lives of animals in their natural habitats, capturing many of Hokkaido's wild animals, such as Ezo sika deer and red-crowned cranes.

Mr. Nagira is currently a finalist for the People’s Choice Award in the globally prestigious "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" competition. This award, considered the pinnacle in the field of wildlife photography, is a special category where the winning work is decided by public vote, which begins on February 4, 2026.

Mr. Nagira's work, which has been nominated as a finalist

If he wins, he will be the first Japanese person to receive this award in the competition. Mr. Nagira is gaining increasing attention as an internationally acclaimed photographer. His photographs, which make you feel the very air and temperature of the scene, beautifully and profoundly convey the charm of Hokkaido's nature and wildlife.