Winter bamboo grove: Kencho-ji

The pale winter sunlight of the westering sun is streaming into the silent bamboo grove and the bamboo stalks are casting their long shadows on the cold ground which is thickly covered with the dead leaves.

In this wintry garden, every living thing is waiting patiently for the return of the gentle spring sunlight which will awaken it up from deep winter sleep.

The fallen leaves quietly keep decaying to provide fertile soil for the lively resurgence of life in the prime of the year.

Winter garden: Tokei-ji

In the seasons which rotate ceaselessly, all the living and lifeless things of nature are harmoniously woven into the distinctive scenery from each time of the year.

The further winter deepens, the nearer spring approaches. In the freezing air of midwinter, I saw small flower buds enduring coldness on the dry leafless branches of apricot trees.

The fallen leaves have gathered at the feet of the moss-covered image of Kanzeon Bosatsu, which is staring steadily at these decaying leaves while giving them a warm merciful smile.

Winter garden: Tokei-ji

Just underneath the cold ground, innumerable microorganisms are zealously wriggling and working without cease to decompose dead plant and animal tissues and to recycle their nutrients for the awakening and rebirth of life in the coming spring.

Koubai (red apricot tree) blossoms: Kaizo-ji

Under the gray wintry sky, the noble flowers of Ume have started blooming one by one to quietly tell me of the arrival of spring.

Winter maple tree: Kaizo-ji

Hakubai (white apricot tree) blossoms: Engaku-ji

Suisen (daffodil) flowers: Kaizoji

Adiantum: Kita-kamakura

Robai (Chimonanthus praecox) blossoms: Engaku-ji

Winter-peony flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Winter-peony flowers: tsurugaoka-hachimangu

Winter seascape: Yuigahama-beach

The soft radiance of the slowly declining sun is tinging the sea, the sky and a range of distant mountains with various shades of pale violet and greyish gold.

The northern wind has just subsided into a cold breeze and the sea keeps rippling gently in silence.

In this watercolor seascape which is changing moment by moment, I find something eternal and remain standing here, staring into it as the sun goes down in the distance.

Winter seascape: Yuigahama-beach

The cold transparent air of midwinter makes it possible to clearly see the fine silhouette of the faraway island of Izu Oshima from this beach.

The sea and the sky are subtly colored with faint crimson by the slanting rays of the sun.

People come to this seashore just as if they were led by their innermost voices and silently keep gazing at the far horizon to seek answers to the voices in the depths of their hearts.

Winter seascape: Yuigahama-beach

In the amber glow of the sinking sun, a bank of fleecy clouds drift away like a flock of seabirds returning to their nests hurriedly.

A girl is watching fixedly the blaze of the sun transforming every moment above the gently undulating sea.

A boy is running by the water's edge as if to try to chase the time which is swiftly going by toward the night.

Winter seascape: Yuigahama-beach