Amazing images of Japan from National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita

National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita, born in California, has spent decades exploring Japan to capture the country's nature, people, culture, and heritage. His latest book, The Nature of Japan, features over 120 images taken from 1988 to 2024. Yamashita, whose name means 'under the mountain' in Japanese, initially visited Japan in 1971 to teach English and later joined a local photo club to improve his spoken Japanese.

This club sparked his passion for photography, leading him to make the country his ongoing obsession.

In The Nature of Japan, Yamashita reveals that it was in Japan where he first used a serious camera to document the world around him and make friends with like-minded individuals. His work for National Geographic began in 1979, with his first assignment in Hokkaido where he encountered the deep connection between the Japanese people and their natural environment. The photographer aimed to showcase the hidden aspects of Japan, such as bamboo forests and shoji screens, rather than just the tourist-friendly attractions.

The layout of The Nature of Japan allows Yamashita's photographs to stand out, as they are given ample space on clean white pages. The book is unburdened by captions, with only quotes from Matsuo Basho's haiku and Shunran Yamaoki's calligraphy breaking the pristine layout.