Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Jean-Henri Fabre INSECTS ON EARTH: Photos, Stories and Crafts by Mitsuhiko Imamori

Highlights

Through the works of renown Japanese nature photographer Mitsuhiko Imamori, you will:

Step into the bizarre world of some of the smallest creatures on the planet, insects;
Learn about insects of nearby satoyamas and their habitats, and;
Rediscover what is fundamentally interesting about bugs, as FUJIFILM SQUARE marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Jean-Henri Fabre, considered by many the father of entomology.

Works to be shown

Caucasus beetles
©Mitsuhiko Imamori

Pair of dung beetles
©Mitsuhiko Imamori

Female (left) and male (right) king stick locust
©Mitsuhiko Imamori

Giant Asian mantis
©Mitsuhiko Imamori

About the exhibition

FUJIFILM SQUARE is commemorating the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Jean-Henri Fabre by presenting a fascinating look at insects through the “INSECTS ON EARTH: Photos, Stories and Crafts by Mitsuhiko Imamori” exhibition.

This thought-provoking close-up of the insect world comes through the amazing works of naturalist/photographer Mitsuhiko Imamori, who first put this artistic spin on the curious behavior of bugs in his Domon Ken Award-winning photobook, “Insects on the Move for 400 Million Years”. It will lead you on a journey of encounters with some of the smallest creatures that inhabit the great outdoors, while also spotlighting insects and their habitats in more familiar satoyamas^*1 through both photographs Imamori took from within these delicately balanced ecosystems and his efforts to restore those environments and promote SDGs^*2.

The exhibition will also put on display 3D paper cutouts of insects made by the multitalented Imamori himself, giving children and adults alike plenty to see and ponder about the natural environment that insects call home.

*1 A satoyama is the crossover area between the great outdoors and arable land where mankind coexists and interfaces with the natural environment to the benefit of both. Biodiversity is an underlying characteristic of a satoyama.

*2 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member-States in 2015. There are 17 goals and 169 targets established to address the issues of poverty, inequality and injustice, health, education, fulfillment in work, climate change and the environment, etc. #13 “Climate Action” and #15 “Life on Land” relate to this exhibition. The photographs of insects and the natural environment you will see should be a good trigger for thinking about SDGs.

[Image]SDGs #13-Climate Action and #15-Life on Land

Exhibition overview

Title	FUJIFILM SQUARE Photo Exhibition Commemorating the 200^th Anniversary of the Birth of Jean-Henri Fabre INSECTS ON EARTH: Photos, Stories and Crafts by Mitsuhiko Imamori
Dates	July 28 (Fri) – August 24 (Thu), 2023
Time	10:00 - 19:00 (Until 14:00 on the final day. Entry allowed up to 10 minutes before closing.) Open every day for the full duration of the exhibition.
Venue	Spaces 1, 2, 3 & Mini Gallery, Fujifilm Photo Salon Tokyo, FUJIFILM SQUARE
Admission	Free *This exhibition is being held as a corporate MECENAT activity. We are pleased to announce that admission is free to enable more people to attend.
Number of works	About 120 color prints in 1000×1500 mm, 600×900 mm, 400×600 mm and other sizes (Planned) - Photos will be developed from film and printed on highly descriptive Fujifilm silver print. About 8 3D paper cutout insects (Planned)
Organized by	FUJIFILM Corporation
Planned in cooperation with	Aurelian Garden Co., Ltd., Crevis Inc.
Supported by	Japan Henri Fabre Society, Wild Bird Society of Japan, Minato City Board of Education, Osaka City Board of Education
Curated by	Daisaburo Okumoto (Scholar of French literature, author, President of the Japan Henri Fabre Society)
Other venues/dates	FUJIFILM Photo Salon Osaka, July 19 (Fri) — August 7 (Wed), 2024

* This exhibition may be cancelled or rescheduled for unavoidable circumstances. Visit FUJIFILM SQUARE online or call for updates.

ACCESS

Summer Break Open Study into “Some Interesting Things about Bugs” (Free)

1. Gallery Talk with Mitsuhiko Imamori

Date/Time	(1) July 29 (Sat)/13:30 — 14:00 (About 30 min) “About Photographing Insects” (2) July 30 (Sun)/11:00 — 11:30 (About 30 min) “About Man’s Relationship with Insects and the Natural Environment”
How to register	See below notes. Registration not required. No capacity limit. No age limit.

Date/Time

(1) July 29 (Sat)/13:30 — 14:00 (About 30 min)

“About Photographing Insects”

(2) July 30 (Sun)/11:00 — 11:30 (About 30 min)

“About Man’s Relationship with Insects and the Natural Environment”

How to
register

See below notes. Registration not required. No capacity limit. No age limit.

2. Paper Cutout Workshop with Mitsuhiko Imamori

Date/Time	July 30 (Sun)/13:30 — 15:00 (About 90 min)
How to register	See below notes. Preregistration required. Max. 30 groups (For elementary/junior high school students and their parents)

3. Artist Talk with Mitsuhiko Imamori about “INSECTS ON EARTH”

Date/Time	August 11 (Fri/Nat. Holiday)/13:30 — 14:30 (About 60 min)
How to register	See below notes. Preregistration required. Max. 100 person. No age limit.

* Participants in Events 1, 2 and 3 will receive a cutout postcard specially made by Mitsuhiko Imamori as a memento.
* Interested persons can register for Events 2 and 3 online at the below website on or after May 26 (Fri).

* Masks are urged during talking events and may be required if the site is crowded.
* Events may be modified or cancelled as dictated by circumstances.

4. Paper Cutout Insect Template for Visitors

Anyone who leaves a message for Mitsuhiko Imamori during the exhibition will receive a paper cutout template made specially for this exhibition by Mitsuhiko Imamori as a memento.

5. Taped Interview with Mitsuhiko Imamori about His “Satoyama and Environmental Activities”

The interview can be viewed on the Guide page of the FUJIFILM SQUARE website from the first day of the exhibition.

URL https://fujifilmsquare.jp/interview/230728_01.html

* The event will be held only in Japanese.

Profile of the Photographer

©Aurelian Garden Co., Ltd.

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Mitsuhiko Imamori

Born in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture in 1954. Self-taught freelance photographer since 1980. Built a studio amongst some rice paddies overlooking Lake Biwa from where he has pursued man’s relationship with the natural environment from the satoyama concept, while traveling the world photographing a wide range of landscapes from rain forests to deserts.
Recipient of numerous awards including the 20^th Ihei Kimura Photo Award, 28^th Domon Ken Award, 48^th Mainichi Publishing Culture Award and grand prize of the 42^nd Sankei Children’s Book Award.
His photobooks include “SATOYAMA: In Harmony with Neighboring Nature” (Shinchosha), “MIZUBE” (Sekaibunkasha), “Days of Insects” (Fukuinkan Shoten), “Field Note in “SATOYAMA”” (Fukuinkan Shoten) and “Aurelian Garden” (Crevis). Has authored numerous photo collections including “The Grove Land, My Little Cosmos” (Sekaibunkasha), “Watersphere Touches Indigo Infinity” (Sekaibunkasha), “Satoyama wo Aruko” (Iwanami Shoten) and “Watashi no Niwa” (Crayonhouse). Published “Scarab” (Heibonsha) and “Satoyama” (Crevis) alongside photo exhibitions.

Website Instagram Twitter

- Books for Sale in the Gallery (Planned)

Scarab (Photobook, tentative title)
Mitsuhiko Imamori spent over eight years photographing and writing about scarabs -- fascinating little creatures revered as a manifestation of the sun god in ancient Egypt and passionately studied by the father of entomology, Jean-Henri Fabre. Finally, after a complete makeover, this popular photobook will be back in print this summer!

Satoyama (Photobook, tentative title)
This is the definitive photobook for exploring Japan’s satoyamas through telltale photographs taken by an expert who has attentively observed these delicately balanced ecosystems from within for 50 years. Between author Mitsuhiko Imamori’s astutely parsed words and the gentle transition across all four seasons, you will rediscover the beauty of the natural environment that Imamori passionately wants to conserve for future generations. Highly recommended for nature-lovers, the newest edition will be released this summer.

- Related Events

“Satoyama: Where Even the Water Has a Scent” Photos by Mitsuhiko Imamori
Shiga Museum of Art July 8 (Sat) — September 18 (Mon/Nat. Holiday), 2023
1740-1 Setaminamigayacho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
TEL 077-543-2111 (Calls answered between 8:30 — 17:15)

Satoyama Insects Workshop with Mitsuhiko Imamori
Aurelian Hill, Meisui no Satoyama, Yanagi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture July 24 (Mon) — 26 (Wed), 2023
Catching insects, crafts, talking, etc. (Participation fee and preregistration required)

For more information

Profile of the Curator

Daisaburo Okumoto

Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1944. French literature scholar, author. Completed his doctoral studies in French literature at the Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo. Taught at Yokohama National University as an assistant professor prior to professorships at both Saitama University and Osaka University of Arts. President, Japan Henri Fabre Society; Director, L’Oustal del Félibre di Tavan (Fabre Insect Museum).
Has published numerous books including “Kanyaku Fabre Konchuki” (Shueisha, Kikuchi Kan Prize), “Kanyaku Fabre Konchuki Junior Edition” (Shueisha, Sankei Children’s Book Award), “Mushi no Uchushi” (Shueisha, Yomiuri Prize for Literature), “Tanoshiki Nettai” (Shueisha, Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities), “Hanmyo no Yado” (Chukobunko, JTB Literary Prize), “Hakubutsugaku no Kyojin Henri Fabre” (Shueisha), “Sampo no Konchuki” (Genkishobou) and “Bokura no Konchuki” (Deco).

- Japan Henri Fabre Society
French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre was adamant about passing on his understanding of the natural world. The Japan Henri Fabre Society puts that passion into practice by providing opportunities for children to touch insects and plants in the wild and at its interactive museum, L’Oustal del Félibre di Tavan. Through its insect exhibits and periodic events, the Japan Henri Fabre Society aims to foster a healthy view of the natural environment so that not only kids but families, too, can regain the understanding of the natural environment that the Japanese people had long ago and the sense of beauty they saw in it.

Official website

Long-Range Targets of the Fujifilm Group

Businesses are increasingly expected to play a responsible role in achieving long-range targets aimed at solving social issues addressed under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs^*1), the Paris Agreement^*2 and the like. Our Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030) was crafted with long-range targets set for fiscal 2030, as our contribution to these global efforts. Of the 17 SDGs, we believe that we can make an impact on the below 10 goals at the Fujifilm Group, and are promoting activities to do so.

*1 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goals in sustainable development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, to be taken up as social issues by the international community until 2030. 17 goals and 169 targets have been established to address the issues of poverty, inequality and injustice, health, education, fulfillment in work, climate change and the environment, etc.

*2 Paris Agreement: International, multilateral agreement on arresting climatic changes that was adopted by the 21st Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP21) held in Paris in 2015. The Agreement calls for holding the global temperature rise to less than 2℃ over the level before the Industrial Revolution.

SDGs goals that Fujifilm can make major contributions to

EXHIBITION

Eadweard Muybridge, Gallop; thoroughbred bay mare Annie G.,
photographed in 1884–1885, from Animal Locomotion.

Animal Locomotion as the Origin of Moving Images
Eadweard Muybridge: The Man Obsessed with Sequence Photography

FUJIFILM SQUARE Photo History Museum Photo Exhibition

October 1 – December 26, 2025

PHOTO HISTORY MUSEUM