「いただきます」“Itadakimasu”

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PHOTOGRAPHER 青野 千紘 CHIHIRO AONO

Graduated from the Department of Photography at Nihon University College of Art;

joined Hakuhodo Photo Creative (currently Hakuhodo Product's)

Bright sunshine rains down.
Piglets rest in the shade of a tree.
Chicks follow their about.
One hears the sounds of children playing.
And adults chuckling.
A breeze blows through.
In the yard, the farmer wrings chicken’s neck,
prepares the bird and serves the family up
a tasty meal at the dining table.
It’s a beautiful, idyllic scene.
These photos of livestock raised for human consumption are a rare sight in Japan.
In Japan, You hear the news of children who think slice of fish swim in the ocean,
that they aren’t cut from living creatures.
Some people swear off shrimp after learning the animals have feelings.
At an elementary school, teachers taught children about food by having them raise
a pig for a year and then decide whether
or not to eat it.
Maybe it’s weird to think about such things.
I’m getting hungry.
Perhaps I’ll eat some pork cutlets.
“Itadakimasu.”
We shared the food used in the shoot with the BanRomSai orphanage and the villagers and we also enjoyed eating together.
This shoot wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my college friend and ex-colleague Matsui.
I am also truly grateful to the Srichanta family and everyone in the village of Nampare.

ART DIRECTOR 川辺 圭 KEI KAWABE

Earned a Master's degree from Tama Art University

2009: Joined Hakuhodo

PRIZE :

  • ACC Award, Grand Prix. ACC Award, Gold. ACC Award, Silver. ACC Award, Blonze, etc.

“Itadakimasu.”
I’ve thought this Japanese word of thanks, spoken before the meal and literally meaning
“I shall eat now” was just for the person who prepared the food.
However, I learned its true meaning in Thailand.
Markets in Thailand are incredible.
They sell whole goat, Pig head,
And even some sort of blood.
But the most incredible thing is the atmosphere in the meat markets.
It is staggeringly heavy.
It feels completely different from the vegetable markets. Things like lives, souls, or grudge of living creatures fill up whole market.
It makes us really dark, and gloomy mood.
But then, I just realized.
“Itadakimasu” means not only for food,
but also it means for receiving their lives or souls.
It’s deep…. Japanese, are deep.
From now on,
Before the meal of everyday life,
I have to put my hands together
and say sincerely “Itadakimasu”.

STAFF LIST

  • P: Chihiro Aono
  • AD: Kei Kawabe
  • Ret: Ryo Ito
  • Pr : Haruka Sato
  • Model: Srichanta Kamthon, Srichanta Konishi Yuko, Srichanta Konishi Nanami, Srichanta Konishi Otowa
  • Special Thanks: Satomi Matsui, Kohei Nishiyama, The Namprae Village

CHIHIRO AONO

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KEI KAWABE