日本の最北端に位置し、シベリアにも程近くロシアとの国境を持つ辺境の地、北海道宗谷地方。
ここは島嶼部にも跨る雄大な自然風景が望める観光地である一方、手付かずの自然が多く残っています。
一方、冬季は原野一面が雪に覆われ、さながら南極圏に降り立ったかのような場所に変貌します。
今回は約2,5000ヘクタールにも及ぶ国立自然公園の奥地、この時期しか立ち入れない場所を旅し、
厳しい環境に息づく動植物、古代から続く自然風景、この地で力強く生きる人々の痕跡を映像作品に残しました。
Located at the northern tip of Japan, Soya region in Hokkaido is close to Siberia having a border to Russia.
Soya is known as a sightseeing spot that has a natural vast landscape straddling over islands whereas most of the area is uncultivated to remain natural.
On the other hand, the wilderness is covered with snow in winter and changing its form would make you think as if standing in the Antarctic circle. I traveled a restricted area where I can only visit in this season, which is about 2,5000 hectares of the hinterland of the National Nature Park. I've created a video work that shows flora and fauna surviving in a severe environment, natural sceneries that have been continuing from the ancient times and the traces of people who live vigorously in this area.
