Amazing images of Japan from National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita

Although he was born in the state of California in the US, National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita has spent decades visiting the land of his ancestors, Japan, to explore the nature, people, culture and heritage of a unique country that his forefathers called home.

The results of Yamashita’s long-term photographic journey are in his book The Nature of Japan, which features over 120 images shot from as far back as 1988 right through to 2024. Yamashita – his surname means ‘under the mountain’ when translated from Japanese – has undertaken numerous trips to Japan in a bid to seek out and document the essence of the country.

Born in 1949, the photographer first visited Japan back in 1971, after graduating from Wesleyan University, when he travelled to the country to teach English. It was here that he joined a local photo club in order to work on his spoken Japanese, but the club also inspired him to pursue photography in a professional capacity.

In The Nature Of Japan, Yamashita reveals, ‘It was in Japan that I picked up my first serious camera, both to document the world I was beginning to know and to make friends and meet like-minded people. It didn’t take long for photography to become an obsession and one that led me to my life’s ongoing passion.’

Yamashita first began working for National Geographic in 1979 photographing in various countries. He reveals, ‘My first assignment for National Geographic was in Hokkaido, where I discovered how deeply connected the Japanese people are to their natural environment.’

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