槍ヶ岳 - The Spear

In the Northern Japanese Alps, the recognisable peak of Yari-ga-take rises steeply above its neighboring mountains. Its name, which translates as ‘The Spear’ refers to the iconic summit which stands at 3,180m (10,400 feet) making it one of the highest on the island of Honshu, and has earned it the nickname of ‘The Matterhorn’ of Japan. The mountain was first climbed in 1828 by the priest Banryū, who established a temple on its slopes. It is also here that the waters of the Shinano, Japan’s longest river begin. This project was a personal pilgrimage, inspired by the writings of Kyūya Fukada and a woodblock print ‘Yarigatake’ created by artist Hiroshi Yoshida in 1926. Shortlisted for the Hariban Photography award, this project was kindly supported by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. Project assistance and translation was provided by Brad Jaeger.