The town of Kumakogen in northern Ehime Prefecture has suffered a decline in population, with its demographic becoming increasingly graying. To prompt villagers into thinking more about their community and how to revive it, a local museum asked photographer Keiko Sasaoka to document the town, and it's beautiful surrounding areas, for a public exhibition.
One of the major projects Sasaoka worked on was a photographic version of the 26 views depicted in the "Kumayama Shinkei Emaki," an Edo Period (1603-1867) picture scroll by Hirozane Endo. A hundred and fifty years on, Sasaoka revisited the same areas and took photographs to illustrate how much Kumakogen has changed; till May 20.
Photographers' Gallery; (03) 5368 2631; 2-16-11-401, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. 12 noon-8 p.m. Free admission. Closed Mon. www.pg-web.net.
