Silver in Press/Feature Story / 2026 / Press / Feature Story

• Prize
  Silver in Press/Feature Story
• Photographer
  Yasushi Kashima, Japan
• Date of Photograph
  2026
• Studio
  Yasushi Kashima Photography
• Website
  https://yasushik.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/ky_photo7/

For more than 1,200 years, the Toba Fire Festival in Japan has been carried out as a sacred ritual praying for harvest, protection, and the coming year’s fortune. As towering flames consume the shrine structures, men dressed in traditional garments climb directly into the fire to seize the sacred objects hidden within. The ritual is both violent and spiritual — a confrontation between human devotion and the overwhelming force of nature. This series follows the progression of the night: from silent prayer, to chaos and heat, and finally to the stillness left after the flames fade. Through fir

Yasushi Kashima is a Japan-based fine art and cultural photographer whose work explores the relationship between nature, memory, ritual, and human presence. Inspired by the quiet beauty of mist-filled landscapes and the intensity of Japan's traditional festivals, he creates images that reveal the emotional and spiritual connection between people, place, and time. His photographs have received recognition, including 1st Place at the International Photography Awards (IPA), Category Winner at the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), and Gold Winner at Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3).

Awards International Photography Awards (IPA) 2024
1st Place – Nature / Seasons (Professional)
Jury Top 5 Selection
Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) 2025
Category Winner – People / Culture (Professional)
Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) 2025
Gold Winner – Professional