the island of setoda is nestled in a corner of the japan inland sea, near hiroshima. setoda’s shiomachi district is a quiet corner of hiroshima prefecture, often overlooked in favor of larger, more famous destinations. this series focuses on the ferry landing and townscape, looking at a place caught between renewal and decay.

at the ferry landing, the pulse of modern life is in evidence. new buildings, freshly painted facades, and recently developed infrastructure point to efforts at revitalization. yet, these exist side-by-side with crumbling walls, rusting signs, and narrow streets that haven’t changed in decades. the result is a visual contrast that highlights the ongoing negotiation between past and present.

in the townscape of shiomachi, this tension is even more apparent. the photographs don’t aim to romanticize the decay, nor do they celebrate the shiny new developments. instead, they offer a straightforward portrayal of the town as it is. this approach lets viewers experience the slow, inevitable passage of time without agenda or sentimentality.

through this series, setoda is transformed into something more than a quaint, historical stop along the way. it becomes a reflection of many small towns across japan — places where the push for modernity clashes with the remnants of the past, often in surprising and subtle ways. shiomachi, in these images, feels both alive and in flux, a place where history lingers and progress is tentative.