Photography freezes moments that vanish in an instant. Few do this as beautifully as Yoshiyuki Okuyama. His work is poetic, nostalgic, and deeply personal, weaving youth, beauty, and everyday subtleties into dreamlike narratives. His photobooks—Flowers, Bacon Ice Cream, and Pocari Sweat—each offer a unique perspective, yet all share a common thread: finding magic in the mundane.
Flowers: A Personal Journey of Memory and Connection
Flowers is more than a book about blooms—it’s a project of memory and reconnection. Okuyama photographed it in his late grandmother’s home, now his studio. The idea began when florist Megumi Shinozaki of Edenworks asked him to document unsold flowers before discarding them. This resonated with Okuyama, as his grandmother loved arranging flowers. Though he regretted not speaking to her much when she was alive, photographing these delicate remnants became a way to bridge that gap.
With soft lighting and intimate compositions, Flowers is a meditation on impermanence, love, and the quiet ways we reconnect with those we've lost.
Bacon Ice Cream: The Whimsical Side of Everyday Life
A playful and surreal take on youth, Bacon Ice Cream blends the mundane with the unexpected. Through bold colors and dynamic compositions, Okuyama captures fleeting moments that feel both spontaneous and cinematic. The book jumps between reality and fiction, impulse and deliberation, creating a kaleidoscopic portrait of modern life.
“A mix of reality and fiction.
Consciousness and unconsciousness.
Deliberation and impulse.
Coolness and passion.
Light and shadow.”
— Yoshiyuki Okuyama
Check out Photobook - Bacon Ice Cream.
Pocari Sweat: Bottling the Essence of Youth
In 2017, Pocari Sweat launched an ad campaign featuring 300 high school students dancing in perfect unison. Okuyama followed them for a month, capturing their energy, joy, and unfiltered emotions. This wasn’t just an ad—it became a celebration of youth, movement, and boundless potential.
With 123 photographs, Pocari Sweat pulses with life, from synchronized rehearsals to exhaustion, laughter, and pure exhilaration. It’s a visual affirmation of youth’s fleeting magic—each frame bursting with optimism and electric energy.
Check out Photobook - Pocari Sweat.
Okuyama’s Distinctive Vision
Okuyama’s photography reminds us to slow down and find beauty in the everyday. Whether it’s a delicate flower, an unexpected moment, or sunlight on water, his work urges us to look closer, feel more, and appreciate the fleeting nature of life.
His photobooks aren’t just collections of images; they tell stories, evoke emotions, and preserve the ephemeral. If you haven’t explored his work yet, we highly recommend it—each book is a journey, offering a new way of seeing the world.
Do you have a favorite Okuyama book? Let’s discuss!