Profile

My spirit to BIEI

It was the summer of 1997 when I first encountered the scenery of Biei. I was born and raised in Kobe, but I yearned for the vastness of the land and went on a photography trip to Hokkaido. I vividly remember landing on a ferry in Otaru and being impressed by the vastness of Hokkaido and its nature just by driving down the road. I still cherish this impression. I felt the natural beauty of Hokkaido’s northern, eastern, and central regions, and Biei was the place I wanted to photograph because it was so beautiful. I had never really thought about Biei until my trip to Hokkaido, but as I continued my photography activities, I felt the depth of Biei, and at the same time, my appreciation for nature grew. As a photographer, I started my work in Biei late, and there are many senior photographers in Biei, so it is a highly competitive area. There are many professional photographers and amateurs who take pictures in Biei, so I felt that my individuality as a photographer, ABE Shunichi, would be tested, and I aimed to create “Only One” as “The World of ABE Shunichi”. I would like to preserve the wonderful scenery of Biei for future generations, and I would be happy if I can continue to take photographs and convey the importance of nature to as many people as possible. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderful nature I have encountered.

My works are selected for Biei official brand”Bieitiful”.

阿部俊一本人写真
阿部俊一本人写真

About me

ABE Shunichi

Member of Japan Professional Photographers Society(JPS)

Born in Kobe in 1973, he graduated from Nihon College of Photography and Imaging Arts in 1995. After working at a commercial studio and a sales photo studio, he became a teacher at his alma mater, Nihon College of Photography and Imaging Arts, and has been photographing the landscape of Biei since 1997. Moved to Biei in 2001 and has been working there ever since.

2002.06

Photograph Exhibition “Landscape in Biei” at Higashikawa-cho Cultural Gallery

2002.09

Exhibited at the Daisetsuzan Sun Road Photo Exhibition (Tokyo Yaesu Underground Mall)

2003.02

Photo Exhibition “Fascination in Biei” (Biei-cho Tourist Association)

2004.01

Photo used on cover of Aioi Insurance calendar

2005.06

Gallery “Small Photo Gallery in the Forest” opens

2005.04

Four Seasons in Biei Featured in Rurubu Hokkaido 2005

2005.09

Shinkenzemi: Photo used for booklet cover

2006.06

Photo book “The Land of Biei” published by Toho Shuppan

2006.09

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2007 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2007.04

Rurubu Furano / Biei 2007Introducing Biei

2007.01

Many of the photos were used in a pamphlet for travel agents of the Biei-cho Tourist Association.

2008.11

Photograph Exhibition “Four Seasons of Hokkaido” (Busan, Korea)

2009.03

Photograph exhibition “The Land of Biei” (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

2009.09

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2010 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2010.01

Provided photos for NHK Hi-Vision special “The Story of the Hills of Biei

2010.09

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2011 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2011.09

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2012 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2012.09

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2013 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2013.01

Photo tour featured in NHK’s nationwide broadcast “Yudoki Network”

2013.08

DVD “The Healing Land of Biei” on sale

2013.08

Collaborative Literary Calendar 2014 Author: Ayako Miura / Photo: ABE Shunichi

2013.01

Provided photos for TV Tokyo’s “Soda Tabi ni Ikou” (Let’s Go on a Trip)

2013.11

Photo Exhibition “Four Seasons in Biei” at Ayako Miura Memorial Literature Museum

2014.09

Exhibited at the JPS Synchronous Photography Exhibition (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

2015.04

Photo used for Biei-cho “Blue Pond Light-up” poster.

2015.07

Photo Exhibition “Four Seasons in the Hills” (Biei-cho Activation Exchange Center)

2016.04

Biei featured in Fuxing Airlines (Taiwan) in-flight magazine

2017.04

Photograph Exhibition “Four Seasons in Biei” (Shanghai, China)

2017.11

Photograph Exhibition “The Land of Biei by Blinking Light”(Ricoh Imaging Square Shinjuku, Tokyo)

2018.11

Photograph Exhibition “The Land of Biei by Blinking Light”(Ricoh Imaging Square Osaka)

2019.11

Photograph Exhibition “The Land of Biei by Blinking Light” (Fujifilm Photo Salon Sapporo)