Setouchi Living Photo Exhibition 'Distant Blue' | Photographers Koki Manju, Kento Hirasue, Utau Mi

The mountains, the sea, the sky
are faint and blue in the distance.

If memories had colors,
perhaps they would also be blue.

What shade of blue are the memories and thoughts of that day?

These are the words woven by photographers Koki Manju, Kento Hirasue, and Utau Mi, who are jointly hosting the Setouchi Living Photo Exhibition 'Distant Blue'. This exhibition offers a special time to embark on a journey through memories via the landscapes of the Seto Inland Sea. The exhibition will be held from December 1 to December 25, 2023, at ONOMICHI U2 in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. We interviewed Manju, Hirasue, and Utau Mi about the message behind this exhibition, so please check out the interview article.

Q. Was there a trigger for deciding to hold a photo exhibition with the three of you this time?

Manju: Someone from U2 suggested doing a photo exhibition with Utau Mi, and at that time, I thought it would be great to do it with Hirasue as well. I formed a photo unit called 'calm' with Hirasue, and as I worked with Utau Mi as a photo partner, we naturally spent a lot of time together. I wanted to leave something in the form of the three of us.

The three of us, who met in Okayama because of our love for the sea, accumulate various memories. As time passes and our daily thoughts gradually change, when we searched for a common expression, the words 'distant blue sea' came to mind.

Hirasue: I've always liked the word 'distant', and Utau Mi added, 'The distance is blue, isn't it...'. It's a miracle that the three of us, who usually can't gather often, can hold a photo exhibition with a theme that naturally blends us together. Yet, at the same time, I also feel the usual everyday nature. I'm happy that we can hold it together, and it makes me feel calm.

Q. If you have a message you want to convey to the visitors, please let us know.
Hirasue: I've come to think that blue is a color connected to memories. For example, youth. Blue is a color that reminds you of being young or slightly past memories. However, even though there are various gradients of blue, I would like to ask the visitors, 'What color is your blue?'.

Utau Mi: That's right. This photo exhibition has a big theme of expressing the atmosphere close to life in Okayama and the Seto Inland Sea. While I'm happy if you take your time to appreciate the photos, I also want you to relax and enjoy the music and space of the venue with a drink in hand, feeling close to everyday life.

Manju: I think the experience of viewing photos in a place other than social media is very valuable for modern people. The photos we take are intentionally light in color, focusing more on the gentleness of everyday life rather than intense images. That's why we decided to exhibit our photos in a space close to living.

I believe there is already significance in our generation, which includes us who started on social media, actually holding a photo exhibition. As Utau Mi mentioned, I hope people will drop by casually and spend a pleasant time. Although the photos displayed are everyday scenes in the Seto Inland Sea region, including Onomichi, I hope people will also realize the goodness of re-examining everyday life.