Finding the Extraordinary in the Everyday | Hao | 10 Questions for Kodai Yamashita | ISSUE #50

Born in 1999, residing in Kanagawa. I work for an entertainment company.

I started photography seriously in 2020, initially to document my travels, but began focusing on everyday themes during the COVID-19 pandemic. I stepped away from photography for a while but resumed in 2024.

Currently, I am creating works focused on trash and plan to hold my first solo exhibition, 'Discarded Second Hands', on March 20, 2025.

My very first memory of taking a photo is probably from a field trip in kindergarten or early elementary school.

I remember being given a disposable camera and taking it with me. Although I don't remember clearly, I think those photos are still in an album at home.

Until I started taking photos with a flip phone (probably until elementary school), I used it quite a bit, and using a disposable camera was a much more common choice than it is now.

The first reason is that it's one of the most luxurious activities I can engage in for self-reflection.

Of course, capturing a beautiful image, having good colors, or a nice composition makes me feel good, and I enjoy those moments, but I think I love the act itself.

The second reason is that everything seems a little more special.

Ordinary paths home, light filtering through lace curtains, even trash on the street—things I wouldn't have noticed without photography—start to look special, and I love capturing those moments.

Rather than wanting to step away, I found myself naturally drifting away after about a year of photographing everyday life. I got a bit bored, and just at that time, work got busy, so I naturally stopped taking photos.

Even when I was busy, I carried a compact camera to capture moments I liked, but I still stopped taking photos.

It's quite strange, but the act of holding a camera and taking photos seemed to disappear from my thoughts.

I feel quite happy every day. There might not be a standout moment of extreme happiness.

I do climb mountains occasionally, and when I reach the summit and have a meal, I feel the greatest sense of being alive and happy.

The last time I remember being angry was in middle school during an argument with a classmate in club activities.

I don't get angry often. What I dislike most is irresponsibility.

The moment I transitioned from student to working adult.

Becoming a working adult changed my perspective 180 degrees, from an environment where answers were provided to one where I had to find and create my own answers.

I have always struggled to find precise answers, and I wasn't good at studying, but since becoming a working adult, I've been able to move in the direction I believe is right, and that has expanded my senses and contributed to my creativity.

I always carry a camera when I go out. When I return, I always take it out of my bag, clean it, and store it in a dehumidifying cabinet.

The main reason is that I don't want to have regrets, so even when I think I won't have time to take photos, I always carry it in my bag. There are photos I've taken because of this.

Cleaning it is a sign of my attachment to the camera, and I take great care of it. I always dust it off, wipe it clean, and ensure it's spotless.

During my student days, I was in a band, and my friends from that time have influenced me greatly.

One friend continued with music without giving up and stood on a big stage, another became a tattoo artist and opened a shop, and having friends who continue to pursue their dreams has had a significant impact on me.

Among them, I was one of the first to choose to become a working adult, but now that I'm taking photos and have decided to hold a solo exhibition, it might be because I have friends who haven't given up on their dreams.

The photo book 'BACON ICE CREAM' by Yoshiyuki Okuyama.
When taking photos, people often say, 'You should read photo books,' and this was the first one I picked up.

At the time, I couldn't quite grasp the ambiguity of everyday photography and thought only straightforward subjects like portraits and mountain photography had power, but that wasn't the case.

I believe it has influenced my current style to some extent.