Mamoru WATANABE

Born in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. After graduating from a vocational college, he trained for over ten years as a Japanese cuisine chef at traditional restaurants and hotels in Tokyo. He later returned to his hometown to open a soba restaurant. Preserving the regional soba food culture and sharing the nature, history, and culture of Mt. Fuji have become his life’s work. Inspired by photographing Mt. Fuji, he taught himself photography and is now also active as a photographer. He is involved in fieldwork as a small-group mountain guide, nature ranger, and cultural property protection advisor. At Okayama University of Science, he teaches classes themed on Mt. Fuji, offering students interdisciplinary learning.

Watanabe Mamoru, who works as a Mt. Fuji guide, nature ranger, and cultural property protection advisor, specializes in photographing Mt. Fuji. The mountain reveals different appearances across the four seasons and varies dramatically depending on weather conditions and time of day. Living close to Mt. Fuji gives him an advantage—his mobility and ability to respond to sudden changes allow him to capture images that cannot be taken by other photographers.

While running a soba restaurant in his home region of Yamanashi, Watanabe Mamoru continues to photograph Mt. Fuji. He walks daily to discover new shooting locations, watches over climbers’ safety as a nature ranger, and engages in activities to protect Mt. Fuji’s natural environment. Today as well, he is out photographing the mountain.

Awards
•    Grand Prix, JAPAN PHOTO 2017 Spring/Summer
•    Selected and awarded four consecutive years at the Nika-kai Public Exhibition
•    Yamanashi Prefectural Cultural Award – Encouragement Prize