Moyuru Tsurusaki's Crossing the Sea brings together three bodies of work which explore the history and present situation concerning Japan and immigration in three parts.
Published by AKAAKA Art Publishers, the photographs offer a comparative view into the varying experiences of both Japanese migrants and immigrants who have left and come to the country in search of a better life. Separated in three sections, the images present a compelling portrayal of life as migrant, from the Japanese nationals left behind in China (Chugoku zanruuhojin) after the end of WWII, the lives of Japanese nikkei Brazilians, to the introduction of the Refugee Resettlement program with Myanmar in 2010, Moyuru Tsurusaki brilliantly captures the lives and families of individuals, both past and present, presenting an engaging insight into Japan and its people.

This photobook is comprised of three parts; "Japan x Manchuria", "Japan x Myanmar", and "Japan x Brazil". In each section, photographs are assembled by location in a simultaneously progressing, top/bottom format.

In Part 1 "Japan x Manchuria," the top row consists of photographs depicting individuals who have been called Chugoku zanryuuhojin (Japanese nationals left behind in China after the war), and their lives in Japan. The bottom row consists of photographs of remnants of Manchukuo as well as the new young generation of Japanese who now work there. Each of the parts presents its theme in this way.

In Part 2 “Japan x Myanmar,” the top row depicts life in Japan for Myanmar refugees living here, and the bottom row are photographs of Myanmar today, and of life in a Myanmar refugee camp located along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Part 3 “Japan x Brazil” focuses on the lives of nikkei Brazilians in Japan and those of nikkei Brazilian immigrants living in Brazil, with the former on top and the latter on the bottom row.


Moyuru Tsurusaki's Crossing the Sea was the 2015 recipient of the 13th Visual Arts Photo Award. The panel of Judges included Daido Moriyama, Kotaro Iizawa, Yoshihiko Ueda, Masato Seto and Shunji Dodo.

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Moyuru Tsurusaki (1975) is a Japanese photographer.