I have been photographing my series titled Tidal since 2005. It captures the life of my family—my daughter, husband, and myself—over the course of 18 years.

When my daughter was born in New York in 2005, the experience profoundly impacted my husband and me, leading us to move to Hawaii. Originally, we planned to stay in Maui for just a year, but after raising our child in nature, returning to the fast-paced city life of New York seemed unimaginable. This decision started our journey to find the perfect place to build our family.

We traveled to several cities, including Tokyo, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Shanghai, and Santa Monica before settling in a seaside town in San Diego. Since our daughter’s birth, we’ve always lived near the sea. The title Tidal refers to the movement of the tides, reflecting how our lives have been influenced by the ocean’s constant ebb and flow.

Just as the sea changes daily—waves, sand, and stones subtly shifting—our family life has evolved. There are days when the sea welcomes us and days when it is turbulent. Similarly, family relationships have peaceful moments and times of discord. Even as memories fade, the fact that we lived those moments by the sea remains.

Photography has been a tool for me to understand life’s complexities and to cope with its struggles. Over the years, I’ve come to see this project as a form of Memento Mori—a reminder that we will all die someday. I don't view death as something to fear; instead, it is part of life’s continuity, and accepting it brings a sense of peace.

Although this work is a personal record, I hope that viewers are reminded of their own family memories when looking at these images. Last year, my daughter left for college, marking the end of an era in parenting and the conclusion of this series. It feels as though I’ve completed a long journey.

Tidal was awarded the Grand Prize at the Fugensha Photography Book Prize in Japan. The series will be published and exhibited in a solo show at Fugensha Gallery in Tokyo in Summer of 2025.