Ben Zheng - Synology Inc.

In the deep darkness of the river, fire becomes the first language of humanity. This image captures the ancient Japanese tradition of Ukai, a ritual that has endured for over 1,300 years. It depicts a sacred coordination in which fisherman, flame, and cormorant move as one, held in a delicate balance between survival and reverence. Beyond documentation, Origin reflects on a universal beginning—the primal relationship between human instinct and the natural world. The suspended bonfire, or kagaribi, recalls the earliest light that once guided our ancestors, transforming this moment into a living trace of civilization’s first gestures. Here, culture is not merely preserved in memory; it is enacted through fire, water, and the quiet rhythm of human presence.