I had always wanted to capture the Milky Way on film.
And after traveling across tens of thousands of light-years, that starlight would finally come to rest in my darkroom—fixed onto silver gelatin paper, turned into a tangible piece of the universe. The thought of it felt impossibly romantic.
So, I drove to Fukushima. About four hours from Tokyo, a place where the Milky Way shines undisturbed. No streetlights, nothing. Just darkness.
The spot I chose was a ghost town—abandoned in the wake of the March 11, 2011 tsunami, which devastated coastal communities and triggered a nuclear disaster.
Standing there, surrounded by ruins, an indescribable fear crept over me.
In front of me, a sign marked the height of the waves that had swallowed this town. If another tsunami were to hit now, I would disappear without a trace—swept into the sea, with no one left to remember I was here.
Pushing down the fear, I set up my camera and started taking photos.
After returning to my home in Tokyo from Fukushima, I wasted no time in developing my film. Looking at the negatives, I was relieved to see that I had successfully captured the Milky Way.
Excited, I headed into the darkroom to start printing. As I worked, I noticed some unevenness in the density of the stars but didn’t think too much of it at the time.
The following night, I went out drinking with friends in Golden Gai, Shinjuku. When I mentioned my trip to Fukushima, my friend Jesse asked if I had ever seen photos taken in Chernobyl.
He then pulled up an image—one that had been exposed to radiation, distorting the film in a haunting way.
Yes, the tsunami caused a meltdown at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, leading to radioactive contamination. Although decontamination efforts have progressed, making most areas accessible today, traces of radiation still remain.
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Curious, I checked my own photos again when I got home. At first glance, nothing seemed unusual, but when I adjusted the contrast, I noticed a subtle but distinct light leak effect that was different from typical vignetting.
Looking at these photos, I am once again reminded of what happened in Fukushima 14 years ago.
The earthquake and tsunami of 2011 took the lives of nearly 20,000 people, leaving thousands more missing.
And over 1,000 children lost their parents. Even after 14 years, many continue to live with the weight of their grief.
Like the stars shining in this vast night sky, I hope these children can shine with bright smiles.
That’s why I am launching The 10% Pledge—to contribute to a society where people support one another.
10% of the proceeds from this print sale will be donated to Fukushima Prefecture to support children who lost their families in the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Even a small action can make a big difference. Join in.
After the donation is completed, we will report the donated amount to the purchasers and on the FED website.
The prints are all hand-printed by me in the darkroom. Check the link for edition and size details or purchase now from the bottom of this page.
Awesome. Thanks to your support, we’re one step closer to a world filled with warmth.
Yusuke Nagata
March 11, 2025
