November 21, 2025.
At Jōjakukō-ji, the autumn light unfolded in layers—
a series of variations in brightness, shadow, and color,
each revealing a different facet of the temple’s quiet beauty.
The slope from the gate, the moss-covered stones,
and the shifting hues of the leaves all came alive in today’s luminous air.

The music that resonated most powerfully with this scene was
Ashkenazy’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,
conducted by Bernard Haitink with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Its brilliance, its play of contrasts,
its emotional surges,
and the sublime peace of Variation XVIII—
these elements mirror the very essence of the light that filled Jōjakukō-ji today.

This day marks one of the “summits” of my photographic journey.
I hope to share this light and quiet joy with the world.