Hanafuda Shouzoku

My grandmother said ‘Anything with a shape will eventually be gone’. 

All the spoiled foodstuffs in Hanafuda Shozoku series were sent from my mother, who lives far away from me. Out of over-brimming love for her son, my mother always sent too much food. I was never able to finish them all, leaving some to rot. Every time that happened, I felt sorry for my mother and for the food items themselves. 

I decided to photograph spoiled foodstuffs as a record of my mother’s love. I dressed them up for a proper ceremonious sendoff to express my appreciation and respect.