In September 2022, I participated in the Artists-in-Residence program at Kumonodaira Mountain Hut in the Northern Alps in Japan, I photographed small ponds called “Chi-to” in Japanese that are scattered around the hat. I did not know that these ponds, which form in certain environments, are named “Chi-to” until I participated in this program, However, as I looked back at the photos I took during my research visit, I began to be curious about its unique shape…

All images ©Shigeta Kobayashi