At sunrise, glorious sunrise
it's a big catch!
A big catch of sardines!
On the beach, it's like a festival
but in the sea, they will hold funerals
for the tens of thousands dead.
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BIG CATCH／TSUYUKUSAIRO
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BIG CATCH／SHIRONEZU
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BIG CATCH／KIAKA
大漁
Translations by Sally Ito & Michiko Tsuboi / JULA
〈Design descriptions〉
An occasion for humans to celebrate can be a mournful event for the sea. This poem is a stark reminder that a shift in perspective can give something a dramatically different context.
There are so many things we take for granted every day that can mean the opposite when seen from the other side. A seemingly beautiful cityscape of high-rise buildings can also represent the planet’s loss of nature and the role cities play in climate change.
The reflection of light on the sardines’ scales as they form a wave en masse and swim through the sea in unison presents an artistic aura both beautiful and captivating.