80°05′

"80°05′" visually explores what drives us to embark on expeditions, featuring Japanese explorer Nobu Shirase, who attempted the South Pole in 1912, and modern explorer Masatatsu Abe, weaving historical research with their personal stories.

This work tells the story of two explorers: Nobu Shirase, a Japanese explorer who, in 1912, attempted to become the first person to reach the South Pole but had to retire at 80°05' South latitude; and Masatatsu Abe, a modern explorer who, over a century later, set out to reach the South Pole starting from Shirase's retirement point. A visual story centered on the question, "What drives us to expeditions?" this project was self-published in January 2024 as a handmade photobook, in a limited edition of 90 copies.

Abe and I have been friends for 17 years since our university days. He had been pursuing expeditions even when we first met, steadily building his achievements with the South Pole expedition inspired by Shirase's legacy in mind. After securing nearly US $1million in expedition funding, Abe was ready to embark on his expedition, but the 2020 pandemic forced the expedition to be postponed. Witnessing Abe continue his challenge despite the uncertainty made me question, "What drives him to such lengths for an expedition?" This question became the starting point for the creation of this work.

Even when I am gone

Make sure to find

In Antarctica

The treasures beneath the earth

Until it is brought to the world

These are the verses composed by Shirase in his final moments. What are the treasures beneath the earth? And what drives these explorers to embark on these expeditions? Through extensive research into Shirase's historical background, as well as in-depth coverage of Abe's personal life and exploration of his roots, it attempts to visualize the motivations behind these explorers' quests.

＊Additional notes

The photobook is a handcrafted edition, with every aspect of its creation, from editing and design to binding, executed by the artist himself. The hard cover fabric is made from the same material used for the jacket worn by the protagonist, explorer Abe, during his Antarctic expedition.