Japanese sandfish, commonly known in Japan as Hatahata is an important fish especially for Akita prefecture. The fishing is carried out only for a limited period from the end of November to the end of December. A long time ago, Japanese people gave the name "God of thunder" to Hatahata, because Hatahata comes over with the winter thunderstorm from the depths of the ocean to the coastal area. The people of Akita believe that they are the "Gift of God" during the harsh winter. This is the reason that the fishermen head to the cold ocean every year with courage and hope.
Satoshi Takahashi is a Japanese photojournalist. He was born in 1981 in Akita, Japan. Satoshi began his career as a freelance photojournalist in Cambodia since 2007. He had spent 11 years in the country covering social issues. In October 2018, Satoshi went back to Japan and currently he has been focusing on documenting stories of vanishing cultures in Akita prefecture concurrently with covering Cambodia. In March 2019, He was awarded the Domon Ken Award for his latest photo book "RESISTANCE" that is a compilation of his work in Cambodia.
