Yamaguchi-san lived within a 2km radius of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall (now Atomic Bomb Dome), an earshot from Little Boy's hypocenter.
He loves cycling and bikes 30km each day from his home in the suburbs of Hiroshima to the dome. There, he lays out two foldable chairs: one for himself and another for a willing listener. Take a seat and you'll learn how to fold a beautiful Orizuru. He reveals each fold patiently, with an intent that is strict, gentle and precise.
The ancient Japanese legend of Senbazuru (thousand origami cranes) promises that anyone who folds a thousand cranes will be granted eternal luck; or more poignantly in Ya-san's case, eternal peace.
They sheltered me from the rain and served me a delicious cup of Amazake.
Certain moments like this - when laughter, friendship and drunkenness come together - can only be captured on film. This was shot on the Yashica 35GSN rangefinder with Fuji Provia 100f. I struggled to find the right range.