The harsh landscapes of the northern
island of Hokkaido are amongst Japan’s
most uninhabitable. Its people endure
long hard winters with a climate closer to
that of Europe’s northern extremes than
mainland Japan. Kushiro in the South
East has less snow than other areas of the
island but this only means that the deep
winter temperatures become significantly
colder than anywhere else. The climate also
affects the temperament of it’s inhabitants
who generally have more patience than
their neighbours on the mainland, they
understand the power of nature, constantly
reminded of its extremes, even developing
their own vocabulary to describe the cold.
The Japanese history of the island is still
young however, the first settlers came here in
1869, pioneers from all across Japan adopting
influences from Russia and the native Ainu
people as they struggled to make a life in this
new environment.
The Tanaka family have been breeding
working horses (Ban’ei as they’re known in
Japan) for 71 years on their farm in Tsurui,
a remote area just outside Kushiro. Tanakasan’s
father, a first generation migrant from
Hyogo started farming after their family
restaurant was destroyed by fire, back then
they had buffalo, sheep, goats, turkeys and
even ducks. Now 79 he still works the long
ten hour days together with his wife required
to manage the 28 horses they currently have
along with a stable of cattle.