Foto / Photo: J. Rečo
Grafická úprava / Graphic design: J. Rečo
Text / Text: J. Rečo
Předtisková příprava / Pre-printing: J. Plesl
Tisk / Printed by: xPrint s.r.o., Příbram
Počet výtisků / Number of copies: 70
Published: 2011
Japan had been a distant, unknown country for me. Until one day in one of the Prague pubs I met someone who became my Japanese friend. Later, I met someone who became my Japanese wife. In this way, I started to take serious interest in Japan.
I like cycling a lot. The bicycle is my most favorite means of travel. When first arriving in Japan, I was absolutely sure that I am going to experience the country from a bike. I love nature and the countryside, so the subject of my photographs was also easily chosen. The first journey started in Tokyo and was to the North, the next one crossing the mountains to the West, the next still to the South… It mattered little where I was heading. Each of the places I visited was new for me; each was interesting in its own way. I was traveling mostly along the little side roads, yet the countryside was relatively civilized. I had ridden thousands of kilometers, experienced many a pleasant and not-quite-so-pleasant memories. I was able to learn the reality of monsoon rainfalls, a typhoon, an earthquake…
During my travels, I decided to see things the way I wanted to see them, to capture them in my photographs the way I wanted to have them. The Japan of my heart. My Japan.