The photographs in the book were made in Japan between September 2011 and February 2012 during my first trip back to Japan in almost 20 years. The circumstance was grim: My father passed away all of a sudden and I had to fly from New York to Tokyo as soon as possible to attend his funeral. No sooner was it over than my aunt died and I flew to Toyama to attend another funeral. It was the most difficult time of my life. Yet, when I look now at these colorful photographs, they look so joyful that I hardly see any trace of distress in them. Funny, how looks can be deceiving…