To the Japanese, the first sunrise (初日の出) of the new year (お正月) has a special significance. It represents more than just a new beginning, it represents hope. In fact, it was once commonly believed in Japan that the god Toshigami (年神) appears with the first sunrise of the year and with him, comes good luck.

As a person inspired by the legends of Japan and as an artistic photographer always striving to improve my art, taking on a personal project in which I endeavor to photograph the first sunrise (初日の出) of the new year (お正月) just seemed natural. I began this project in 2014. However, it was not until I began traveling back to and photographing the first sunrise in Japan that I started to get the sort of results that resonated with me. With the exception of the one that I created this year, 2019, when I was on Maui, I created all of these first sunrises images in Japan.