Photo/Illutration A rogue wave with a height of at least 10 meters is photographed for the first time in the world in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1980. (Provided by Hisashi Mitsuyasu)

FUKUOKA—An “accidental” picture that drew attention from researchers around the world highlights the first photo exhibition held by a 92-year-old marine physicist on a topic that has mesmerized him for decades.

“Umi no Nami wo Miru” (Watching the Ocean Waves) features about a dozen pictures that Hisashi Mitsuyasu, a Kyushu University professor emeritus, shot while sailing around the world for his studies.

A blowing wind generates ripples on the sea surface that grow into waves as they absorb energy from the wind. They travel vast expanses before reaching and “ending their lives” at the shore.

“The life of ocean waves is similar to that of  humans," Mitsuyasu said.

20220204-wave-2-L
A wave reaches age 1 when it travels at the same speed as the wind, preventing the wave from developing any further. This particular wave in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1980 has a wave age of 0.5. (Provided by Hisashi Mitsuyasu)

After graduating from university, Mitsuyasu joined the transport ministry’s Transportation Research Institute in 1952 and began studying ocean waves for port technology.

After he changed careers and started working at Kyushu University in 1965, he went out into the open sea for observations. He analyzed data on wave acceleration degrees, inclines and positions collected by devices lowered into the water.

He also took photos for his records.

Although wave heights, cycles, directions and other information can be derived from gathered data, Mitsuyasu said it is important to visually examine the actual conditions of waves, such as when they break into foaming waves and generate plumes.

“Usually, ships leave port when waves are calm and return when the sea gets stormy. But we were quite the opposite,” Mitsuyasu said.

He recalled how waves splashed him on the violently swaying deck while he was preoccupied with his work.

“It’s a miracle that we didn’t shipwreck,” he said.

His most famous photo was of a “rogue wave,” or a pyramidal wave, taken in the North Atlantic Ocean off the U.S. coast on a stormy autumn day in 1980.

Mitsuyasu said he climbed down to the deck when the wind had weakened and aimed his camera at the swelling waves.

20220204-wave-1-L
Wind generates waves in the Genkainada Sea off the coasts of Fukuoka and Saga prefectures in 1985. (Provided by Hisashi Mitsuyasu)

“I was blindly clicking away with my camera, and I found that I had accidentally captured (the rogue wave) on film,” he said.

The triangular-shaped wave shown in the photo is estimated to be at least 10 meters tall.

Rogue waves have long been feared by sailors because they are unusually larger than surrounding waves and are capable of capsizing ships. Such abnormal waves are formed by a complicated combination of factors, and researchers continue their work to shed light on the mechanism.

Mitsuyasu’s photo attracted international attention, and some researchers said it was the first picture ever of a rogue wave.

He was asked if the photo could be used in an academic paper.

In recent years, marine researchers can cover a wider array of research topics without going out to sea thanks to artificial satellites and computers.

“Watching waves on the sea, I felt how winds and temperatures change and smelled the ocean. I found that analog way of working fascinating, and that’s why I continued research for many years,” Mitsuyasu said.

20220204-wave-6-L
Marine physicist Hisashi Mitsuyasu at the venue of his first photo exhibition, “Watch the Ocean Waves,” in Fukuoka on Jan. 11 (Ryo Sasaki)

In 2007, his book, also titled “Umi no Nami wo Miru,” for general readers was published by Iwanami Shoten Publishers.

His art director son, Kiyoteru, 65, saw the photos in the book and encouraged his father to display them at an exhibition because they showed “scenes that no one else has ever seen before.”

The exhibition runs until Feb. 13 at the Hakozaki outlet of the Books Kubrick bookstore chain in Fukuoka’s Higashi Ward.

It will also be held at the Haru Gallery in the city’s Minami Ward on Feb. 18-27.

Admission is free.

Related News