MUTSU, Aomori Prefecture--Takayuki Isoyama likes to get up close and personal with his subjects, which is why he was tracking footprints in the fresh snow on a severely cold winter’s day.

Conditions were perfect for capturing shots of the Japanese serow in the Shimokita Peninsula at the northernmost tip of Japan’s main Honshu island, the northern limit of the animal’s habitat.

Leaves had fallen from the trees, offering improved visibility for the 75-year-old wildlife photographer.

As he followed the footprints left in the snow, a male Japanese serow called Cyan appeared through the trees.

The Japanese serow, which will be 10 years old in spring, was staring at the photographer.

Knowing that serows are easily spooked, Isoyama made a point of not getting too close, but close enough.

He inched ever so slowly before coming to a stop to create a comfortable distance.

Having dealt with wild animals for half a century, the photographer knows it’s all about timing when it comes to snapping away.

Born in Tsu in 1948, Isoyama visited Wakinosawa, now part of Mutsu, for the first time in 1970 when he was 22 after spending time exploring Hokkaido, Okinawa Prefecture and elsewhere.

Villagers would invite him into their homes, offering him sake in a cup and dried herring on a wood-burning stove.

They were rugged people, but Isoyama was captivated by their warmth.

Although the village was facing depopulation, the Wakinosawa Youth Hostel he stayed at was bustling with young people studying monkeys and serows.

It was a time when nature conservation was a mainstream concern as farmers were becoming increasingly agitated by crop damage caused by wildlife. It was a common sight to find Kinzo Takahashi, the late owner of the hostel, engaged in heated discussions with guests over how to form symbiotic relationships with wildlife instead of coming into conflict with them.

Isoyama began frequenting the lodging and married Takahashi’s daughter, Ryoko, now 74.

He learned photography skills while working at a studio in Tsu. The couple moved to Wakinosawa in July 1987 and took over the operation of the hostel.

IDENTIFYING EACH INDIVIDUAL

Isoyama made it a habit to walk through forests and along the coastline to take photos of monkeys and serows.

Over time, he became able to distinguish their faces and other features to specifically identify each individual. In this way, their personalities and behavioral patterns became apparent.

The Japanese serow, a designated special natural treasure, gives birth in spring.

In the early days when Isoyama was trying to take photos, the mother would act as a shield to attract his attention so the calves could flee.

It made Isoyama realize he shouldn’t get too close to his subject. As he spent time with serows, they gradually began letting their guard down and behaved normally when he was around.

Isoyama has identified at least 25 individuals. The ones he currently observes, Cyan and Pearl, are the grandchildren of the serows he originally observed.

Many things have changed over the years, but the Wakinosawa scenery remains the same.

The mountains hugging the coastline are blanketed by forests of beech and Japanese oak. Serows can be seen crossing the streets.

One day, a middle-aged woman spotted a monkey eating potatoes in her field. After a while, she threw a stone at the monkey to chase it away, saying, “You have already eaten sufficiently.”

As for the reason why she allowed the monkey to eat some potatoes, she said, “It can’t be helped because the monkey was hungry.”

It was a classic example of the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and wildlife in the community.

“Both humans and animals have simple kindness here,” Ryoko said.

Although the depopulated area has no tourist attractions, the hostel has been operating for nearly 60 years.

Isoyama also serves as a surveyor to study serows and monkeys in a government-designated wildlife sanctuary in the western part of the Shimokita Peninsula.

A year ago, he suffered from a subdural hematoma and was rushed to a hospital an hour away where he underwent emergency surgery.

Thinking he could be dead anytime, the photographer decided to show his works to the public.

Over the past about 36 years, he took 45,000 photos of serows. If photos of monkeys are included, the total number came to 150,000.

He selected around 140 photos for display March 21-25 at the Hachinohe Art Museum in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.