Some Japanese words cannot be translated. Ma, the meaningful pause. Soboku, the beauty of the unpolished. Yūgen, the mysterious grace of things half-seen. This book is an attempt to photograph them.

I made it as a quiet place to return to. Like going for a cup of green tea: a moment to slow down, breathe, and feel a little sawayaka.

One winter in Kyoto, an old wooden house, conversations with the people who live there, a sakura blooming in December, and snow on the last day. Come back to these pages whenever the world becomes too loud.

Photography and texts by Natella Kiseleva

Self-published, Milan, 2026
English, 290 pages
ISBN 979-8-275-95308-4