This work reimagines the Japanese folktale of Urashima Tarō, portraying the journey toward Ryūgū-jō, the mythical palace beneath the sea. Suspended between reality and legend, the young traveler is carried not only by a sea turtle, but by a vast constellation of marine life: shark, nautilus, octopus, jellyfish, and unseen currents that bind them all together. In this interpretation, the ocean is not a backdrop, but a living cosmos: intricate, intelligent, and deeply interconnected.

The story of Urashima Tarō is ultimately about time, loss, and irreversible change. Today, our oceans stand at a similar threshold. Marine ecosystems - ancient, delicate, and essential - are shifting under the pressure of human activity. By merging myth with marine biodiversity, this piece invites viewers to reflect on our relationship with the sea: not as distant observers, but as participants in its future. The journey to Ryūgū becomes a metaphor for responsibility: what we choose to protect, and what may be lost if we fail to act.

Kensuke Takahashi