The 25th edition of the European Eyes on Japan photography project features photographs taken by Sanna Krook and Dominika Jackuliacová in Fukui Prefecture in 2025.
Launched in 1999, the European Eyes on Japan | Japan Today photography project brings photographers from European countries to Japan to rediscover in their work aspects of Japanese contemporary environment that has been taken for granted and overlooked. Their work is shown in exhibitions in Europe and in the Japanese prefectures where they worked. These works will then be left to future generations as a cultural heritage documenting various parts of Japan. The project is scheduled to continue to cover all 47 Japanese prefectures. So far, 44 prefectures have been documented. The project is organised by EU Japan Fest Japan Committee. The Committee has been supporting collaborative programs between Japan and Europe within the European Capitals of Culture every year since 1993.
The 25th edition of the project took photographers to Fukui
Now in its 25th edition of European Eyes on Japan | Japan Today, Sanna Krook from Finland and Dominika Jackuliaková from Slovakia turned their cameras on Fukui prefecture. Fukui prefecture with population of 740 000 is located on the western edge of the Hokuriku in central Honshu. Sanna photographed in the Awara and Sakai areas of Fukui, particularly in the small village of Mikuni-anto, whereas Dominika focused on Fukui City.
Sanna is a photographer based in Oulu, Finland. She specialises in documentary photography. She is particularly interested in people and the everyday life – the way in which, while nothing much seems to be happening, a whole unique life is unfolding. Dominika Jackuliaková is a photo-based artist and educator. An auto-biographical component is always present in her stories and often influences the places and people she photographs.
A joint exhibition in three countries
The 25th edition of European Eyes on Japan | Japan Today exhibition begins its tour from Oulu, Finland in April. Photographs of Fukui by Sanna Krook and Dominika Jackuliaková are on display at Galleria MABD from 1.-30.4.2026. From Oulu, the exhibition travels to Trenčín, Slovakia, where it will be on display at FOR MAAT from 15.5.-28.6.2026 before travelling to Japan. After the exhibition in Japan, the photographs are planned to be donated to Fukui prefecture and the city of Higashikawa in Hokkaido, home to the Higashikawa International Photography Festival.
Mikiko Kikuta is the artistic director of the 25th edition of European Eyes on Japan | Japan Today.
This exhibition continues Galleria MABD’s Galleria International exhibition series. Galleria MABD is open Wed–Fri from 13-18 and Sat–Sun from 12-16. The gallery is closed on Good Friday but will be open as usual on Easter weekend (4.–5.4 2026). Galleria MABD is located at Kolmiotalo, Torikatu 4, 90100 Oulu. Free admission.
