"Perhaps I was more intrepid seventeen years ago, or I have just learned a few lessons in survival since. Driving solo in a Hokkaido winter is probably not something that I would do now. I discovered this tree, or more accurately these trees, while out one cold, early morning exploring around Kussharo Lake in North Eastern Hokkaido. Earlier I had spun my car around 360 degrees on an empty, frozen road. Later, I had to be pulled out of a snow covered ditch by a passing truck. Between these moments of driving challenges I found some beautiful locations. One of which was Wakoto where these young trees were experiencing their first winters. I use the plural noun because the tree we see in the photograph has a smaller tree behind it. It is just possible to see the shadows of its tree trunk behind the front tree trunk. As a result the front tree appears to have more branches than would be normal. It had been a snowy night and the temperature was still a long way below freezing, so the young trunks themselves are still covered. I have revisited this tree almost every year since and have photographed its growth. Someday I will print them all. The small tree behind has long since disappeared. The first print was made in 2002 and the edition of 45 sold out in 2009. The print is in the permanent collections of The Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and The Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon, USA."  Michael Kenna 2019