We are pleased to announce the results of the “KEK Photo Walk 2025,” held on June 22.
This event was organized as part of the Global Physics Photowalk, a collaborative project among 15 research institutions around the world.
The three winning photos of the KEK Award will represent KEK in the international online voting, alongside winning entries from other participating laboratories. We encourage everyone to take part in the global voting as well.
The judging panel, consisting of artists and media representatives, evaluated the entries based on artistic expression, originality of composition, and the ability to convey scientific fascination.
In addition to the KEK Awards, the Makoto Kobayashi Prize—named after Professor Makoto Kobayashi, KEK Distinguished Honorary Professor—and the Encouragement Award selected by the KEK Secretariat were also presented.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who submitted entries.
Through initiatives like this, KEK will continue to open its cutting-edge research sites to the public and share the excitement of science.
Winning Entries
KEK Award –
1st Place: “Curves”
Photographer: Kitsunetsuki (Photographer)
Description:
This underground passage curves gently, and imagining its endless circular path gives a glimpse of its breathtaking grandeur.
2nd Place: “The Trails of Princess in the Accelerator”
Photographer: Yoshinari Sasaki (Writer)
Description:
Fireflies are found in over 2,000 species worldwide, yet only a handful truly glow. In Japan, the most famous are the Heike firefly and the Genji firefly, which shine continuously, and the Hime firefly, a tiny, magical species found only in Japan. “Hime” means “princess,” and true to its name, this little firefly flashes like sparkling gems, leaving dotted trails of light. Watching its glowing paths is like seeing the streaks of charged particles in a spark chamber or a Cherenkov detector—beautiful, fleeting, and absolutely mesmerizing.
3rd Place: “Poetics of Observation”
Photographer: Nobutoshi Hosaka (Company Executive / Photographer)
Description:
Photographing Big Science apparatuses has transformed my understanding of photography. Previously, I saw photography as a medium creating “alienation” from reality. Now, I regard it as a way to rediscover and reconstruct the world. Through capturing the SuperKEKB accelerator—an embodiment of scientific objectivity—I wish to convey photography itself as an act of creating a new reality.
Makoto Kobayashi Prize: “Layers”
Photographer: Kitsunetsuki (Photographer)
Description:
I have absolutely no idea what functions these things have, but I do understand that something amazing is happening because they exist.
Encouragement Award: “Universe’s Mystery Too Big for the Screen”
Photographer: Takeru Ishikawa (Junior High School Student)
Description:
The moment I entered the 11-meter-deep tunnel, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the space, which the panorama barely captures. What gave me goosebumps was knowing that this complex network of pipes and cables contains the SuperKEKB accelerator and the Belle II detector, which hold the key to solving the universe’s most fundamental mystery: ‘Why are matter and antimatter different?’
Comments from the Judges
Chief Judge Takayanagi:
I was delighted to see entries from participants of all generations. Thanks to the diverse backgrounds of the judges, we achieved a very well-balanced evaluation.
Eighty years after the end of World War II, the existence of so many accelerators around the world—and the fact that such an international photography contest is being held—shows that humanity has managed to sustain peace through intellectual curiosity during these decades.
Judge Kasagi:
The bold and imaginative perspective of the second-place photo was truly inspiring. I’m genuinely glad to have participated in this judging process and look forward to seeing how it fares in the global voting.
Judge Arima:
I judged the works based on whether they might also be well-received internationally. The winners, with their straightforward compositions and universally appealing colors, seem well-positioned for success in the global competition.
Judge Shirai:
The first-place photo follows a classic and orthodox approach, the second has a refreshing twist, and the third—a monochrome piece—adds depth to the overall selection. I feel the results are well-balanced. Personally, I found the Makoto Kobayashi Prize-winning photo to be the most memorable and my favorite.
Judge Toge:
It must have been challenging to shoot inside the accelerator tunnel, which is dimly lit with fluorescent lamps. I commend the creative approaches I observed, such as choosing monochrome, opening the aperture for a focused effect, and experimenting with zoom during exposure.
Judge Yuasa:
The three selected works stood out among 120 submissions, each expressing strong individuality and charm. As someone accustomed to viewing accelerator photos, I found the brightness and clarity of the first-place image particularly striking.
Judge Motomura:
It was fascinating to see how the same subject—an accelerator designed for a specific purpose—could be captured in such diverse ways, depending on the photographer’s sensibility. I hope this contest will make more people think, “Accelerators are cool!”
Judge Adachi:
I believe this turned out to be an excellent initiative. As KEK’s Executive Director for Public Relations, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all participants and judges.
Judging Panel
| Chair | Yuichi Takayanagi | Director, Tama Rokuto Science Center |
| Members | Etsuko Kasagi | Contemporary Artist, M.Sc. |
| Members | Tomio Arima | Professor, The Department of Art & Design, Tokyo Kasei University |
| Members | Yoshikuni Shirai | Editor-in-Chief, Sustainable Japan Magazine, The Japan Times |
| Members | Nobukazu Toge | Former Executive Director for Public Relations, KEK |
| Members | Fukuko Yuasa | Professor Emeritus, Applied Research Laboratory, KEK |
| 委員 | Shin-ichi Adachi | Executive Director for Public Relations, KEK |
| 委員 | Yukiko Motomura | Executive Director for Public Relations, KEK / Science Journalist |