This Side of The Light

• Photographer
  Sayuka Tanaka
• Agency / Studio
  Foto Paradiso
• Technical Info
  Canon Q10d/ Kodak Portra400
• Photo Date
  June,6th, 2025

This series documents the final days of a cat I lived with for 21 years. He came into my life when I was deeply unwell, and his presence helped me heal. Over time, we formed a family—me, my husband, our son, and him. As he aged, his body weakened, but he held on. Witnessing that quiet perseverance was painful and deeply moving. In his final days, I sensed his soul slipping away. I picked up my film camera without knowing why. Even now, I can’t explain it. But through the photographs, I’ve come to feel something enduring: the joy of having been loved, and the deeper joy of having loved.