While still a university student, Koichi Saito worked as an assistant to the celebrated photographer Tadahiko Hayashi. In 1965, he participated in the first Sino-Japanese youth exchange organized by the Japan Photographers Association, marking the beginning of a profound connection with China. Over the years, he made 80 trips to various regions across the country, documenting places like Suzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. This photo collection features images taken during his stay in Beijing between 1995 and 1996. Beneath the calm surface, Saito captures the evolving pulse of the city. Flipping through the pages evokes a haunting sense that the people depicted are still part of our everyday lives—yet they belong to a bygone era, fading into collective memory.
